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A. Determining Building Sign Area Allowance.

1. Building signs include awning or canopy signs, directory signs, drive-through signs, projecting signs, suspended signs, wall signs and window signs.

2. The combined permitted sign area of all building signs, excluding suspended signs, directory signs and drive-through signs, must be limited to one and one-half square feet of sign area for each one lineal foot of width of the primary facade up to the maximum sign area allowed in each sign district identified in Table 2, unless a different amount allocated to the building occupant is identified in an approved sign plan pursuant to BC 9.50.170. Sign area allowances for suspended signs, directory signs, and drive-through signs, where permitted, are allowed in addition to the building sign area allowance. For window signs, see subsection (B)(4) of this section.

Table 2. 

Sign District

Maximum Sign Area

Minimum Sign Area

1

200 square feet

30 square feet

2

150 square feet

30 square feet

3

100 square feet

30 square feet

4

100 square feet

20 square feet

5

12 square feet

12 square feet

6

Special standards apply

3. Sign area is computed based on the width of the principal building’s primary facade in elevation view. The width is measured using a straight line beginning at the corner at one end of the side of the building and continuing to the other corner on the same side of the building. If multiple entities occupy a single building, each entity may apply for a sign based on that entity’s primary facade, and the total sign area may not exceed the total sign area for the entire building. Screening walls, fences or other extensions are not included when calculating the building width. Accessory buildings are not used to calculate sign area allowance. Sign area allowances shall not be transferred to other separate tenants or separate uses on the site.

4. Building signs may be installed on the primary facade or subordinate facades, except in Sign District 6 where special standards for sign number, size and placement apply.

a. Exception: Buildings located in Sign District 6 are limited to one sign on a subordinate facade visible to the Bend Parkway. The sign shall not exceed 10 percent of the maximum sign area allowance. The sign area is deducted from the total sign area allowance, and the sign shall not be internally illuminated. All other building signs shall comply with the underlying Sign District regulations.

B. Standards for Specific Signs. Where allowed by BC 9.50.080, the following standards apply to specific types of signs:

1. Awning and Canopy Sign.

a. Awning and canopy signs are allowed for nonresidential uses. Awnings and canopies shall be installed in compliance with current editions of adopted building codes and subject to permitting and inspection by the Building Safety Division.

b. Awning and canopy signs may be permitted only as an integral part of the awning or canopy to which they are attached or applied. Signs shall not be attached on top of or project beyond the fascia of a freestanding canopy. Signs may be installed on top of a canopy that is attached to and supported by the building, provided the sign does not extend above the roofline or eaves of the building. The sign area shall be deducted from the building sign area allowance.

Allowed

Not Allowed

c. Awnings and canopies shall not interfere with trees or traffic signs.

d. Awning and canopies attached to the building are allowed on the first story only. Attached awning or canopy structures shall maintain a clearance of eight feet above a public right-of-way or finished grade. The valance shall maintain a seven-foot clearance. An awning or canopy shall not extend within two feet from the street curb. Posts or columns beyond the property line are not permitted. Awning and canopies shall not project above the roofline.

2. Projecting Sign.

a. Projecting signs are allowed for nonresidential uses.

b. Projecting signs shall be installed on the primary use building. Multiple-tenant buildings may have one sign on each tenant’s storefront that provides customer access.

c. Projecting signs shall be located on the first story except that a projecting sign may be installed on the wall of the second story, provided the sign and sign supports are installed no higher than the second floor window opening or 24 feet above grade, whichever is lower. Projecting signs shall not extend above the roofline or roof eave or above the parapet of the building.

Allowed

Not Allowed

d. Projecting signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area and shall be no more than 36 inches wide and have a maximum thickness of 18 inches. Projecting signs shall extend no more than 42 inches from the building or within two feet of the curb, whichever is less. The sign area shall be deducted from the building sign area allowance.

e. A minimum clearance of eight feet between the bottom of the sign and the finished grade below the sign is required. At alleys, when no curb exists, a minimum height of 14 feet between the bottom of the sign and the finished grade below the sign is required.

3. Wall Signs.

a. Wall signs are allowed for nonresidential uses.

b. A wall sign may be painted, attached or pinned away from the wall. A wall sign shall not project from the surface upon which it is attached more than required for construction purposes and, in no event, more than 18 inches. A wall sign located over an alley shall have a minimum 14-foot clearance unless it projects less than 12 inches from the building.

c. One or more wall signs may be allowed. The total area shall be deducted from the building sign area allowance.

d. Wall signs shall be located on the designated sign band. When a sign band does not exist, the sign shall be located between the first and second story of a multiple story building. The sign shall not be installed higher than the top of the second story window opening to which it is adjacent and shall not be more than 24 feet above grade.

Designated Sign Band

Signs located below second story window opening

e. Wall signs installed on mansard roofs may be installed vertically when installed on the lowest portion of the sloped roof.

f. Wall signs shall not extend above the roofline, eaves, wall or building facade or more than 24 feet above the finished grade below the sign.

4. Window Signs.

a. Window signs, in combination with temporary window signs, for nonresidential uses located on or below the first story are permitted as follows:

i. Window signs 25 percent or smaller of the total window area are permitted without a sign permit.

ii. Window signs larger than 25 percent of the total window area require a sign permit and must deduct the total square footage of the window sign area from the building sign area allowance in Table 2 in this section, Standards for Permanent Signs.

iii. Illuminated window signs must not exceed 15 percent of the total window area in which they are displayed.

b. Second story nonresidential uses are allowed only one nonilluminated window sign up to three square feet without a permit.

5. Suspended Signs.

a. Suspended signs shall be placed only under an attached awning or canopy on the first story facade for nonresidential uses with direct exterior pedestrian access.

b. The sign shall not exceed six square feet in area and is in addition to the building sign area allowance.

c. A minimum seven-foot clearance above finished grade below the sign is required.

d. Only one sign shall be allowed at each public entrance. Tenant spaces with two separate elevations may install one sign on each elevation.

e. Suspended signs shall not be internally illuminated except when the clearance is greater than eight feet.

6. Primary Freestanding Sign.

a. No portion of a freestanding sign shall be in, or project over, a public right-of-way.

b. The numerical address of the property must be included on the primary sign and must be clearly visible and legible from the street on which the property fronts. Numbers should be no less than six inches tall and shall not be considered signage nor shall they be included in the calculation of sign area.

c. Primary freestanding signs shall be either a monument or ground-mounted type sign except in Sign Districts 1 and 2 where pole signs are permitted if freestanding monument or ground-mounted signs would be inconsistent with clear-vision standards at intersections or driveway access points.

d. One primary freestanding sign is permitted per site. A second freestanding sign is allowed in either of the following situations:

i. In Sign Districts 1 and 2 on sites with street frontage on two or more arterial streets. The two signs shall be separated by a minimum of 300 feet measured along the street frontages.

ii. When included in a sign plan approved under BC 9.50.170.

iii. Multiple-family dwellings of 10 units or more and subdivisions are allowed two monuments or ground-mounted signs located at the principal entrances to the site.

e. The primary freestanding sign shall be located and oriented to the street.

i. Exception: Freestanding signs on sites that abut the Bend Parkway shall be located and oriented to the street frontage farthest from the Bend Parkway and shall not be oriented to the Bend Parkway Overlay. Where an intervening access street separates a site from the Bend Parkway Overlay, and that street serves as the primary access to the lot, the freestanding sign may be installed and oriented towards the street consistent with the requirements of the underlying Sign District.

f. Freestanding signs are not allowed within 10 feet of a lot line that abuts another site.

g. The maximum size allowed in each Sign District is as follows:

i. Sign Districts 1 and 2.

(A) Eighty square feet in area and a maximum of 11 feet in height on sites with a principal building 30,000 gross square feet in area or less or on a site less than six acres in size.

(B) One hundred twenty square feet in area and a maximum of 15 feet in height on sites with a principal building over 30,000 gross square feet in area or on a site over six acres in size.

ii. Sign Districts 3 and 5: 32 square feet in area and a maximum of five feet in height.

iii. Sign District 4: 40 square feet in area and a maximum of eight feet in height.

7. Billboard.

a. The maximum number of billboards allowed within the City limits is 43. The inventory of billboards existing on the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter is included in Table 3. No new billboard may be erected unless it replaces an existing billboard. Billboards must have existed within the Bend Urban Growth Boundary as of December 18, 1985, in order to be included in the maximum number allowed.

b. Before erecting any new billboard, a permit must be secured from the Building Official. Where applicable, evidence must be provided of a State-issued permit in accordance with the Oregon Motorists Information Act of 1971.

c. All billboards moved after the effective date of this chapter shall be located in Sign District 1 or 2 on commercial or industrial zoned properties only. Billboards are not permitted west of the Deschutes River.

d. Billboards shall be freestanding and shall not be installed on any building.

e. All billboards shall be spaced a minimum of 500 lineal feet apart.

f. The sign face shall not exceed the maximum size permitted by the State-issued permit or 10.5 feet in vertical height and 24 feet in horizontal length, whichever is less. Extensions beyond the sign face shall not be permitted.

g. The billboard shall not exceed 24 feet in height, as measured from finished grade; however, if a variance is granted, the maximum height shall not exceed 35 feet.

h. Internally illuminated and/or animated billboards are prohibited. External illumination shall comply with the Lighting Ordinance. Electrical wiring to the billboard shall be located underground.

i. All billboards erected or moved shall be installed behind the legal setback line of each parcel of property as determined by the Development Code.

j. All structural supports for billboards shall be constructed of steel.

k. Only flat, single-faced or double-faced billboards shall be permitted. As used in this section, double-faced means a billboard with two display surfaces visible to traffic from two directions of travel. A single-faced billboard means a sign with one display surface visible from one direction of travel.

Table 3. Billboard Inventory as of May 17, 2011 

ID

TAX LOT

ADDRESS

1

171209CD00200

63655 N HWY 97

2

171209D000302

20625 GRANDVIEW DR

3

171216B000706

20505 ROBAL LN

4

171216B000101

63594 N HWY 97

5

171216B000201

63595 N HWY 97

6

171216B000704

63450 N HWY 97

7

171220A000801

3520 N HWY 97

8

171220A001004

9

171220D001900

3197 N HWY 97

10

171220DA02400

3305 N HWY 97

11

171221B001300

63148 NELS ANDERSON

12

171228B001899

15 NE BUTLER MARKET

13

171228BC00401

14

171228BC01300

15

171228CB03800

16

171233BC03700

913 NE 3RD ST

17

171232AA02900

18

171232AA03700

19

171232AD03600

20 NW GREENWOOD

20

171233BC05400

1052 NE 3RD ST

21

171233CC06402

197 NE 3RD ST

22

171234CB00503

23

171234CB00100

1791 NE HWY 20

24

181204A000500

273 SE 9TH ST

25

181204CB02502

880 SE 3RD ST

26

181204CB02900

919 SE 3RD ST

27

181204D001002

625 SE 9TH ST

28

181205A005400

389 SW SCALEHOUSE

29

171221B000709

63075 CORPORATE PL

30

181204DC01900

905 SE REED MARKET

31

181205DD00700

1098 SE DIVISION ST

32

181208AC00100

61445 HWY 97

33

181208C001510

20130 BADGER RD

34

181208C001305

61210 HWY 97

35

181208D000600

61360 S HWY 97

36

171234DD00600

2405 NE HWY 20

37

171234DC00100

2035 NE HWY 20

38

Right-of-Way

GREENWOOD RR

39

Right-of-Way

BUTLER MARKET RR

40

171229DD07000

REVERE RAILROAD

41

181208AA00500

1325 S HWY 97 (CANAL)

42

171234CA00700

1835 NE HWY 20

43

171234DC00500

2215 NE HWY 20

8. Directory Signs.

a. Directory signs shall be allowed in addition to other freestanding or building signs; provided, that there is a minimum of three separate tenants.

b. Directory signs shall be located on the first story facade adjacent to a public entrance or adjacent to the parking lot. The sign shall not be oriented or intended to be legible from a public street or right-of-way.

c. Not more than one freestanding directory sign may be displayed per site. One or more wall-mounted directory signs may be displayed.

d. The maximum sign area is 20 square feet when installed on a building or 32 square feet and eight feet in height if freestanding.

e. Illuminated directory signs are not permitted in residential zones.

9. Drive-Through Signs.

a. Drive-Through Signs. Drive-through signs are allowed only for businesses with drive-through services.

b. Type, Location and Orientation. Drive-through signs may be wall-mounted or freestanding. Freestanding signs shall be on the left side of and oriented to the drive-through lanes. Drive-through signs shall not be intended to be legible from the public rights-of-way.

c. Maximum Number, Area and Height. One sign of up to 45 square feet in area and eight feet in height is allowed per drive-through lane for up to two drive-through lanes.

d. One additional sign per site of up to 15 square feet in area and eight feet in height is permitted at the entry to the drive-through area. The signs allowed by this section shall be located on the left side and oriented to the drive-through lanes. [Ord. NS-2340, 2019; Ord. NS-2292, 2017; Ord. NS-2279, 2016; Ord. NS-2148, 2010]