20.960.020 Scope.
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A. This chapter shall apply to all property and land within the jurisdiction of the city. It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation that owns, occupies, or controls property in the city to construct, maintain, display or alter or cause to be constructed, maintained, displayed or altered, a sign within the city except in conformance with this chapter.
B. It is not intended for this chapter to regulate public sector signing, political campaign signs, private noncommercial signs less than 6 square feet per face, doorway identification nameplates up to 4 square feet, and holiday decorations, as such terms are used and/or defined herein.
C. In addition to subsection B above, the following on-site nonilluminated signs are permitted without a sign permit and in addition to the maximum allowable number and maximum allowable area of signs, as follows:
1. One maximum 6 square feet per face sign, per frontage in all districts; or
2. One maximum 48 square feet per face sign, per frontage, on a lot in any nonresidential district.
3. Three maximum 48 square feet per face sign(s), per frontage on active construction sites in all districts. Active construction sites include properties where development permits are pending or have been issued but a final occupancy permit has not been issued.
4. Exception: This section shall not allow any sign otherwise prohibited by this title.
D. Vehicles Signs (including trailers). Vehicles used as part of the normal function of a business or organization are permitted to have signs relating to that business or organization, subject to the following limitations:
1. Not Permitted. Any sign attached to or placed on a parked vehicle or trailer used principally for advertising purposes, rather than transportation. A vehicle or trailer shall be considered principally used for advertising purposes based on the following criteria: a) a sign is attached or placed on the vehicle or trailer that is larger than 20 square feet in area; b) the sign is attached or placed on the vehicle or trailer for more than 12 hours in any 48-hour period; c) the vehicle or trailer is parked in the same location or within 300 feet of one location for more than four hours; and d) the sign attached or placed on the vehicle or trailer is parked in a public right-of-way or within 50 feet of a public right-of-way; and e) the sign attached to the vehicle or trailer can be read by a person with normal vision from inside the arterial right-of-way.
2. The provisions of the above section shall not apply where: a) the vehicle is temporarily parked at a loading dock, b) the vehicle is substantially hidden from view from any public street by buildings, fences, mature landscaping or similar objects such that the vehicle does not attract attention to or communicate information about the business or organization, c) the vehicle is legally parked at the residence of the driver, d) the vehicle is a contractor’s trailer at the site of an active construction project or e) the vehicle is available for rent as part of an equipment rental business and the content of the sign refers to the rental business only; or when such vehicle is parked at or near the site of the business or organization.
E. Window Signs. Window signs in conjunction with a permitted use are exempt, provided 50 percent or more of the window area is unobscured by signage. Such signs shall not be included in determining the number of signs nor permissible sign area. Sign permits are not required. (Ord. M-3868 § 4, 02/25/2008; Ord. M-3701 § 34, 05/02/2005; Ord. M-3643, 01/26/2004)