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Signs on Nonresidential Properties
All signs on nonresidential properties shall comply with the standards provided in this section and, as applicable, in Section 17.75.080 (General Requirements for All Signs).
The aggregate sign area for permanent signs on nonresidential properties shall not exceed 0.5 square feet of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage.
TABLE 17.75.090-1: SIGNS ON NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
| Sign Type | Maximum Number | Maximum Sign Area | Maximum Sign Structure Height | Illumination 17.75.080(C) | Minimum Setback | Other Requirements |
| Architectural sign (permanent) | 1 per fence or decorative wall, not to exceed 2 per entrance | - Max width: the shorter of 75 percent of length of wall, or 20 ft - Lettering height minimum six inches maximum 12 inches - Must not project more than eight inches from wall | n/a | Internal or external | n/a | - Permit required |
| Awning or canopy sign (permanent) | - 1/canopy - 1/valance | - one sq ft per horizontal lineal foot of valance or canopy - Max 75 percent valance coverage | Not to be displayed above 2nd story | Internal or external | n/a | - Permit required - Width: max 60 percent of canopy or valance - Vertical clearance eight ft from grade - Min 2 ft setback from outer curb |
| Banners (temporary) | 1 per business | Greater of 30 sq ft or 10 percent of business frontage | - Not above story of business - Shall not project above edge of the roof | Not allowed | n/a | - Permit required - Must be attached to structure - Max 30 days per banner, collectively no more than 120 days per calendar year. New business may have, additionally, one banner for up to the earlier of 90 consecutive days or until new sign is installed |
| Construction signs (temporary; see subdivision signs for definition) | 1 sign per entrance | 20 sq ft per sign | 6 ft | External | 5 ft from property line | - Permit required - Max 12 months |
| Electronic readerboards (permanent) | 1 sign per entrance | 40 square feet | 6 ft | Internal | 5 ft from property line | - Permit required - Institutional uses only |
| Flags (permanent/temporary) | n/a | 30 sq ft per business; max 24 sq ft per flag | 12 ft | External | 5 ft from property line | - Permit required - Vertical clearance min 7 ft from bottom of flag when not extended to grade - Must be securely attached to a flagpole - flagpole height may be extended to 16 ft with a site plan review. |
| Freestanding signs (permanent; monument/ground mounted directory) | - one per entrance - one additional sign on corner, if applicable | 40 sq ft | 6 ft | Internal or external | 5 ft from property line | - Permit required - Min. 30 ft separation between signs - Monument signs base width: 40 percent of sign structure width if structure is 4 sq ft or three ft tall |
| Parking lot signs (permanent) | 1 sign per spot | 4 sq ft | 3 ft | Internal or external | n/a | n/a |
| Pole signs (permanent) | 1 sign per entrance | 40 sq ft | 6 ft | Internal | 5 ft from property line | - Permit required - Institutional uses only |
| Portable signs (temporary) | 1 per business | 6 sq ft | 3 ft | Not allowed | 5 ft from property line | - Max ten ft from business entrance - Must be removed daily at close of business |
| Projecting signs/Suspended signs (permanent) | 1 per business entrance | 12 sq ft | 14 ft from grade; not higher than floor where business is located | Internal or external | Can encroach up to three ft into PROW with City Engineer approval and encroachment permit | - Permit required - Width: max ten inches - Vertical clearance: eight ft from bottom of sign to grade - Max five ft extending from structure wall - Must be double sided |
| Wall signs (permanent; includes building-mounted directory signs) | n/a | 1 sq ft per lineal foot of business frontage | Second story but not more than 25 ft from grade | Internal or external | n/a | - Permit required - Projection: Max ten inches from wall; 2 inches from wall for wall-mounted directories - Width: Max 75 percent of building façade or business frontage - Vertical clearance: ten ft from grade; not applicable for directories |
| Window signs/Permanent | n/a | 30 percent of window area (including temporary window signs) | n/a | Internal | n/a | n/q |
| Window Signs/Temporary | n/a | 30 percent of window area (combined with permanent window signs) | n/a | Not allowed | n/a | n/a - Maximum 60 days per calendar year |
| Yard Signs (temporary) | 1 per business/use frontage | 5 sq ft/sign | - Inverted L: six ft from lowest grade - Other yard signs three ft from lowest grade | Not permitted | 5 ft from property line | - Maximum 90 days each calendar year |
A.
Architectural Signs. The following standards apply to permanent architectural signs on nonresidential properties (see Figure 17.75.090.1)
Figure 17.75.090.1
1.
Permit required.
2.
Maximum Number. One sign per decorative, fence, or retaining wall, not to exceed two such signs per entrance. The purpose of this limitation is to ensure that signs can be erected at all entrances to a development so as to be visible to vehicles arriving at the property from either direction.
3.
Maximum Area. Not applicable.
4.
Maximum Height. Signs shall not project above the wall on which they are placed.
5.
Maximum width. Sign lettering shall not extend more than the shorter of 75 percent of the width of the wall or 20 feet.
6.
Illumination. May be internally or externally illuminated consistent with Section 17.75.080.C.
7.
Lettering height: Minimum six inches; Maximum 12 inches.
8.
Must not project more than eight inches from wall.
B.
Awning or Canopy Signs. The following standards apply to permanent awning or canopy signs on nonresidential properties (see Figure 17.75.090.2).
Figure 17.75.090.2
1.
Permit required.
2.
Maximum Number. One sign per awning or canopy, and one per valance.
3.
Maximum Area. One square foot per one lineal foot of awning or canopy width, and 75 percent maximum coverage per valance.
4.
Maximum Height. Sign is not to be displayed above the second story.
5.
Maximum Width. Sign copy on an awning or canopy shall not exceed 60 percent of awning or canopy width.
5.
Illumination. May be internally or externally illuminated consistent with Section 17.75.080(C).
6.
Vertical Clearance. Minimum eight feet from bottom of the awning, including valance, or canopy to finished grade.
7.
Setback and Projection into Public Right-of-Way. A minimum of two feet between the edge of the awning or canopy and outer curb face shall be maintained.
C.
Banners. The following standards apply to temporary banner signs on nonresidential properties (see Figure 17.75.090.3).
Figure 17.75.090.3
1.
Permit required.
2.
Maximum Number. One per business frontage.
3.
Maximum Area. Thirty square feet or ten percent of business frontage on which the banner is placed, whichever is greater.
4.
Maximum Height. Banners shall not be placed above the story of the business to which they apply, and shall not project above the edge of the roof of the structure to which they are attached.
5.
Illumination. Not allowed.
6.
Maximum Duration: Maximum 30 days per banner, collectively no more than 120 days per calendar year. A new business is allowed to have one banner for up to 90 consecutive days to allow time for a permanent sign to be installed; this initial time period shall not count towards the total allowable time the business may have banners.
7.
Banners shall be affixed to a permanent structure (i.e., cannot be freestanding, such as mounted on temporary posts).
D.
Construction Signs (see subdivision signs for definition). The following standards apply to temporary construction signs on nonresidential properties (see Figure 17.75.090.4)
Figure 17.75.090.4
1.
Permit required.
2.
Maximum Number. One per entrance.
3.
Maximum Area. Twenty square feet.
4.
Maximum Height. Six feet.
5.
Illumination. External.
6.
Setback: Minimum five feet from property line.
7.
Construction signs are limited to 12 months.
E.
Electronic Readerboards. The following standards apply to permanent electronic readerboards on nonresidential properties (see Figure 17.75.090.5).
Figure 17.75.090.5
1.
Permit required.
2.
Maximum Number. One per entrance.
3.
Maximum Area. Forty square feet.
4.
Maximum Height. Six feet.
5.
Setback: Minimum five feet from property line.
6.
Illumination. May be internally illuminated consistent with Section 17.75.080(C).
7.
Electronic readerboards are permitted only for institutional uses.
F.
Flags. The following standards apply to flags on nonresidential properties (see Figure 17.75.090.6).
Figure 17.75.090.6
1.
Permit not required.
2.
Maximum Number. One per business.
3.
Maximum Area. Twenty-four square feet per flag.
4.
Maximum Total Flag Area Per Property: Thirty square feet.
5.
Maximum Height. Twelve feet unless increased to 16 feet with approval of a site plan review.
6.
Vertical Clearance. Minimum seven feet from the bottom of the flag when not extended to finished grade.
7.
Setback: Minimum five feet from property line.
8.
Illumination. May be externally illuminated consistent with Section 17.75.080(C).
9.
A flag shall be securely attached to a flagpole.
G.
Freestanding Signs. The following standards apply to permanent freestanding signs (ground-mounted directory signs and monument signs) on all nonresidential properties (see Figures 17.75.090.7 and 17.75.090.8).
Figure 17.75.090.7
Figure 17.75.090.8
1.
Permit required.
2.
Maximum Number. One per entrance. Corner lots may have one additional freestanding sign on the corner.
3.
Maximum Sign Area. Forty square feet.
4.
Maximum Structure Height. Six feet.
5.
Maximum Width. Ten feet, including structure. Sign structures larger than four square feet or taller than three feet shall include a sign base with an aggregate width of at least 40 percent of the width of the sign face.
6.
Setback. Minimum five feet from a property line; the setback may be increased to ensure safe motorist visibility.
7.
Separation. Freestanding signs must be separated from other freestanding signs by at least 30 feet.
8.
Illumination. Internally or externally illuminated consistent with Section 17.75.080(C).
H.
Parking Lot Signs. The following standards apply to permanent parking lot signs on nonresidential properties (see Figure 17.75.090.9).
Figure 17.75.090.9
1.
Permit not required.
2.
Maximum Number. One sign per parking spot.
3.
Maximum Area. Four square feet.
4.
Maximum Height. Three feet.
5.
Illumination. May be internally or externally illuminated consistent with Section 17.75.080(C).
I.
Pole Signs. The following standards apply pole signs on nonresidential properties (see Figure 17.75.090.10).
Figure 17.75.090.10
1.
Permit required.
2.
Maximum Number. One per entrance.
3.
Maximum Area. Forty square feet.
4.
Maximum Height. Six feet.
5.
Vertical Clearance. None.
6.
Illumination. May be internally illuminated consistent with Section 17.75.080(C).
7.
Poles are permitted only for institutional or assembly uses.
J.
Portable Signs. The following standards apply to temporary portable signs on nonresidential properties (see Figure 17.75.090.11).
Figure 17.75.090.11
1.
No permit required.
2.
Maximum Number. One per business.
3.
Maximum Area. Six square feet.
4.
Maximum Height. Three feet.
5.
Illumination. Not allowed.
6.
Setback: Minimum five feet from property line.
7.
Signs shall be located maximum of ten feet from the primary business entrance.
8.
Signs shall be removed at the close of business.
K.
Projecting Signs/Suspended Signs. The following standards apply to projecting and suspended signs on nonresidential properties (sometimes also referred to as "blade signs") (see Figure 17.75.090.12 and 17.75.090.13).
Figure 17.75.090.12
Figure 17.75.090.13
1.
Permit required.
2.
Maximum Number. One per business entrance.
3.
Maximum Area. Twelve square feet.
4.
Maximum Height. Fourteen feet above finished grade.
5.
Maximum Width: Ten inches.
6.
Vertical Clearance. Minimum eight feet from bottom of the sign to finished grade below.
7.
Projecting signs shall not extend more than five feet from a structure wall.
8.
Projecting into public right-of-way. May encroach into the city right-of-way a maximum of three feet if approval is obtained from the city engineer and a city encroachment permit is issued. Approval shall only be withheld if the proposed sign cannot be installed safely. Signs may not encroach into state right-of-way unless authorized by the state.
9.
Illumination. May be internally or externally illuminated consistent with Section 17.75.080(C).
10.
Projecting signs shall be double-sided.
L.
Yard Signs. The following standards apply to temporary yard signs on nonresidential properties (see Figures 17.75.090.14, 17.75.090.15 and 17.75.090.16).
Figure 17.75.090.14
Figure 17.75.090.15
Figure 17.75.090.16
1.
No permit required.
2.
Maximum Number. One per business/use frontage.
3.
Maximum Area. Five square feet.
4.
Maximum Height. Inverted L: Six feet from lowest grade; other yard signs: three feet from lowest grade.
5.
Illumination. Not allowed.
6.
Setback: Minimum five feet from property line.
7.
Duration: Maximum 90 days per calendar year.
M.
Wall Signs. The following standards apply to permanent wall signs on nonresidential properties (see Figures 17.75.090.17 and 17.75.090.18).
Figure 17.75.090.17
Figure 17.75.090.18
1.
Permit required.
2.
Includes directories mounted on building walls.
3.
Maximum Area. One square foot per lineal foot of building façade or business frontage.
4.
Maximum Height. Sign is not to be displayed above the second story, but no higher than 25 feet from grade.
5.
Sign Width. Maximum 75 percent width of building façade or business frontage.
6.
Projection. Maximum ten inches from the wall to which it is attached.
7.
Vertical Clearance. Minimum ten feet from bottom of the sign to finished grade below; not applicable for directories.
8.
Illumination. Internally or externally illuminated consistent with Section 17.75.080(C).
N.
Window Signs, Permanent. The following standards apply to permanent window signs on nonresidential properties (see Figure 17.75.090.19).
Figure 17.75.090.19
1.
Permit required.
2.
Maximum Area. Thirty percent of window area (including temporary window signs). This is a per-window limitation, not total window area. Each window shall not be covered by window signs that are larger than 30 percent of the area of the window.
3.
Illumination. May be internally illuminated consistent with Section 17.75.080(C).
O.
Window Signs, Temporary. The following standards apply to temporary window signs on nonresidential properties.
1.
Maximum Area. Thirty percent of window area. In no event shall more than 30 percent of the total window area be covered by signage, permanent or temporary.
2.
Maximum Height. Not applicable.
3.
Illumination. Not allowed.
4.
Duration. Temporary window signs may be displayed for no longer than 60 days per calendar year.
(Ord. No. 652, § 2, 11-16-21)