1. Height Measurement. Freestanding signs shall be measured from the highest point of the sign to the finished grade at the base of the sign support. Finished grade shall be the final grade approved through the site plan review process and shall not be increased for purposes of increasing overall sign height.

2. Height Standards. Freestanding ground signs shall not exceed eight feet in height.

3. Clearance Standards. Freestanding signs which abut the edge of a sidewalk shall have a maximum clearance of 27 inches.

4. Maximum Sign Area. Fifty square feet for a single side or 100 square feet total on all sides, not to exceed 50 square feet on any one side, or one square foot of sign area for every three feet of frontage the sign is located on, whichever is less.

5. Location. Freestanding signs may not be located on public property. The placement of freestanding signs shall be in such a fashion and location as to not obstruct the view of signs of adjacent property owners.

6. Density. One freestanding sign shall be permitted on each street frontage of property on which the business is located. Sites on a corner of two public streets may have one sign on the corner instead of a sign for each frontage, subject to approval by the public works director. Commercial properties with more than 1,000 feet of continuous street frontage and with more than one entrance may install a freestanding sign at each entrance; provided, that no single sign exceeds the maximum sign area described under subsection (A)(4) of this section. Where there is frontage on more than one street, each frontage is treated independently.

7. Landscaping. Freestanding signs must be landscaped around the base of the sign.

8. One sign placed per vehicular entrance is allowed without a permit, shall be no larger than four square feet per side, and no taller than three feet in height as measured from the ground.

1. Total Area. Painted or attached signs on any wall shall not exceed three percent of the wall plane the sign is mounted to, except that signage covering up to 10 percent of a wall plane is allowed if the wall plane conforms to all solid/void ratio requirements specified in the city’s design manual, and if all on-premises yards on the side of the building the sign faces conform to all landscaping provisions of the city’s design manual and of Chapter 17.78 GHMC. In no case may a single sign exceed 100 square feet.

2. Architectural Details. Signs may not cover or obscure important architectural details of a building such as stair railings, turnings, windows, doors, decorative louvers, or similar elements intended to be decorative features of a building design. Signs must appear to be a secondary and complementary feature of the building facade. Wall signs must be located within architectural sign bands or other blank spaces which visually frame the sign. Blank wall sections above or between windows and doors, for example, may provide an effective location for signage. Signs hanging between pillars and archways may also be an effective design solution. However, to avoid a “maxed out” appearance, signs shall be no larger than 70 percent of the width or height of the blank wall space or fascia the sign is mounted to so as to leave reveal on all sides of the sign and to maintain an appropriate balance between the sign and wall. For example, a pillar between a door and window which is 30 inches wide may have a sign which is 21 inches wide.

3. Height Restriction. Wall signs shall not project above roof lines or fascia boards.

1. Illuminated Window Signs. Illuminated window signs shall conform to the total wall sign area standards in subsection B of this section and shall conform with all master sign plan requirements in GHMC 17.80.070.

2. Nonilluminated Window Signs. Nonilluminated window signs are allowed in addition to the standards in subsection B of this section; provided, that they do not exceed 50 percent of the nominal window size (i.e., the window size as specified by the manufacturer). Additionally, nonilluminated window signs are not required to conform to the design standards of master sign plans.

1. Surface Area. Projecting signs are limited to 32 square feet total both sides. Projecting sign area shall be deducted from the allowable wall signage determined under subsection (B)(1) of this section.

2. Clearance Requirements. All projecting signs must be at least eight feet above sidewalks and walkways and 15 feet above vehicular ways.

3. Maximum Projection. Projecting signs shall have a maximum width of three feet with a maximum clearance of six inches from the building wall.

4. Design Restriction. Projecting signs may not be cabinet-type signs and may not be internally illuminated. (Ord. 1427 § 3, 2019).