Chapter 19.16
SPECIFIC LAND USE SIGNS
Sections:
19.16.020 Retail and service businesses.
19.16.040 Churches and institutions.
19.16.060 Gasoline service stations, car washes.
19.16.080 Manufacturing, research, warehouse and industrial uses.
19.16.090 Auto/motor vehicle dealers.
19.16.110 All land uses located in the downtown commercial core.
19.16.010 General.
A. The regulations in this chapter apply depending upon the nature of the use of a particular property. If a particular use is not designated, or if uses are combined, the reviewing body shall apply the regulations for the type of use found by it to be most similar.
B. The allowable sign area for each use is the maximum allowed. The reviewing body may limit the sign area to less than the maximum. [Ord. 928 § 1, 1987.]
19.16.020 Retail and service businesses.
This section applies to retail, personal service or service commercial businesses, restaurants, food/drink services, financial institutions and similar uses.
A. Identification. A permanent retail or service business sign is limited to the name and graphic logo of the business, the type of service rendered, the principal brand names or classification of merchandise for sale and the street address. Brand names may not occupy more than 25 percent of the allowable sign area, except for storefront signs.
B. Building Signs.
1. Area. A retail or service business may place permanent building signs on the premises including wall signs, awning signs, suspended signs and window signs. The building signs may not exceed a maximum total area of one square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage or 20 square feet whichever is greater; provided, that:
a. If a business occupies less than 50,000 square feet of floor area, the total sign area may not exceed 200 square feet on any one building frontage; or
b. If a business occupies 50,000 square feet or more of floor area, the area for any one sign face may not exceed 200 square feet.
2. Height. A building sign may not exceed 25 feet in height except as permitted under PMC 19.12.030(D).
C. Storefront Signs. A retail or service business may place storefront signs on the premises. The signs may not exceed 10 square feet per building frontage or 10 percent of the sign area permitted for building signs for each building frontage, whichever is greater. A storefront sign may not exceed eight feet in height.
D. Freestanding Signs. A freestanding sign may be approved subject to PMC 19.12.020 if the following requirements are met:
1. Sign Area. The sign area of freestanding signs is limited as follows:
a. Parcel Containing Fewer Than Four Businesses or Uses. The sign area may not exceed 50 square feet or 50 percent of the sign area permitted for building signs on the principal street frontage of each business identified on the sign, whichever is less, except that the sign area may be at least 20 square feet.
b. Shopping Center. A shopping center of four or more businesses may have a master identification sign not to exceed one square foot per 1,000 square feet of total building floor area or 50 square feet, whichever is less, except that the master identification sign may be at least 25 square feet.
c. Major Store. An individual business containing at least 100,000 square feet of floor area may have identification not to exceed 150 square feet as part of the total sign area of a freestanding master identification sign, only under the following criteria:
i. The business must be one of at least four businesses within a shopping center;
ii. The shopping center site must be at least 25 acres in size; and
iii. The master identification sign must include the name of the shopping center which may not exceed 60 square feet, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (D)(1)(b) of this section.
2. Height. The height of freestanding signs is limited as follows:
a. Parcel Containing Fewer Than Four Businesses or Uses. The height of a freestanding sign may not exceed one foot for each 10 feet of lot frontage or 15 feet, whichever is less. No portion of the sign may be higher than the closest distance between the sign and a building. Notwithstanding the preceding restrictions, a freestanding sign may be at least five feet in height.
b. Shopping Center. A master identification sign for a shopping center with four or more businesses may not exceed 15 feet in height, except that such a sign meeting the criteria as set forth in subsection (D)(1)(b) of this section may not exceed 40 feet in height.
3. Number and Placement.
a. Single Business on a Parcel. A single business on a parcel may have one freestanding sign per street frontage.
b. Parcel Containing Two or Three Businesses or Uses. A parcel containing two or three businesses or uses may have one freestanding sign per street frontage. The sign may include identification for each business.
c. Shopping Center. A shopping center with four or more businesses may have the following:
i. If the shopping center contains less than 50,000 square feet of building floor area, it may have one freestanding master identification sign per street frontage;
ii. If the shopping center has 50,000 square feet or more of building floor area, it may have one freestanding master identification sign for each driveway entry;
iii. If the shopping center has a major store and meets the criteria as set forth in PMC subsection (D)(1)(b) of this section, it may have one master identification sign per major store in addition to the preceding provision.
4. No freestanding sign for an individual business in a shopping center is permitted unless the business is located in a building separated from the main center.
E. Nonground Floor Business. In addition to the other signs permitted in this section, a business which does not have ground floor building frontage may have up to 10 square feet of sign placed at the main ground floor entry to the business. [Ord. 958 § 3, 1988; Ord. 928 § 1, 1987.]
19.16.030 Hotels and motels.
This section applies to a motel, motor inn, hotel or similar commercial transient residential use.
A. Identification. A permanent hotel or motel sign shall contain only the name and graphic logo of the business, types of service rendered, rate information, travel-related service information and street address.
B. Area. The maximum sign area which may be placed on a site is two square feet per unit or 200 square feet, whichever is less.
C. Types of Signs.
1. Building Signs. A hotel or motel may have wall signs, window signs and awning signs.
2. Freestanding Sign. One freestanding sign per street frontage may be permitted, subject to PMC 19.12.020. If permitted, a freestanding sign is included in the maximum allowed sign area. The sign may not exceed one square foot per unit or 75 square feet, whichever is less. The maximum height is 12 feet or one foot in height for each three square feet of sign area, whichever is less. A freestanding sign need not be less than five feet in height. [Ord. 928 § 1, 1987.]
19.16.040 Churches and institutions.
This section applies to churches and other religious buildings, public and quasipublic uses, schools, fraternal and other service clubs, hospitals, rest homes, community halls and similar uses.
A. Identification. A permanent institutional sign is limited to the name of the institution, types of service offered, reader boards and street address.
B. Area. The maximum sign area allowed to be placed on a site is one square foot for each 2,000 square feet contained in the site, or 50 square feet, whichever is less. The sign need not be smaller than 15 square feet. If a site exceeds 10 acres, the planning commission may approve a sign exception to allow a sign larger than 50 square feet if it finds that the site size and type of use warrant the additional signage and that the signs are aesthetically balanced and designed for the site.
C. Types of Signs.
1. Building Signs. An institution may have wall signs, window signs and awning signs.
2. Freestanding Sign. A freestanding sign may be permitted, subject to PMC 19.12.020. A freestanding sign is included in the maximum allowed sign area. It may not exceed five feet in height. The planning commission may approve a sign exception to allow a higher sign if it finds that the proposed sign is aesthetically balanced and designed for the site. [Ord. 15-1390 § 3 (Exh. C), 2015; Ord. 928 § 1, 1987.]
19.16.050 Office uses.
This section applies to individual administrative, medical and professional offices and to office buildings.
A. Identification. A permanent office sign is limited to the name of the business or occupants, type of service rendered and the street address.
B. Area. The maximum sign area allowed to be placed on a building frontage is one square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage or 100 square feet, whichever is less. An office building or nonground floor business may have additional sign area as described in subsections (D) and (E) of this section.
C. Types of Signs.
1. Building Signs. An office use may have wall signs, window signs, awning signs and suspended signs.
2. Freestanding Signs. A freestanding sign may be permitted subject to PMC 19.12.020. If approved, the freestanding sign for a parcel containing one to three individual offices may not exceed:
a. Five feet in height; and
b. Twenty-five square feet in area or 50 percent of the sign area allowed on the principal street frontage, whichever is less.
D. Office Buildings. In addition to the sign area permitted under subsection (B) of this section, an office building with four or more individual offices may have:
1. One master identification sign not exceeding 25 square feet in size. The sign may be a wall sign or a freestanding sign (under PMC 19.12.020); and
2. Directory signs whose total area does not exceed 25 square feet. A directory sign may be a wall sign, suspended sign or freestanding sign (under PMC 19.12.020).
E. Nonground Floor Business. In addition to the sign area permitted under subsection (B) of this section, an office which does not have ground floor building frontage may have up to 10 square feet of sign placed at the main ground floor entry to the business. [Ord. 928 § 1, 1987.]
19.16.060 Gasoline service stations, car washes.
This section applies to auto service stations and car washes, with or without retail gasoline sales, and similar commercial business that service vehicles primarily outside of a building.
A. Identification. A permanent sign is limited to the name and graphic logo of the business, services rendered and pricing information. Product advertising shall be limited to window signs and gasoline pump islands.
B. Area. The maximum sign area allowed to be placed on a site is 100 square feet including any permitted freestanding signs. No individual sign face may exceed 30 square feet. Small product and brand name signs on the gasoline pumps and attached to the pump island and other identification signs intended to direct and inform customers already on the premises are not included in the maximum sign area.
C. Types of Signs.
1. Building Signs. A service station or car wash may have wall signs and window signs.
2. Freestanding Sign. A freestanding sign may be permitted subject to PMC 19.12.020. If approved, a freestanding sign may not exceed 12 feet in height. There may be no more than one freestanding sign per street frontage. No individual sign on the freestanding structure may exceed 30 square feet and no structure may have more than two such signs. [Ord. 928 § 1, 1987.]
19.16.070 Theaters.
This section applies to movie theaters, concert and exhibit halls, playhouses, nightclubs with scheduled performances or similar uses.
A. Identification. A permanent theater sign is limited to the name and graphic logo of the use, the type of services rendered, marquees or reader boards and the street address.
B. Area. The maximum sign area allowed to be placed for a use is:
1. Building Signs. One square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage. No sign face may exceed 200 square feet on any building frontage. Pedestrian-oriented showcases for movie, concert and exhibit posters or information are not included in the allowable sign area.
2. Freestanding Signs. Subject to PMC 19.12.020, 50 square feet in area and 15 feet in height.
C. Types of Signs.
1. Building Signs. A theater use may have wall signs, window signs, awning signs and suspended signs.
2. Freestanding Sign. A freestanding sign may be permitted subject to PMC 19.12.020. Reader boards may be added to the freestanding sign structure instead of placing them on a building frontage (and they are then included in the maximum building sign area). [Ord. 928 § 1, 1987.]
19.16.080 Manufacturing, research, warehouse and industrial uses.
This section applies to heavy and light manufacturing, industrial business parks, mini-storage, warehousing and distribution operations, processing plants, research facilities and similar uses.
A. Identification. A permanent sign is limited to the name and graphic logo of the business, types of service rendered, the principal brand names or classification of the product and the street address.
B. Area. The maximum sign area allowed to be placed on a parcel is as follows:
1. For a parcel less than five acres. One square foot for each 1,000 square feet contained on the site or one square foot of sign area for each two lineal feet of building frontage, whichever is greater. No sign may exceed 100 square feet for an individual business;
2. For a parcel of five acres or more. One square foot for each 2,000 square feet contained on the site or 400 square feet, whichever is less. No sign may exceed 200 square feet;
3. A parcel having four or more individual businesses may have, in addition to the area allowed under subsections (B)(1) and (2) of this section:
a. One master identification sign, maximum 25 square feet,
b. Directory signs, maximum total 25 square feet,
c. Industrial business park sign which conforms to subsection (C)(4) of this section.
C. Types of Signs.
1. Building Signs. A use under this section may have wall signs, window signs and awning signs.
2. Freestanding Sign. A freestanding sign may be permitted subject to PMC 19.12.020. If approved, the freestanding sign for a parcel having one to three businesses may not exceed eight feet in height. It may be 25 square feet in area or 50 percent of the sign area allowed on the principal street frontage, whichever is less. The area is included in the maximum sign area.
3. Multi-Business Parcel Having Four or More Businesses. In addition to other signs permitted by this section, a multi-business parcel with four or more businesses may have one master identification sign (a freestanding sign under PMC 19.12.020 or a wall sign) and directory signs (freestanding under PMC 19.12.020 or wall signs). A freestanding sign may not exceed eight feet in height.
4. Industrial Business Parks. In addition to other signs permitted by this section, a business or industrial park subdivision may have at each main entrance to the subdivision a master identification sign not to exceed 25 square feet each. The sign may not be illuminated nor exceed five feet in height. [Ord. 928 § 1, 1987.]
19.16.090 Auto/motor vehicle dealers.
This section applies to retail dealers of automobiles, motorcycles, boats and similar motor vehicles. A business selling only used vehicles is regulated by PMC 19.16.020.
A. Identification. A permanent sign is limited to the name and graphic logo of the business, the type of service rendered, the principal brand names or classification of merchandise for sale and the street address.
B. Area. The maximum sign area allowed to be placed is:
1. One square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage except that no sign may exceed 200 square feet; and
2. One freestanding sign for each main entry or street frontage, subject to PMC 19.12.020. The sign may not exceed 75 square feet or 50 percent of the sign area allowed on the principal street frontage, whichever is less.
C. Types of Signs.
1. Building Signs. A vehicle dealer may have wall signs, window signs and awning signs.
2. Freestanding Sign. A freestanding sign may be permitted subject to PMC 19.12.020. If approved, a freestanding sign may not exceed one foot in height for each 10 feet of lot frontage or 15 feet, whichever is less. No part of a freestanding sign may be higher than the closest distance between the sign and a building. A freestanding sign need not be less than five feet in height. [Ord. 928 § 1, 1987.]
19.16.100 Residential uses.
This section applies to permanent identification for apartments, condominiums, townhouses, residential subdivisions, mobile home parks and similar residential uses.
A. Identification. A permanent sign for a residential use is limited to the name of the subdivision, mobile home park, apartment complex, condominium or townhouse development and the street address.
B. Apartment and Condominiums.
1. A parcel containing five or more dwelling units may have one sign per street frontage. The sign may be a wall sign or freestanding sign, subject to PMC 19.12.020.
2. The maximum area per sign is 10 square feet or one square foot for each five dwelling units, whichever is greater. The sign may not exceed 50 square feet. The maximum height of a freestanding sign is eight feet.
C. Neighborhood Identification Signs. A major subdivision or mobile home park may have, at each main entrance to the subdivision or facility, an identification sign not to exceed 15 square feet each. The sign may not be illuminated nor exceed five feet in height. [Ord. 928 § 1, 1987.]
19.16.110 All land uses located in the downtown commercial core.
This section applies to all uses within the area identified in the general plan as the downtown commercial core (General Plan Figure 5-1) that require signage. All signs located within this area shall be subject to the design approval process and signage guidelines set forth in the old town design guidelines (Resolution No. 05-10382, 2005). [Ord. 07-1290 § 6, 2007.]