§ 20.18.140. Prohibited signs.

In addition to the list of prohibited signs stated below, any sign erected in violation of the city's building, electrical, lighting, or other applicable local, state or federal regulations, not expressly authorized by the code, a sign not specifically authorized by action of city council or specifically exempted from the provisions hereof, is prohibited within the corporate limits of the city and, as to billboards only, the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction. The following sign types are prohibited:

A.

New static or CEVM billboards except as provided herein.

B.

Off-premises commercial wall signs, except as provided herein.

C.

Off-premises portable signs or any portable sign that is electrical or is more than seven feet in height including the support structure.

D.

Wall signs that extend beyond the elevation of the building more than three feet.

E.

Any sign which resembles an official traffic sign or signal or that bears the words "Stop," "Go," "Slow," "Caution," "Danger," "Warning" or similar words, or that bears symbols communicating similar meanings in a manner which is likely to be confused with official traffic signs.

F.

Signs which, by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination, may be confused with or construed to be a traffic control sign, signal or device, or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle, or which hide from view any street or traffic sign, signal or device.

G.

Any banner, handbill whether commercial or noncommercial, advertisement, notice, circular poster, piece of paper, figure, word, or letter, or any other kind of sign printed, painted, cut, branded, stamped, marked, written, posted, pasted, installed, or affixed in any way upon any utility post or stand, upon traffic control signs or signals, or upon any public property or public right-of-way, including, but not limited to, public buildings, sidewalks, parkways, easements and curbs; unless such sign is installed or affixed pursuant to authorization granted a special privilege license or by a city ordinance, resolution, or other valid official city authorization, or is otherwise permitted or regulated in the code.

H.

Signs on vehicles or trailers that are parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying a commercial message. It shall be prima facie evidence that the primary purpose of a vehicle or trailer is to display a sign if the vehicle or trailer is parked on a site, or in the same general location, for a continuous period exceeding seventy-two hours per month. This prohibition does not apply to a vehicle displaying a commercial message which pertains to the establishment of which the vehicle is an instrument, and the parking is short term and incidental to the performance of the establishment's customary activities.

I.

Mobile billboards.

J.

Festoons, including tinsel, strings of ribbon, streamers and pinwheels.

K.

Signs erected or maintained upon trees, painted or drawn upon rocks or other natural features.

L.

Satellite dishes, cell phone, microwave or broadcast towers, operable or inoperable, used as signs.

M.

Signs, any portion of which revolves or rotates at a speed greater than three revolutions per minute.

N.

Animated, flashing, running light or twinkle signs, excluding CEVM signs that are permitted pursuant to the provisions of Article III of this chapter.

O.

Signs projecting or displaying three-dimensional or holographic images.

P.

"V" type signs with a face that protrudes from the opposite face at an interior angle greater than twenty-five degrees. This restriction shall not be construed to prohibit oval, cylindrical or box type signs.

Q.

Signs located on or attached in any manner to fences or between or on the poles of another sign or light fixture, except as may be permitted herein.

R.

Signs projected (from a light source) onto the sides of buildings.

S.

CEVM billboards and on premise signs, except that CEVM billboards and CEVM on-premises signs which conform to the provisions of this chapter are allowed.

T.

Static or CEVM billboards, except that static or CEVM billboards and CEVM on-premises signs which conform to the provisions of this chapter are allowed.

(Ord. No. 17317, § 2, 5-4-2010; Ord. No. 17960, § 6, 2-19-2013; Ord. No. 18245, § 2, 9-16-2014)