17.80.060 General regulations.
A. Motion Signs Prohibited. No sign or any part of a sign shall be designed or constructed to be moving by any means, and shall not contain items such as banners, ribbons, streamers, balloons and spinners. These devices, when not part of any sign, are also prohibited. Limited use of thematic flags, banners and pennants which are complementary to a specific location or structure may be permitted upon approval of the director. This waiver is not intended to permit the use of numerous types of devices which as a result of wind pressure may move to a point of attracting attention of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
B. Exposed Sign Supports. Exposed braces and angle irons are prohibited unless they are a decorative element in the sign structure (e.g., wrought iron “S” curve braces) or unless there are no other practical means of supporting the sign.
C. Flashing Signs. No sign shall have blinking, flashing, fluttering or moving lights or other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity or color.
D. International Building Code Compliance. The structure and installation of all signs shall comply with the latest adopted edition of the city’s building code. Such sign shall meet all other applicable provisions of this chapter.
E. Maintenance Required. All signs, together with all of their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be maintained in good repair and in a safe, neat, clean and attractive condition.
F. Illumination Restrictions.
1. Externally Illuminated Signs. Signs may be externally illuminated and shall conform to the city’s design manual standards for lighting.
2. Internal Illumination and Neon. Internally illuminated signs shall conform to the following:
a. Individual Pan-Channel Sign Graphics and Emblems. Sign graphics and emblems (e.g., fully illuminated logo shields) shall not exceed 21 inches in height.
b. Individual Sign Graphics Using “Halo” or “Silhouette” Lighting. Sign graphic height shall not be restricted on opaque sign graphics using “halo” or “silhouette” lighting where the light is reflected off the surface to which the sign graphics are mounted.
c. Internal Illumination and Neon Lighting. All sign graphics which are internally illuminated, or illuminated with neon tubing, are limited to no more than 21 inches in height, except that illuminated outlines and borders may extend to the height of the sign face. Only text and graphics may be internally illuminated; the sign face must remain opaque, and be sealed at the seams to avoid light leaks. However, design allowances for illuminated sign faces may be approved by the design review board (DRB) under the provisions of GHMC 17.80.140 if the sign conforms to all of the following criteria:
i. Illumination may be the minimum required to reveal the background color, but no brighter.
ii. Color of the sign face shall be limited to the darker values which diminish glare. Intensity shall be dull or weak.
d. Internally Illuminated Awning Signs. Awning materials must be totally opaque. Only the sign graphics on an awning may be translucent.
G. Abandoned Signs. Abandoned signs shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located after the business or service advertised is no longer conducted on the premises.
H. Color and Material Restrictions. Reflective materials, brilliant luminescent or fluorescent colors shall be permitted for sign graphics and one logo shield per sign face only and may not be used on the background, field, or surface to which graphics or logo shields are applied. Materials which give the appearance of changing color or of movement are prohibited.
I. SR-16 Sign Orientation. Signage shall not be oriented for SR-16 visibility, except as follows:
1. Signage for existing establishments may be oriented to the road or parking lot providing primary access to the customer entrance.
2. Wall signage may be oriented toward designated freeway interchange areas as defined on Exhibit 1, attached to Ordinance No. 788 and available in the city clerk’s office, provided all screening or buffering requirements specified in the city’s design manual or zoning code are in compliance on the subject site; and provided, that no more than one sign is visible from the interchange for any one business.
J. Wall Graphics. There are no restrictions on wall graphics except as regulated by the city’s design manual for color; provided, that they do not constitute advertising of a business, product, service or event normally subject to the provisions for painted signs. (Ord. 1427 § 3, 2019).