18A.100.010 Purpose – Sign regulations.
The purpose of this chapter is to further the City’s efforts to foster an attractive City, which in turn encourages people to do business and live in Lakewood. This chapter is also intended to protect public safety through sign regulation. These goals are balanced with the business interest of attracting customers and public interest in free speech.
With these purposes in mind, it is the intent of this chapter to ensure that the use and regulation of signage is consistent with the public interest as follows:
A. Balance multiple goals including promoting economic development by enhancing the City’s appearance and creating an attractive community;
B. Provide minimum standards to safeguard life, health, property and the general welfare by regulating and controlling the design, quality of materials, construction, location, electrification and maintenance of all signs and sign structures;
C. Protect the public from hazardous conditions resulting from signs that are structurally unsafe, obscure vision of motorists, distract motorists, or interfere with traffic signs and signals;
D. Minimize overhead clutter for drivers and pedestrians;
E. Provide for types and sizes of signs appropriate to the land uses and zoning districts of the City;
F. Encourage well designed and properly maintained signs that are compatible both with surrounding land uses and the buildings to which they are appurtenant;
G. Encourage well designed signs which are compatible with the natural quality of the shoreline environment and adjacent land and water uses;
H. Provide the public with reasonable means to help them easily and safely locate businesses and other locations in Lakewood;
I. Recognize free speech rights by regulating signs in a content-neutral manner. [Ord. 726 § 2 (Exh. B), 2019.]