1. All signs and sign structures shall be installed and attached on or within the site or property behind any applicable setback or right-of-way.

2. Any sign or portion of a sign that obstructs any window, doorway, transom, architectural details, fire escape, stairway or standpipe; interferes with exits through any window; obstructs any door or required exit from any building; or obstructs any required light or ventilation is prohibited.

3. Signs or structures that may pose a hazard to pedestrians or vehicular traffic, including but not limited to signs that obstruct the clear view of pedestrians and drivers, and signs interfering with the effectiveness of traffic signs or signals are prohibited.

4. Signs in the public right-of-way except those exempt or permitted under this chapter, not including signs on vehicles lawfully using the right-of-way or legally parked, are prohibited.

1. Vision Clearance Areas. No sign shall be placed in a clear vision area as identified in BDC Chapter 3.1.

2. Vehicle Area Clearances. In areas outside of rights-of-way, when a sign, sign structure or awning extends over an area in which vehicles travel or are parked, the bottom of the sign or awning must be at least 14 feet above the finished grade below the sign except when reasonably protected with a permanent structure as approved by the Building Official. Vehicle areas include driveways, alleys, parking areas, and loading and maneuvering areas.

3. Pedestrian Area Clearances. When a sign, sign structure or awning extends more than 12 inches over a sidewalk, walkway, or other space used by pedestrians, the bottom of the structure must be a minimum of eight feet above grade.

4. Clearances from Fire Escapes, Means of Egress or Standpipes. Signs, sign structures and awnings are prohibited from being erected in any manner that interferes in any way with the free use of any fire escape, means of egress or standpipe. Attaching signs, sign structures or awnings to a fire escape is prohibited.

5. Clearance from High Voltage Power Lines. No sign or part of a sign support may interfere with any utility wires or supports. All signs must be sufficiently clear of high voltage power lines so those signs can be safely erected and maintained. Signs shall be located not less than six feet horizontally or 12 feet vertically from overhead electrical conductors that are energized in excess of 750 volts.

6. Clearance for building signs shall be measured as the smallest vertical distance measured between the finished grade directly below the sign and the lowest point of the sign, including any framework or other embellishments.

1. Signs shall not be located in or project over the right-of-way except in the Central Business District where signs, awnings and canopies are allowed.

2. If rights-of-way are widened so that an existing sign is in, or projects into, the expanded right-of-way, the City may allow the sign to remain in place if the City determines that it will have no impact on safety. The City may require the sign to be moved.

1. No sign or light source shall create an unduly distracting or hazardous condition to a motorist, pedestrian or the general public. Colored lights or colored sign faces shall not be used at a location or in a manner so as to be confused or construed as traffic control devices.

2. External light sources shall be directed and shielded to limit direct illumination of any object other than the sign.

3. Internally illuminated signs and signs with exposed light sources are prohibited in all residential zoned properties and Sign Districts 4 and 5, except internally illuminated signs on the site of 24-hour emergency medical facilities and urgent care centers, during business hours.

4. Signs shall not have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights, or other illuminating devices that have a changing light intensity, brightness or color.

5. Internally illuminated sign faces shall be constructed to have an opaque background and translucent copy or a sign that has a translucent dark colored background and light colored copy. White, off-white, light gray, creams or yellow colors are not permitted as background colors.

1. Design. All signs and related structures must be designed, constructed, inspected and maintained in compliance with this chapter and current State of Oregon Structural Specialty Code including any applicable City, State and Federal code, rule, law or regulation.

2. Maintenance. All signs including structures and components including supports, braces, anchors, and other components shall be maintained in a state of good repair.

3. Materials. All signs except exempt and temporary signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and permanently affixed to a structural support in the ground or on the building.

4. Supports. All sign permit applications shall include the specific support details. The design of the support will be reviewed by the Building Official for compliance with the applicable building code standards. The Building Official may require a design prepared by a State-licensed engineer.

1. Wall signs having no visible boundary or clearly defined background area shall have the areas between letters, words or logos intended to be read together and any device intended to draw attention to the sign message included in the computation of sign area.

2. Spherical Signs and Signs with Three-Dimensional Objects. Signs that are spherical or have three-dimensional objects that project less than eight inches from the sign support structure shall be measured as a flat sign. Signs that project more than eight inches from the sign support structure shall be measured using the smallest two-dimensional geometrical shape or shapes which will best approximate the greatest actual sign area visible from any one direction.

3. Double-Sided or V-Shaped Sign. Only one side of a double-sided sign or V-shaped sign is calculated provided the distance between the two sign faces is less than two feet apart. Where two sides are not of equal size, the larger of the two sides is measured. Where the sign faces are more than two feet apart all sides are calculated.

4. Awning and Canopy Sign. The sign area on awnings and canopies attached to the building shall include the sign and all areas that are translucent when illuminated. When the ends of awnings are parallel and contain a sign or are translucent, only one side is counted in addition to the front. Signs on all sides of a freestanding canopy structure are calculated.

5. Freestanding Sign. Sign area does not include the sign support posts or poles that are clearly incidental and are used only to support the sign cabinets, panels or nonstructural trim or serve another permitted purpose separate from the sign, such as a retaining wall, fence or other structure. The first 12 inches in vertical height above grade is not included when calculating the sign area of a freestanding sign provided it does not contain sign copy; the first 12 inches is considered necessary to elevate the sign above grade or to provide a sign base for a monument type sign.

1. The height of a freestanding sign shall be measured from average grade of the base of the sign to the highest point of the sign, unless the average grade at the base of the sign is lower than the grade of the street frontage nearest to the sign. If the grade at the base of the sign is lower than the grade of the street frontage where the sign is located, the height is measured from the top of the curb, if there is one, or from the average street grade of the street nearest the sign.

2. The height of a sign attached to a building shall be the vertical distance as measured from the highest point of a sign attached to a building, including supporting frames and material to the ground below the sign. [Ord. NS-2292, 2017]