Chapter 15.12
SIGN CODE
Sections:
15.12.050 Noncommercial signs.
15.12.080 Special event signs.
15.12.100 Temporary directional signs.
15.12.120 Prohibited signs, penalty and removal thereof.
15.12.130 Application to city sign board for approval to construct sign.
15.12.010 Purpose.
This chapter shall be known as the “sign code” and is being instituted to protect the public health, safety and welfare by regulating the use of exterior signs and displays, thus promoting traffic safety, protection of property values, and preservation of natural and aesthetic community assets, while attempting to preserve the right of the individual to utilize his property as he chooses. (Ord. 443 § 1, 1991).
15.12.020 Definitions.
A. “Commercial sign” means any exterior sign conveying a message advertising or attracting the attention of prospective patrons, customers, and users, but shall not include a sign that is more specifically defined below.
B. “Detached sign” means any sign that is not attached to a building or is attached to a building for a purpose other than to draw attention to the business or product located or sold within the building to which the sign is attached.
C. “Noncommercial sign” means any exterior residential name plate, ornamental or otherwise, erected for the purpose of identifying a residence; or permanent sign for naming or identifying an institution, church, semi-public or public recreational development or building, an apartment building, or a subdivision.
D. “Permanent sign” means any sign other than a special event sign, public sign, temporary directional sign, or any exterior residential name plate sign erected for the purpose of identifying a residence, that remains or is intended to remain in the same location for more than 24 hours.
E. “Political sign” means a sign advertising a candidate, a list of candidates, and/or a specific issue appearing on the ballot at the next ensuing election.
F. “Public sign” means a sign of interest and benefit to the general public, such as a directional sign designating routes or location; traffic control signs such as a “stop” sign, “speed limit” sign, etc.; safety signs such as “school crossing,” or “bus loading,” etc.
G. “Real estate sign” means the temporary sign customarily employed by real estate brokers or agents or homeowners for the purpose of attracting attention to real estate that is for sale.
H. “Sign” means any medium, including its structure and component parts, which is used or intended to be used to attract attention to the subject matter for advertising, instruction or safety purposes. “Sign” does not include the following:
1. Official notices issued by a court or public officer;
2. A medium as described above which is located completely within an enclosed building unless the context in which it is used in this code shall so indicate;
3. Holiday decorations, provided the same are removed within a reasonable time after the holiday being celebrated; and
4. Yard sale signs.
I. “Special event sign or device” means any sign advertising a special occurrence or event such as community dances, community festivals, or public service fund raisers such as Red Cross drives, United Good Neighbor Fund collections and the like. It shall also include streamers, banners and similar devices used for a period not to exceed two weeks in any calendar year to bring attention to any grand opening, special sale or similar sort of business event for a business located on the premises upon which the device is erected. (Ord. 443 § 2, 1991).
15.12.030 Commercial signs.
Except for signs for home occupations as allowed in TMC 15.12.050(C), commercial signs shall be allowed in C-1 and C-2 zones, subject to council approval and subject to the following restrictions:
A. The sign shall be attractive on all visible sides. There shall be no back side consisting of obviously visible braces and structures that could materially affect other properties.
B. Each business shall have not more than one principal sign oriented to a single street.
C. The sign shall be to scale in size and height with the building and the premises to which it is appurtenant. No sign shall be wider than 25 percent of the frontage of the building to which it is attached.
D. The sign shall demonstrate an integral relationship to the design of the building and the premises to which it is appurtenant, in its shape, its detail, its materials and its color.
E. Changes in existing signs shall require the same review and approval as a new sign.
F. The sign height shall be limited to the height allowable for buildings in the zone in which the sign is to be located.
G. No sign shall extend more than four feet beyond the curbline established by the city in any road, street or public way. Any sign extending beyond such curbline shall be not less than 14 feet above the established grade of the road, street or public way.
H. No sign shall be erected that interferes with the visibility of traffic control devices or street names.
I. Signs may be luminous, reflecting or illuminating, but no sign shall be flashing or oscillating.
J. No sign shall be placed on or so as to cause visual obstruction of a public right-of-way.
K. All signs shall comply with the Uniform Sign Code and all other applicable state, county and city building and fire codes.
L. The location, shape and construction of any sign shall be consistent with the purpose set forth in TMC 15.12.010. (Ord. 443 § 3, 1991).
15.12.040 Procedure.
Application on a form prescribed by the city must be made to and approval obtained from the city sign board prior to commencement of construction or placement of any detached or commercial sign. The sign board shall consist of three members appointed by the mayor. (Ord. 443 § 4, 1991).
15.12.050 Noncommercial signs.
In the R-1 and R-2 districts no signs shall project into the street right-of-way or more than five feet into a required yard. No sign shall project above the building height limitation of the district in which the sign is located. All signs shall be located on the property which the signs are intended to identify. The following signs are permitted in the R-1 and R-2 districts:
A. One unlighted sign not to exceed two square feet in area for a dwelling; the sign need not be attached to the building and shall designate only the name of the occupant;
B. One unlighted temporary sign not to exceed six square feet in area pertaining to the lease, rental, or sale of the property;
C. Either one unlighted attached or unattached sign not to exceed six square feet in area for a home occupation; the sign shall designate only the name, occupation and telephone number of the occupant;
D. One unlighted, indirectly lighted, or lighted but nonflashing sign not to exceed 12 square feet in the area facing each bordering street for all nonresidential uses permitted in the R-1 and R-2 districts. (Ord. 443 § 5, 1991).
15.12.060 Public signs.
Public signs are allowed in all zones as is necessary to comply with all state, federal and county regulations and is deemed necessary by the city to protect the public health, safety and welfare. (Ord. 443 § 6, 1991).
15.12.070 Political signs.
A. Political signs may be placed upon private property only and shall not be larger than 10 square feet in area and shall not be posted upon or attached to telephone poles, power poles or other public utility facilities. Said signs shall only be placed upon private property with the owner or occupant’s permission. Such signs may be displayed 30 days prior to an election and must be removed 10 days after the election. For a successful candidate in a primary election the sign may remain until the final election.
B. The candidate for which the sign is displayed shall be responsible for its removal and be subject to the penalties as provided in this sign code. (Ord. 683 § 1, 2010; Ord. 443 § 7, 1991).
15.12.080 Special event signs.
Special event signs shall be allowed in all zones, subject to city sign board approval. (Ord. 443 § 8, 1991).
15.12.090 Real estate signs.
A real estate sign located on the property being advertised shall be permitted in all zones; provided, however, that said sign shall not exceed 30 inches in height or 30 inches in width; provided, further, however, if, due to the size, location, or other extraordinary circumstances that would justify the placing of a larger sign in order to assure adequate visibility and legibility from a city or state street or highway, the owner or occupant may apply to the city sign board for permission to place a larger sign on the premises. (Ord. 443 § 9, 1991).
15.12.100 Temporary directional signs.
Sandwich or tripod-type signs which are intended to direct persons to church or other nonprofit organizational functions, to a garage sale or similar event, or to an open house or similar event for the sale of real estate, may be placed on the street right-of-way, provided the sign is not on the traveled portion of the road or on the road shoulder or obstructing a sidewalk or other pedestrian way. Such signs may be placed during daylight hours from sunrise to sunset, provided the location does not create a traffic hazard. The sign board size shall not exceed 30 inches in width or height and shall be removed by sunset of the day in which it is placed. No such sign shall be placed on any utility pole within the city. (Ord. 443 § 10, 1991).
15.12.110 Existing signs.
A. The sign code shall not apply to legally existing permanent signs in place on or before the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter unless the user of said sign wishes to change the shape, dimensions, or content of said sign. In that case, the sign must comply with the applicable sections of this sign code. It shall not be deemed a change in content of a sign if the change is merely changing the message that may appear on the changeable portion of a reader board-type sign.
B. All signs, pre-existing the effective date of this code or otherwise, must be kept in good repair, be well maintained, and not be a safety hazard to the members of this community. If any sign does not meet the standards set forth in this paragraph then the building inspector, or such other city official as he may designate, may have the same removed in the same manner as set forth in TMC 15.12.120 for the removal of prohibited signs.
C. This section shall cease to apply to a pre-existing sign if the business or other entity that the sign advertises ceases to do business in the same location for more than 90 days. After that time any pre-existing sign must meet all applicable standards of the sign code. (Ord. 443 § 11, 1991).
15.12.120 Prohibited signs, penalty and removal thereof.
A. Any sign not specifically permitted by the sign code is prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to erect or otherwise place a prohibited sign within the city or to allow a prohibited sign to be erected or otherwise placed or maintained upon property owned or occupied by them.
B. If the building inspector believes a sign to be in violation of this chapter, he shall give the owner or occupant of the premises upon which the sign is located a written notice that the sign is in violation of the sign code. The notice shall set forth the nature of the violations and also state that if the violations are not corrected within one week of the giving of the notice, then the sign shall be removed by city personnel at the owner’s expense.
C. If a person upon which a notice has been served believes the sign conforms with the city code, or needs additional time to correct the deficiency, then he may appeal the building inspector’s finding to the city council. Said appeal shall be taken by giving written notice to the city clerk-treasurer within five days after the building inspector gives said notice. If the notice is not timely given to the city clerk-treasurer, then the building inspector’s decision shall be deemed final and binding.
D. If a person requests review of the building inspector’s or sign board’s decision, he shall set forth in that request the reasons he is requesting said relief. That request shall be considered at the next regularly scheduled council meeting. The decision of the council upon said request shall be binding. If the council upholds the decision, or requires some action to be taken other than that requested by the building inspector or sign board, then the action requested shall be carried out within 10 days of the date of the council’s decision on the matter. If not so carried out, or if the sign is not removed within that 10-day period, then city personnel shall remove the sign at the expense of the owner or occupant of the premises upon which the sign is located.
E. Failure to perform any act required or the performance of any act prohibited by this chapter is designated as a civil infraction and shall not be classified as a criminal offense.
Any person, firm or corporation found to have committed a civil infraction shall be assessed a monetary penalty, which penalty may not exceed $500.00 for each offense.
Each day during which a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense and separate penalties may be assessed for each separate offense. (Ord. 443 § 12, 1991).
15.12.130 Application to city sign board for approval to construct sign.
A. An applicant requesting approval as required by any section of this sign code shall comply with the following requirements:
1. Applications for approval shall be submitted to the city clerk-treasurer at the Tonasket City Hall.
2. The application shall contain the following information:
a. The name, address, and phone number of:
i. The person erecting the sign;
ii. The owner of the property upon which the sign is to be erected;
iii. The occupant of the property upon which the sign is to be erected; and
iv. If a detached sign, a properly executed permit or easement from the property owner;
b. A drawing setting forth the sign size, shape, color, lettering, and number and wattage of any lights or other devices which are to be part of the sign;
c. A drawing setting forth the method of fastening or anchoring the sign to a building or the footings and foundation and column design for a freestanding sign;
d. A drawing indicating the relationship of the proposed sign to the total structure to which it would be attached;
e. A drawing indicating the landscaping around the proposed sign if the sign is to be detached from the structure;
f. The retail business license number for all commercial sign applications.
3. The applicant shall make the premises upon which the sign is to be erected available for inspection to members of the city sign board and/or building inspector.
4. A $15.00 per sign nonrefundable application and inspection fee shall be paid at the time application is made for a sign permit.
B. The city sign board shall consider, and require compliance with, the following factors in reaching its decision:
1. The sign shall further the purpose of this sign code, as said purpose is set forth in TMC 15.12.010.
2. The sign shall comply with the Uniform Sign Code and all other applicable state, county and city building and fire codes.
3. All permanent signs must meet the standards applicable to commercial signs as set forth in TMC 15.12.030. (Ord. 443 § 13, 1991).
15.12.140 Variance.
Upon application to the city council, a variance to the requirements and restrictions of this chapter may be granted when special conditions, circumstances or characteristics exist and the city council makes a finding that the variance would comply with the spirit and intent of this chapter and would not be detrimental to other property in the vicinity. (Ord. 443 § 14, 1991).