Processing Permit Applications

1. The Planning and Building Departments shall approve a sign permit upon finding that the applicant has met all requirements of the sign standards.

2. No sign construction shall begin unless the approved permit has been issued and the applicant has paid all fees.

3. Unless the permit holder requests an extension of the permit and demonstrates good cause for such an extension, a sign permit shall expire if the sign construction or other work authorized by a sign permit is not completed within one year of the date of issue.

4. No sign construction shall be considered complete until the permit holder has notified the city that work is finished and the city is satisfied that the sign construction has been completed in conformity with the approved plans and otherwise complies with the sign standards.

5. If a permit is denied, the applicant shall receive a notice of denial in writing, setting forth the reasons for the denial. A decision granting or denying a sign permit may be appealed to the Planning Commission in accord with the variance and appeal process defined in Chapter 5 of the Development Code.

6. No additional permits shall be issued for signs on businesses or uses with signs not already in compliance with the sign code unless the applicant can prove existing signs are legal nonconforming.

D. Indemnification of City. As a condition to the issuance of a sign permit as required by this Chapter, all persons engaged in the hanging or painting of signs, which involves, in whole or in part, the erection, alteration, relocation, maintenance, or other sign work in, over, or immediately adjacent to a public right-of-way or public property if used or encroached upon by the sign hanger or painter in the said sign work, shall agree to hold harmless and

indemnify the City, its officers, agents, and employees from liability for damages resulting from said erection, alteration, relocation, maintenance or other sign work.

E. Exemptions to sign permits. The following signs and related activities may be allowed and shall be exempt from the need to obtain a sign permit. These signs are permitted signs in all sign districts, except as otherwise noted. Use of these signs does not affect the amount or type of signage otherwise allowed by the sign standards.

1. Maintenance that does not alter a sign or sign structure shall not require a sign permit.

This also includes change of face, where an existing sign is modified by change of message or design on the sign face, without any change to size or shape of the sign framework or structure.

2. Contractor/consultant signs. One sign per contractor/consultant while a building permit is active and work is proceeding on the premises. The total amount of signage shall not exceed 36 square feet.

3. Flags of national, state, or local government.

4. Holiday decorations and lights in place during National and local Holidays.

5. Mosaic, mural, painting, or graphic art, flags (excluding pennants), and fabric wall decorations that do not contain copy, advertising/hallmark symbols, lettering or

references to any product, service, or goods, do not require a permit, however, they will require permission from the Planning Commission and may be counted towards the business's sign allotment.

6. Parking lot signs up to three square feet in area and up to five feet in height may be constructed or placed within a parking lot for the purpose of directing traffic, parking, and towing. Parking lot signs shall not include any corporate wording or logos unless they are included in the allotted project signage.

7. Public signs. Signs constructed or placed in a public right-of-way by or with the approval of a governmental agency having legal control or ownership over the right-of-way, signs owned or constructed under the direction of the city, and signs placed by a public utility for the purpose of providing information concerning a pole, line, pipe, or other facility belonging to the public utility may be allowed.

8. Real Estate Signs. One sign per street frontage may be allowed; residential is limited to 12 square feet or less in area, and must be located on the development site where the property is for sale or lease. Commercial and Industrial District signs are not to exceed 32 square feet in area when advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises on which they are located. Open house signs are allowed off-site for one day provided they are not located on City right-of-way, including pedestrian areas, or with-in sight visibility triangles.

9. Signs during elections. Signs 12 square feet or less in area, located on private property during the period from 60 days before to five days after any public election to be held in Oregon.

10. Stadium signs. Signs located within a sport stadium that are intended for viewing primarily by persons within such stadium.

11. Vehicular signs. Any sign permanently or temporarily placed on or attached to a motor vehicle, where the vehicle is used in the regular course of business for purposes other than the display of signs, subject to compliance with the following conditions:

a) The Vehicle/equipment is in operating condition, currently registered and licensed to operate on public streets when applicable, and actively used in the daily function of a business/or use.

b) Vehicles and equipment are not used as static displays, for more than 24 hours in any location, nor utilized as storage, shelter or distribution points for commercial products or services for the general public.

c) Vehicles and equipment engaged in active construction projects and the on-premise storage of equipment and vehicles offered to the general public for rent or lease shall not be subjected to this condition.

d) The parking of the vehicle at the owner's residence is exempt from the above criteria.

12. Wall signs located within a commercial center or multi-family development that cannot be viewed from the street or adjacent properties and are intended for persons already on the development site.

13. Temporary signs announcing the opening of a new business are allowed upon notification to the City, for period of 60 days starting with the day application is made for the

permanent sign with the potential for an additional 30-day extension.

3.6.3 Definitions and Calculation Standards

For the purposes of calculation of all areas and distances under the sign standards, the following definitions and standards apply:

A. Definitions

1. Abandoned Sign. Any sign which no longer gives correct directions to, location of, description of a business, service or activity performed, or product sold or a sign not being properly maintained. Any sign that is related to a business, service, activity or product that has not been operating for a period of 90 days or that is related to a business activity that has relocated, shall be considered an abandoned sign. A sign associated with a vacant business or property that is advertised and marketed for sale or lease shall not be considered abandoned.

2. Business frontage. The lineal footage of a building or portion thereof, devoted to a specific business or enterprise.

3. Ground or Pole Signs. A sign erected on a freestanding frame, mast, or pole and not attached to any building, also known as a freestanding sign.

4. Monument Sign. A freestanding sign that does not have exposed pole or pylon and is attached to a continuous structural base. The base is not less than half the width of the message portion of the sign and is permanently affixed to the ground. Monument sign bases include material consistent with the principle structure, including brick, block, and concrete, but excluding metal.

5. Nonconforming Sign. An existing sign, lawful at the time of the enactment of this ordinance, which does not conform to the requirements of this code.

6. Projecting and Suspended Signs. Projected signs are attached to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than six inches beyond the surface of such building. Suspended signs are suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface.

7. Sign. Any message, identification, description, illustration, symbol, device, or sculptured matter, including forms shaped to resemble any human, animal, or product, which is affixed directly or indirectly upon a building, vehicle, structure, or land.

8. Sign Height. The sign height is the vertical distance from the grade to the highest point of a sign or sign structure.

9. Sign structure. The supports, uprights, braces, framework, and other structural components of the sign.

10. Temporary Sign. A sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted.

11. Wall Signs. A sign painted or attached to any part of a building, or mounted/painted upon the inside of windows within all commercial or industrial zoning districts. Wall signs include parapet signs, awning/canopy signs, projecting/suspended signs, and marquee signs that are attached to the marquee.

B. Criteria for Definitions and Measurement Standards