HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-1638 ADOPTING THE UNIFORM SIGN CODE. ORDINANCE NO. /4..3p
AN ORDINANCE relating to building regulations, 'adopting by reference
the Uniform Sign Code, 1973 Edition, copyright 1973
by the International Conference of Building Officials;
regulating the erection and maintenance of advertising
signs, billboards and banners in the City of Yakima;
111 requiring a license for sign erectors; requiring the
inspection of signs and requiring permits therefor;
providing penalties for violations; enacting Chapter
11.08, "Sign Code", as a new chapter of the City of
Yakima Municipal Code; and repealing Chapter 5.06 of
the City of Yakima Municipal Code.
WHEREAS, R.C.W. 35.21.180 authorizes cities within the State
of Washington to pass ordinances adopting by reference printed com-
pilations and codes, and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Yakima has heretofore
examined and understands the scope and purpose of the regulations
of the Uniform Sign Code, 1973 Edition, copyright 1973 by the Inter-
national Conference of Building Officials, and deems it in the
best interest of the City that such Uniform Sign Code be adopted
411 as the law of the City of Yakima, and
WHEREAS, three copies of such Uniform Sign Code have heretofore
been filed in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Yakima for
use and examination by the public, as required by law, now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. Chapter 11.08, "Sign Code", is hereby enacted as a
new chapter of the City of Yakima Municipal Code, which new chapter
and its various sections shall read as follows:
"CHAPTER 11.08
SIGN CODE
11.08.010 Adoption of Uniform Sign Code. The Uniform
41 1 Sign Code, 1973 Edition, of the International Conference of Build-
ing Officials, of which not less than three copies have been and
now are on file in the office of the City Clerk of the City of
Yakima, is hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set
out in full herein, as the Sign Code of the City of Yakima,
except as hereinafter amended, and the provisions and regulations
thereof are hereby adopted as the provisions and regulations
of the City of Yakima; and the several sections or numbers
therein shall constitute, and may be referred to as, the num-
bers of this chapter.
11.08.020 Amendment to Section S-103(a . Section S-103 (a)
of the Uniform Sign Code, adopted by this chapter, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
'S-103 (a) Autl. The Chief Building Inspector
is hereby authorized and directed to enforce all the pro-
visions of this code. Whenever the term Building Official
is used in this code it shall be construed to mean the
Chief Building Inspector.'
11.08.030 Amendment to Section S-303. Section S-303 of
the Uniform Sign Code, adopted by this chapter, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
'S-303 Exceptions. The following signs shall not
require a permit. These exceptions shall not be construed
as relieving the owner of any sign from the responsibility
of its erection and maintenance, and its compliance with
the provisions of this code or any other law or ordinance
regulating the same.
1. The changing of the advertising copy or message on
a painted or printed sign, theater marquee, and
similar signs specifically designed for the use of
replaceable copy.
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2.. Painting, repainting, or cleaning of an advertising
structure or the changing of the advertising copy or
message thereon shall not be considered an erection
or alteration which requires sign permits unless a
structural or electrical change is made.
3. Temporary signs and decorations customary for special
holidays such as Independence Day or Christmas erected
entirely on private property.
4. Real estate signs 6 square feet or less in area offer-
ing the immediate premises for sale, lease or rent.
5. Non- electrical and non - illuminated signs of 2 square
feet or less in area erected on private property.
6. Bulletin board not over 12 square feet in area for
each public, charitable, or religious institution
when the same is located on the premises of said
!II institution.
7. Temporary signs denoting the architect, engineer, or
contractor when placed upon work under construction .
and not exceeding 32 square feet in area.
8. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and .
dates of erection, when cut into any masonry sur ace
or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible
materials.
9. Signs of public service companies indicating danger
and /or service or safety information.'
11.08.040 Amendment to Section S - 304. Section S - 304 of
the Uniform Sign Code, adopted by this chapter, is hereby amended
to read as follows:
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'S -304 Fees. A sign permit and plan check fee shall
be paid in accordance with the following schedule:
PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE .
T •e Size Fee
411
Ground Signs under 100 sq. feet $5.00 minimum
100 to 250 sq. feet 10.00
250 sq. ft. or larger 15.00
Marquee Signs, under 100 sq. ft. 5.00 minimum
Wall Signs over 100 sq. ft. . 05 sq. ft.
Projecting, Pole under 50 sq. ft. 5.00 minimum
and Roof Signs over 50 sq. ft. .10 sq. ft.
Temporary, Banners, over 2 sq. ft., under 40
Signboards sq. ft. 3.00
over 40 sq. ft. Not permitted
Plan Check Fee One -half of
Sign Permit
Fee
For the purpose of computing the maximum permitted size and
permit fee, free standing letters or characters, where no
background is specially provided, the area shall be con
410 sidered as that encompassed by drawing straight lines at
the extremities of the shapes to be used.'
11.08.050 Amendment to Section S -305. Section S -305 of
the Uniform Sign Code, adopted by this chapter, is hereby amended
to read as follows:
'S-305. Maintenance.
(a) All signs, together with their supports,
guys and anchors, shall be kept in repair and in
proper state of preservation.
(b) Upon the discontinuance or vacation of a
business or activity, the owner or previous owner of
• the business or the person who conducted the activity
shall remove or cause to be removed all signs in the
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city relating to such business or activity within
thirty days from the discontinuance or vacation of
the business or activity. In the event such removal
11 1 is not accomplished within such thirty day period,
the owner or person in possession or control of the
property on which such signs are situated shall remove
or cause to be removed all such signs within sixty
days from the discontinuance or vacation of the busi-
ness or activity.
(c) Signs advertising a company or product no
longer in business in the City of Yakima shall be
removed by the owner of the property or building
within thirty days of notice issued by the Chief
Building Inspector.
(d) Signs painted on the walls of buildings ad-
vertising a company or product no longer in business
in the City of Yakima shall be painted over to match
the exterior surface of the building within thirty
days of notice issued by the Chief Building in.„)ect.tr.'
11.08.060 Amendment to Section S-306. Section S-3'4)
of the Uniform Sign Code, adopted by this chapter, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
'S Inspections. All signs for which a
permit is required shall be subject to inspection
by the Chief Building Inspector and shall have painted
on the surface of the sign the name of the sign erector
111 and the date of erection. Such name and date shall
be of sufficient size and contrast to be readable
from a reasonable distance. Failure to provide such
name and date shall be grounds for rejection of the
sign.
Footing inspections may be required by the Chief
Building Inspector for all signs having footings.
The owner or other person responsible for a sign
shall remove such sign at the order of the Chief
Building Inspector for lack of maintenance, as
required by Section 11.08.050 of this chapter
All signs may be re-inspected from time to time
at the discretion of the Chief Building Inspector.'
11,08.070 Amendment to Table 4-B. Table 4-B of the
Uniform Sign Code, adopted by this chapter, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
TABLE 4-B PROJECTION OF SIGNS
111 Clearance above ,grade Maximum Projection
Less than 8 feet Not permitted
8 feet to 9 feet - 0"
9 feet to 10 feet 2' - 0"
over 10 feet 2/3 the distance frox
bldg. to curb L- 01
a maximum of 10 feet
No sign shall project within 2 feet of curb line.'
11.08.080 Prohibited signs and devices. The following
signs or devices are specifically prohibited, and no person
shall install or maintain any such prohibited sign:
1. All signs not complying with Washington State Highway
410 Department regulations adjacent to state roads.
2. Any sign using the words 'STOP', 'LOOK', 'DANGER' or
any other word, symbol or character which in the judg-
ment of the Chief Building Inspector would tend to
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confuse traffic or detract from any legal traffic
control device.
4. Signs within 20 feet of intersections, alleys or
driveways which obscure vision between the height
of 3 and 10 feet of the street or driveway grade.
5. Stationary motor vehicles, trailers and related
devices utilized in an attempt to circumvent the intent
of this code.
11.08.090 Removal of non-conformin, si:ns.
A. All non-conforming signs shall be made to comply
with the standards of this code or shall be removed within
four (4) years from the effective date of this code.
B. For those areas annexed or rezoned subsequent
to the enactment of this code, the effective date for the
removal or causing compliance of the then nonconforming
signs shall be no later than four (4) years from the date
of annexation or rezoning as specified in Subsection A
above.
11.08.100 License required. No person, firm or corpora-
tion shall engage in the business of erecting, removinr -r-
vicing or maintaining signs as covered by this chapter without
first having procured a license from the City Clerk to conduct
such business.
Exceptions:
• A. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to
• require a license from any persons having a lawful permit.
411 to do so, who shall submit a verified statement that he
is the owner of the building or premises to which such
signs, banners or billboards may be attached and that
work done under such permit shall be performed exclusively
by himself.
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B, Public service corporations holding a valid and
existing franchise from the City and which have on file
• a general obligation bond may erect, remove and maintain
purely directional signs indicating locations, guides,
instructions and distances to the general public, without
the necessity of procuring a license hereunder.
11.08.110 License Fee. The annual license fee for all
licenses provided for by this chapter shall be Seventy-five
Dollars •($75.00), payable in advance on or before January 1 of
each year, provided, a license may be issued for any application
filed after August 31 of any year on payment of one-half the
, annual license fee, which license shall expire and be subject
to renewal on or before December 31 of that year.
- 11.08.120 Application for license. Applicatiol:i for any
license required hereunder shall be made on forms to be fur-
nished for such purpose by the City Clerk. Each application
shall be accompanied with the license fee required therefor
together with the bond specified under Section iL.66.140 rs7: tnis
chapter.
11.08.130 Revocation of license. Licenses gra
the terms of this chapter shall be non-transferrable and may
be revoked by the City Manager on .his finding that the license
holder has violated any provision of this chapter after a public .
hearing upon five days not Such notice shall be served
personally upon the licensee or by certified letter addressed
to the licensee at the address given on the license application.
11.08.140 Bond or insurance re uired. Before any 11.-21
is granted under the terms of this chapter, the applicant shall
execute and deliver to the City a bond in the amount of $50,000
executed by the applicant and a surety company authorized to do
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business in the State of Washington as surety, conditioned
that the applicant will keep and save harmless the City, its
officials, agents and employees from any and all claims,
damages, judgments and expenses and other liability which may •
arise from any negligence of the applicant, its agents, servants,
contractors or employees, or any of them, in the erection,
servicing, maintaining or removing of any sign, street decora-
tion or banner; provided, however, in lieu of the bond required
herein, any licensee may file with the Yakima City Clerk a
copy of an insurance policy or a certificate of insurance with
the City of Yakima as an insured party insuring against liability
arising from the erection, servicing, maintaining or removing
of any sign with limits of coverage of no less than $50,000
for personal injury or death of one person, $250,000 aggregate
coverage for any single accident or occurrence and $25,000
property damage coverage,"
Section 2. Chapter 5.06, "Advertising Signs", and every section
therein of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby repealed in
its entirety.
Section 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effe.'t
thirty days after its passage, approval and publication as provided
by law and by the City Charter.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this / / v - 1 , - day
of 40 , 1974.
- ,
Mayor
ATTEST:
AP.
C,' Clerk /
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