A. 
Permits. No sign governed by the provisions of this code shall be erected, altered, or relocated by any person, firm, or corporation without a permit issued by the city.
1. 
Administrative sign permits are a Type I permit under RMC § 19.20.010.
2. 
Application for a sign permit shall be made in writing to the sign code administrator on forms furnished by that office. The sign code administrator and the city building inspector shall determine the conformity of the sign design to the ordinances and codes of the city of Richland, and if found in conformance, shall issue the sign permit.
3. 
A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not commenced within 180 days of its issuance.
4. 
No new permit shall be required for normal maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure for which a permit has been previously issued.
5. 
The sign code administrator may revoke the permit for any sign which is erected or altered in violation of the terms, conditions, and requirements of this code or of the terms and conditions specified in such permit. Appeal from denial or revocation of a sign permit or from failure of the sign code administrator to act on a permit application may be taken to the hearing examiner.
B. 
Special Sign Permits. Application for a special sign permit shall be made in writing to the sign code administrator on forms provided by that office. Special sign permits are a Type I permit under RMC § 19.20.010. Special sign permits may be granted upon demonstration of meeting the following criteria:
1. 
Literal interpretation and application of the provisions of this code will not allow reasonable opportunity for a sign or signs;
2. 
Granting of a special sign permit will not result in more signs being constructed than would normally be allowed under the provisions of this code;
3. 
Granting of a special sign permit will not affect the ability of adjacent users to comply with the provisions of this code;
4. 
The special sign permit requested will not result in a sign which exceeds the dimensional provisions of this code by more than 35 percent; and
5. 
Documentation is made, to the satisfaction of the city, that the special sign permit requested is the minimum exception to the provisions of this code necessary for the intended use, and the permit will not result in a prohibited sign.
Upon a finding by the sign code administrator that the above criteria have been met, a special sign permit will be issued by the sign code administrator. The sign code administrator may revoke the special permit for any sign which is erected or altered in violation of the terms, conditions, and requirements of this code or of the terms and conditions specified in such permit.
In cases where the sign code administrator has denied, revoked, or failed to act on a special sign permit, the applicant may appeal such decision to the hearing examiner.
C. 
Temporary Sign Permits. Application for a temporary sign permit shall be made in writing to the sign code administrator on forms furnished by that office. If a need for a temporary sign permit exists, the sign code administrator shall determine conformity of the temporary sign design with applicable codes/ordinances of the city of Richland and then request the building inspector to issue the temporary permit. Temporary sign permits shall be valid for 60 days unless specified otherwise in this title.
D. 
Sign Permit Fees. Fees for sign permits shall accompany the permit application and are based upon size of the sign as follows:
SIZE
FEE
Less than 25 sq. ft. in surface area
$20.00
25 sq. ft. and larger surface area
$40.00
Freeway interchange sign greater than 25 feet in height
$100.00
Fees associated with special sign permits are as follows:
Administrative/special permit application
$25.00
Permit requiring planning commission/city manager approval (Chapter 27.08 RMC)
$50.00
Appeal to hearing examiner
$565.00
Temporary sign permit
$5.00
(Ord. 3-89; Ord. 08-19 § 2; Ord. 05-21 § 2)
A. 
General Requirements. Applications for permit shall be made on the application for sign permit form(s) furnished by the sign code administrator. In addition to the information presented on the application form(s), the applicant shall provide such other pertinent information as the sign code administrator may require to ensure compliance with applicable ordinances and codes. For example, the sign code administrator may require supporting calculations prepared by a civil or structural engineer licensed in the state of Washington verifying safe stress levels or the stability of the sign. All costs associated with obtaining the required information shall be paid by the applicant.
(Ord. 3-89; Ord. 08-19 § 2)
Sign permits are required for most permanent and temporary signs. Permit requirements and exemptions are specified below:
A. 
Permanent Signs. A separate permit shall be required for a sign or signs for each business entity and/or a separate permit for each group of signs on a single supporting structure installed simultaneously. Thereafter, each additional sign erected on the structure must have a separate permit. A sign permit is not required for the following:
1. 
Signs required by law.
2. 
Exterior signs or displays not visible from streets or ways open to the public.
3. 
Signs in the interior of a building which are not visible from any public property or rights-of-way.
4. 
Plaques, tablets, or inscriptions which are an integral part of the building structure or are attached flat to the face of the building, which are not illuminated and do not exceed 10 square feet in surface area.
5. 
Signs less than two square feet in surface area.
6. 
Signs which are painted or mounted on delivery vehicles or other operable commercial vehicles which are generally and primarily used for transportation of commerce.
7. 
Any sign, posting, or notice placed or installed by municipal, state or federal agencies. For purposes of this title, the transit authority is a municipal agency.
B. 
Temporary Signs. The erection, construction, posting, or placement of temporary signs shall require a temporary sign permit. The following temporary signs shall not require a permit:
1. 
Signs required by law.
2. 
Sandwich board signs worn by a person while walking the public ways of the city.
3. 
Changing of a theater marquee or similar sign.
4. 
Temporary window signs.
5. 
Signs displayed on a lot with property for sale or rent, provided:
a. 
That only one such sign is permitted for each public street upon which the property for sale or rent fronts;
b. 
That in the event a sign qualifies for this exemption, a second temporary sign is also exempt if located within 1,000 feet, measured as the shortest straight line between the property line of the property for sale or rent and the site of the second exempt sign; and
c. 
That such signs shall not exceed the measurement limitations specified in RMC § 27.08.020.
6. 
Signs displayed on a lot where construction is taking place, provided:
a. 
That they are removed prior to occupancy approval of the building;
b. 
That only one such sign is permitted for each public street upon which the construction project fronts; and
c. 
That such signs shall not exceed the measurement limitations specified in RMC § 27.08.020.
7. 
Noncommercial signs that are made of paper, vinyl, plastic or other nondurable material and which are designed and intended to be displayed for a short period of time; provided, that they conform with the sight obstruction requirements of Chapter 12.11 RMC, do not interfere with or obstruct any traffic control device or in any other manner interfere with the control of traffic on the streets of the city, and are not larger than 32 square feet in area.
C. 
Number of Signs. Except as provided at RMC § 27.08.020, signs not requiring a permit and temporary signs shall not be included as part of the maximum number of signs permitted by this code.
D. 
Attachments to Signs. Ancillary devices, displays, and attachments not originally a part of the sign for which a permit was issued shall not be added to an existing sign except as provided in this code and pursuant to another sign permit issued by the building inspector.
(Ord. 3-89; Ord. 08-19 § 2; Ord. 25-20 § 1)