18A.100.050 General provisions | Lakewood Municipal Code

18A.100.050 General provisions.

The provisions of this section apply within all zoning districts citywide and includes general rules for the placement and maintenance of all signs.

1. No permanent sign shall be constructed, erected, or retained unless the sign and sign structure are constructed, erected, and as specified in the International Building Code or other applicable regulations.

a. The area of a sign means the area within a continuous perimeter enclosing the outer limits of the sign face, but not including structural elements which are not a part of the display.

b. When two (2) identical sign faces are placed back to back, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the sign faces. No more than two (2) faces are permitted per freestanding sign. The area of a spherical, cubical or polyhedral sign equals one-half the total surface area.

3. Area of Freestanding Letters. Freestanding letters and/or characters forming a sign or message shall be considered to occupy two-thirds of the combined overall background area.

4. Height of Signs. Maximum height of all freestanding signs or any part of the freestanding sign structure shall be ten (10) feet above average finished grade. Sign height shall be measured from the average finished grade at the sign foundation. The average finished grade for signs on grades lower than the adjacent right-of-way shall be considered the same as the average grade of the adjacent right-of-way. See Figure 12 following subsection (A)(7) of this section for grade exceptions.

5. Width of Signs. The maximum width of a freestanding sign structure shall be twelve (12) feet. Sign width shall be measured on the face side of the sign from one side of the face or any part of the sign structure to the farthest point on the opposite side of the face or part of the sign structure.

6. Illumination. External sign illumination shall be directed only towards the sign face or freestanding letters and shall be shielded in ways to prevent light and glare on adjacent properties.

7. Grade Exception. When the elevation at the base of a freestanding sign is at least five (5) feet below the elevation of the adjacent road, a single pole may be used to support the sign provided the portion of the sign above the elevation of the adjacent roadway has the appearance of a monument sign. See Figure 12 below.

a. All signs shall be maintained in a safe condition and in good repair per the Community Development Director or designee. Any sign that is damaged shall be restored to a safe condition immediately. Failure to maintain a sign in a safe condition and in good repair shall be grounds for revocation of a sign permit. Any temporary sign that is poorly maintained must be replaced or is subject to removal.

i. All signs shall be free of tears, holes, chipping, cracking, peeling, fading or discoloration, graffiti, rust on any functional or nonfunctional component, and must not be battered, shredded or damaged.

ii. Any sign that has fallen is subject to removal.

iii. All illuminated sign faces must be maintain a consistent level of illumination.

9. Unsafe Signs. No sign or sign structure shall be constructed in such a manner or at such a location that it will obstruct access to any fire escape or other means of ingress or egress from a building or any exit corridor, exit hallway, or exit doorway. No sign or supporting structure shall cover, wholly or partially, any window or doorway in any manner that will substantially limit access to the building in case of fire.

1. Setbacks for Signs. All signs are permitted a zero-foot setback, except as provided in this chapter, provided the owner demonstrates to the City by reasonable evidence that the sign will not obstruct the clear sight zone as determined by the City Engineer.

2. Establishment of Property Lines. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner or an authorized representative to establish and clearly mark out any property line from which a sign setback measurement shall be taken. In the event of a dispute or discrepancy the Director may order an independent survey to ensure compliance with this chapter. The survey cost shall be charged to the sign applicant.

3. A sign shall not be affixed to a tree, shrub, rock or other natural object.

4. No sign may be affixed to a utility pole, or other public structure.

5. Signs shall not be mounted on any portion of the roof or extend above the roof line unless mounted on a parapet wall. Signs shall not extend above the top edge of the parapet wall.

6. No sign shall project into the vehicular or pedestrian public way, or be less than nine (9) feet above a pedestrian way.

7. No sign together with any supporting framework shall extend to a height above the maximum building height allowed in a zone.

8. Signs shall not cover architectural details such as, but not limited to, arches, sills, moldings, cornices, and transom windows.

9. Signs shall not obstruct traffic signals. The issuance of a sign permit as regulated by this code shall not relieve the permit holder from fully complying with the State of Washington or any other law governing the obstruction of any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.

10. Signs shall not obstruct vision clearance as determined by the City Engineer.

11. Unauthorized signs in the public right-of-way that the City Engineer determines to be located so as to present a hazard to the public health or safety may be immediately removed without prior notice.

12. Transmission Lines – Clearance. Horizontal and vertical clearance of signs or sign structures from power and communication transmission lines shall not be less than twelve (12) feet.

C. Flagpoles. No flagpole shall extend to a height above the maximum building height allowed in the zone. A flagpole greater than six (6) feet in height shall require a building permit. All flagpoles shall be set back eight (8) feet from all property lines. Flagpoles greater than twenty-five (25) feet in height shall be set back an additional foot for each foot in height above twenty-five (25) feet.

D. Digital Signs. The purpose of this subsection is to regulate how digital signage technology might be applied to sign types otherwise permitted by this chapter. It is not intended to allow more signs or larger signs than otherwise permitted by this chapter.

1. One digital sign is allowed per one hundred (100) feet of street frontage in nonresidential zones.

2. Maximum luminance of not more than 0.2 footcandles over ambient lighting conditions. All permitted digital signs shall be equipped with a sensor or other device that automatically determines ambient illumination and is programmed to automatically dim according to ambient light conditions. Digital sign illumination shall be measured in accordance with Night-time Brightness Level Recommendations for On-Premise Electronic Message Centers. (International Sign Association, August 2016). Exterior lighting shall comply with LMC 18A.60.095.

3. No motion allowed except for instantaneous change of message or image.

4. Minimum hold between messages: eight (8) seconds plus one and one-half (1.5) second transition fade.

5. Programming. To ensure that digital signs are programmed and continue to operate according to local standards, digital signs shall be designed for local on-site control and programing only.

E. Bus Shelter Signs. To support the provision of transit bus shelters in Lakewood, signs are permitted when provided in conjunction with the City-approved Pierce Transit Lakewood Bus Shelter Program, subject to the following requirements:

A bus shelter sign is an accessory sign that is structurally integrated into a bus shelter approved for design, construction, and location by Pierce Transit and the City of Lakewood.

1. The maximum sign area is forty-eight (48) square feet for the entire shelter structure.

2. Sign setback requirements are waived.

3. Sign separation requirements are waived.

4. Bus shelter signage is exclusive of signage limits of the lot on which it is located. [Ord. 726 § 2 (Exh. B), 2019.]