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Table 22.50.020: Permanent Commercial Sign Allowance determines whether a specific permanent commercial sign is allowed in a zoning district or by land use activity. The zoning district or land use activity is identified in the left column, the type of sign in the second column, and the specific commercial sign allowances are located in the rows of the table.

A. If no symbol or number appears in the table box at the intersection of the column and row, the sign is not allowed in that category or is not subject to an allowance.

B. If a letter appears in the table box at the intersection of the column and row or in the column or row heading, the sign may be allowed subject to the appropriate requirement and specific conditions indicated in the table footnotes.

C. All applicable requirements shall govern a permanent commercial sign whether or not the requirements are cross-referenced in Table 22.50.020: Permanent Commercial Sign Allowance.

Table 22.50.020. Permanent Commercial Sign Allowance

Purpose

Type of sign

Permit required

Number of signs

Area max per sign in sq ft

Height in ft

Setback in ft

Comments

Access, Landmark, and Informational Signs – All Zones

entry

monument

yes

1

6

4

2

Per vehicle entry

landmark

wall (h)

no

1

2

8

2

Per building frontage

informational – private

wall (h)

no

1

4

8

2

Per building frontage – must be for an original purpose and may not simply repeat the same message over and over

informational – private

freestanding

no

1

4

8

2

Per property frontage – must be for an original purpose and may not simply repeat the same message over and over

informational – public

wall (h)

no

1

2

8

2

Per building frontage

informational – public

freestanding

no

1

2

8

2

Per organization

Institutional (IN) and Limited Open Space (LS) Zoning Districts

informational

wall (h)

yes

1

6

8

Per frontage visible from ROW – no limit within the site if not ROW visible

freestanding

yes

1

6

6

2

Per property

window – opaque

no

1

20%

Percent of window area per window

window – transparent

no

1

20%

Percent of window area per first floor window

wall (h)

yes

1

40

24

Per building frontage

projecting

yes

1

20

(a)

Under 4 ft wide, mounted 6 inches from attaching wall

changeable message

yes

1

50%

10

Percent changeable of allowable sign area

advertising – freestanding

<300 lf frontage

yes

1

40

10

2

Per property frontage

>300 lf frontage

yes

2

40

10

2

Signs must be located more than 200 lf apart

monument – off-premises multitenant directions (f)

yes

1

24

10

2

Per closest arterial/collector road for businesses not located on the arterial or collector road; prohibited in ROW; maximum 1/4 mile straight line distance from sign to property

TOTAL single-tenant site

100

2

Total allowed for combination of signs, except window signage

TOTAL multitenant site

120

2

Total allowed for combination of signs, except window signage

Downtown Commercial Zoning District (DC)

informational

wall (h)

yes

1

6

8

Per frontage visible from ROW – no limit within the site if not ROW visible

window – opaque

no

N/A

20%

Percent of window area per window

window – transparent

no

N/A

20%

Percent of window area per first floor window

under awning in lieu of blade

yes

1

10

(a)

(b)

Per business on street frontage

awning/canopy fascia (g)

yes

1

40%

(a)

(b)

Percent of vertical edge of awning/canopy

blade in lieu of under awning

yes

1

16

(a)

(b)

Per tenant space – may have blade or under awning but not both

directory – per tenant

yes

1

6

8

Per primary or secondary building frontage

wall – single tenant (h)

yes

1

100

2.0 sf/1.0 lf of building frontage per primary or secondary frontage up to maximum per frontage; secondary sign maximum 75% of primary sign maximum; no digital contents within the “Historic Main neighborhood” per MMC 22.50.120

wall – multitenant (h)

yes

1

150

2.0 sf/1.0 lf of tenant space building frontage per primary or secondary frontage up to maximum per frontage; secondary sign maximum 75% of primary sign maximum; no digital contents within “Historic Main” per MMC 22.50.120(D)

projecting

yes

1

20

(a)

(b)

Under 4 ft wide, mounted 6 inches from attaching wall – no digital contents within Historic Main Zone per MMC 22.50.120

changeable message

yes

1

50%

10

Percent changeable of public service message of allowable sign area

advertising – freestanding

monument – single tenant

yes

1

32

10

2 (e)

Per street frontage, Lewis Street allowed 50 sf and height up to 20 ft

monument – multitenant

yes

1

48

10

2 (e)

Per street frontage, Lewis Street allowed 80 sf and height up to 20 ft

monument – off-premises multitenant directions (f)

yes

1

24

10

2

Per closest arterial/collector road for businesses not located on Main or Lewis Streets; prohibited in ROW; maximum 1/4 mile straight line distance from sign to property

off-premises multitenant advertising (f)

yes

1

32

10

2

Per closest arterial/collector road for businesses not located on Main or Lewis Streets, prohibited in ROW; maximum 1/4 mile straight line distance from sign to property

TOTAL single-tenant site

140

2

Total allowed for combination of signs, except window signage

TOTAL multitenant site

180

2

Total allowed for combination of signs, except window signage

Mixed Use – General (MG) and Mixed Use – Neighborhood (MN) Zoning Districts

informational

wall (h)

yes

1

6

8

Per frontage visible from ROW – no limit within the site if not ROW visible

advertising

window – opaque

no

N/A

15%

Percent of window area per window

window – transparent

no

N/A

20%

Percent of window area per first floor window

awning/canopy fascia (g)

yes

1

40%

(a)

2

Percent of vertical edge of awning/canopy

under awning in lieu of blade

yes

1

10

(a)

2

Per tenant space

blade in lieu of under awning

yes

1

16

(a)

2

Per tenant space – may have blade or under awning but not both

wall – single tenant (h)

yes

1

80/100

1.5 sf/1.0 lf of primary or secondary frontage up to maximum per frontage; maximum 80 MN, 100 MG; secondary sign maximum 75% of primary sign maximum

wall – multitenant (h)

yes

1

120/150

1.5 sf/1.0 lf of tenant space building frontage per primary or secondary frontage up to maximum per frontage; maximum 120 MN, 150 MG; secondary sign maximum 75% of primary sign maximum (d)

projecting

yes

1

20

(a)

Under 4 ft wide, mounted 6 inches from attaching wall

changeable message

yes

1

50%

10

Percent changeable of allowable sign area; allowed in MU only

advertising – freestanding

monument – single tenant

yes

1

32

8

2

Per street frontage

monument – multitenant single street

yes

1

48

8

2

Per street frontage

freestanding – single tenant <200 lf frontage

yes

1

80

20

2

Per street frontage; allowed in MG only

freestanding – single tenant >200 lf frontage

yes

2

80

20

2

Per street frontage over 200 lf located more than 100 lf apart up to 4 total signs per site; allowed in MG only

freestanding – multitenant <200 lf frontage

yes

1

120

20

2

Per street frontage; allowed in MG only

freestanding – multitenant >200 lf frontage

yes

2

120

20

2

Per street frontage over 200 lf located more than 100 lf apart up to 4 total signs per site; allowed in MG only

freestanding – limited highway intersection

yes

1

140

45

2

Per 522 frontage at 522/Main Street intersection; sign must be perpendicular to and abutting 522 ROW, digital contents allowed

TOTAL single-tenant site – MN only

140

2

Total allowed for combination of signs, except window signage

TOTAL multitenant site – MN only

180

2

Total allowed for combination of signs, except window signage

General Commercial (GC), Industrial Transition (IT), and Tourist Commercial (TC) Zoning Districts

informational

wall (h)

yes

1

40%

(a)

2

Percent of vertical edge of awning/canopy

freestanding

yes

1

6

8

Per frontage visible from ROW – no limit within the site if not ROW visible

advertising

window – opaque

no

N/A

20%

Percent of window area per window

window – transparent

no

N/A

20%

Percent of window area per first floor window

under awning in lieu of blade

yes

1

10

(a)

2

Per business on street frontage

blade in lieu of under awning

yes

1

16

(a)

2

Per tenant space – may have blade or under awning but not both

awning/canopy fascia (g)

yes

1

6

6

2

Per property

wall – single tenant (h)

yes

1

200

24

1.5 sf/1.0 lf of frontage per primary or secondary frontage up to maximum per frontage; secondary sign maximum 75% of primary maximum

wall – multitenant (h)

yes

1

300

24

1.5 sf/1.0 lf of tenant space building frontage per primary or secondary frontage up to maximum per frontage; secondary sign maximum 75% of primary maximum (d)

projecting

yes

1

20

(a)

Under 4 ft wide, mounted 6 inches from attaching wall – digital contents allowed

advertising – freestanding

single tenant <400 lf frontage

yes

1

100

35

2

Per street frontage – digital contents allowed except where visible from Lake Tye Park

single tenant >400 lf frontage

yes

2

100

35

2

Per street frontage over 400 lf located more than 100 lf apart for a total of no more than 4 signs per site – digital contents allowed except where visible from Lake Tye Park

multitenant <400 lf frontage

yes

1

150

35

2

Per street frontage – digital contents allowed except where visible from Lake Tye Park

multitenant >400 lf frontage

yes

2

150

35

2

Per street frontage over 400 lf located more than 100 lf apart up for a total of no more than 4 signs per site – digital contents allowed except where visible from Lake Tye Park

off-premises multitenant advertising

yes

1

150

35

2

Per intersection of arterials and collectors on US 2 for businesses not located on US 2; located more than 100 lf from another freestanding sign subject to the total maximum allowable on- and off-premises sign area of each tenant; prohibited in ROW; maximum 1/4 mile straight line distance from sign to property

limited highway intersection

yes

1

140

45

2

Per 522 frontage at 522/Main Street intersection; sign must be perpendicular to and abutting 522 ROW – digital contents allowed

monument – off-premises multitenant directions (f)

yes

1

24

10

2

Per closest arterial/collector road for businesses not located on US 2; prohibited in ROW; maximum 1/4 mile straight line distance from sign to property

changeable message – gas

yes

1

20

8

2

100% changeable of allowable sign area – digital contents allowed

changeable message – food

yes

2

24

8

2

100% changeable of allowable sign area – digital contents allowed

changeable message – movie

yes

1

80

24

2

80% changeable of allowable sign area – digital contents allowed

TOTAL single-tenant site

360

Total allowed for combination of on- and off-premises signs, except window signage

TOTAL multitenant site

480

Total allowed for combination of on- and off-premises signs, except window signage

Light Industrial (LI), General Industrial (GI), and Shoreline Industrial (SI) Zoning Districts

informational

wall (h)

yes

1

6

8

Per frontage visible from ROW – no limit within the site if not ROW visible

freestanding

yes

1

6

6

2

Per property

advertising

window – opaque

no

N/A

20%

Percent of window area per window

window – transparent

yes

1

20%

(a)

Percent of vertical edge of awning/canopy

blade in lieu of under awning

yes

1

16

(a)

2

Per tenant space – may have blade or under awning but not both

wall – single tenant (h)

yes

1

300

24

1.0 sf/1.0 lf of frontage per primary or secondary frontage up to maximum per frontage; secondary sign maximum 75% of primary sign maximum

wall – multiple tenant (h)

yes

1

300

24

1.0 sf/1.0 lf of tenant space building frontage per primary or secondary frontage plus 32 sf/tenant for each additional tenant after the first 2 tenants; secondary maximum 75% of primary maximum (d)

projecting

yes

1

20

(a)

Under 4 ft wide, mounted 6 inches from attaching wall

changeable message

yes

1

50%

10

Percent changeable of allowable sign area

advertising – freestanding

monument

yes

1

50

6

2

Per vehicle complex entry

single tenant <400 lf frontage

yes

1

100

35

2

Per street frontage – digital contents allowed except where visible from Lake Tye Park

single tenant >400 lf frontage

yes

2

100

35

2

Per street frontage over 400 lf located more than 200 lf apart for a total of no more than 4 per site – digital contents allowed except where visible from Lake Tye Park

multitenant <400 lf frontage

yes

1

150

35

2

Per street frontage – digital contents allowed except where visible from Lake Tye Park

multitenant >400 lf frontage

yes

2

150

35

2

Per street frontage over 400 lf located more than 200 lf apart for a total of no more than 4 per site – digital contents allowed except where visible from Lake Tye Park

off-premises multitenant advertising (f)

yes

1

150

35

2

Per intersection of arterials and collectors for businesses not located on Fryelands Blvd; sign located more than 100 lf from another freestanding sign subject to the total maximum allowable on- and off-premises sign area of each tenant; prohibited in ROW; maximum 1/4 mile straight line distance from sign to property

monument – off-premises multitenant directions (f)

yes

1

24

10

2

Per closest arterial/collector road for businesses not located on Fryelands Blvd; prohibited in ROW; maximum 1/4 mile straight line distance from sign to property

TOTAL single-tenant site

360

Total allowed for combination of on- and off-premises signs, except window signage

TOTAL multitenant site

488

Total allowed for combination of on- and off-premises signs, except window signage

Table Notes:

aMust comply with MMC 22.50.110.

bAll signs may be located at the edge of the public ROW. Under-awning signs may extend six feet while blade and projecting signs may extend four feet into the public ROW or over the sidewalk where the sidewalk is at least ten to twelve feet wide.

Column Headings:

cFor buildings with two or more frontages, the length of the wall and allowable sign area shall be calculated separately for each such building frontage.

ROW Footnotes:

dIf the site has reached the maximum, newly created tenant spaces shall be allowed one tenant identifying wall sign located above the tenant’s entry not to exceed sixteen square feet in surface area – not to be used as a bonus by tenants with existing signs. For multitenant building with a shared entry, the signage per tenant shall be determined by dividing the tenant’s gross floor area by the gross floor area of the building to determine the percentage of the building occupied by the tenant. The tenant is then allotted that percent of the total square footage allowed for the site.

eNo setback required in the historic main neighborhood subject to city engineer approval of visibility.

fMinimum three businesses per sign; must not have arterial street frontage available for freestanding signage and special circumstances are necessary because of the location, size, shape, or topography of the property or business, group of businesses, or business area to provide it with signage privileges typical of other properties in the vicinity or zoning district.

gAwning or canopy fascia lettering should be composed of a single line of type with letters under twelve inches and not occupy more than two-thirds of the fascia linear surface front or side.

hNo wall sign shall project more than eighteen inches from the wall of a building, nor extend above the eave or deck line of the building upon which it is located; except those located upon parapet walls, wherein they may be located above the deck line but not above the height of the parapet wall. No wall sign shall have an image area larger than twenty-five percent of the area of the message.

(Ord. 005/2019 § 10 (Exh. B))