Chapter 17.80 SIGNS

A. The purpose of these sign regulations is to provide equitable signage rights, promote traffic and pedestrian safety, and increase the economic viability of the city, by classifying and regulating the location, size, type and number of signs, in a content-neutral manner.

B. Within the commercial areas, the city recognizes the need for businesses and organizations to inform the public about their location and their services. It also recognizes that a sign is a relative low cost form of business advertising.

C. The city recognizes that the citizens of Carlton want to retain their unique small-town quality. One method of preserving the look of a small town is by controlling the number, size and type of signs allowed within the commercial district and to provide design guidelines that benefit the citizens and the businesses in improving the visual quality of the community. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

A. Conflicting Standards. Signs shall be allowed subject to the provisions of this chapter, except when these provisions conflict with the specific standards for signs in the subject district.

B. Signs Subject to State Approval. Off-premise advertising signs visible to the traveling public from state highways are further subject to the regulations and permit requirements of the State of Oregon, Department of Transportation.

C. Uniform Sign Code. All signs shall comply with the provisions of the Uniform Sign Code of the Uniform Building Code.

D. Sign Clearances. A minimum of eight feet above sidewalks and fifteen (15) feet above driveways shall be provided under all free standing or wall mounted signs. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

The following signs and sign work are allowed outright in all zones. These signs shall not require a permit, and shall not be included when determining compliance with total allowed area:

A. Re-painting, changes to the sign face or copy and maintenance of signs legally existing on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

B. Temporary Signs.

1. Real estate signs not exceeding six square feet that advertise the sale, rental, or lease of premises upon which the sign is located. Real estate signs may be used up to two years without a permit. Only one real estate sign per lot may be displayed at any time.

2. Political signs shall not exceed six square feet. Political signs may be used up to sixty (60) days prior to an election but shall be removed not later than seven days following the date of the election.

3. Portable signs and other temporary signs that do not exceed six square feet in area. No lot may display temporary signs for more than ninety (90) days in any three hundred sixty-five (365)-day period. Only one temporary sign per lot may be displayed at a time.

4. Balloons or similar types of tethered objects for a period not to exceed two weeks.

C. Signs posted by or under governmental authority including legal notices, traffic, danger, no trespassing, emergency and signs related to public services or safety.

D. Directional or informational signs bearing no advertising message and not exceeding four square feet in area erected for the convenience of the public such as signs identifying restrooms, public telephones, walkways and similar features or facilities.

E. Flags on permanent flagpoles that are designed to allow raising and lowering of the flags.

F. Signs within a building.

G. In a commercial or industrial zone, signs painted or hung on the inside of windows.

H. Residential name plates: shall not exceed two square feet. Only one such sign shall be permitted upon the premises and may only be indirectly illuminated.

I. Memorial signs or tablets and names of buildings and dates of erection when cut into or attached to the surface or façade of the building.

J. Signs placed by a public utility showing the location of underground facilities.

K. Government Signs. Signs posted by or under governmental authority including legal notices, traffic, danger, no trespassing, emergency and signs related to public services or safety.

L. Building or freestanding signs that display or reflect the history or character of Carlton, as approved by the city council, after recommendation by the planning commission. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

The following signs are prohibited in all zones:

A. Portable signs within the public right-of-way, except for sidewalk or sandwich board signs that comply with Section 17.80.080(D).

B. Signs that emit odor, visible matter, or sound, however an intercom system for customers remaining in their vehicles, such as used in banks and “drive thru” restaurants, shall be allowed.

C. Signs that use or employ side guy lines of any type.

D. Signs that obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window or door opening used as a means of egress.

E. Signs closer than twenty-four (24) inches horizontally or vertically from any overhead power line or public utility guy wire.

F. No vehicle or trailer shall be parked on a public right-of-way or public property, or on private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby premises. This provision applies where the primary purpose of a vehicle is for advertising purposes and is not intended to prohibit any form of vehicular sign, such as a sign attached to a motor vehicle which is primarily used for business purposes, other than advertising.

G. Rotating/revolving signs, except by conditional use permit.

H. Flashing signs.

I. Private signs that project into public right-of-ways, except signs under a canopy that project over a public sidewalk where the sign is not less than eight feet above the sidewalk.

J. Signs that obstruct required vision clearance area as defined in Section 17.92.080 or obstruct a vehicle driver’s view of official traffic control signs and approaching or merging traffic, or which present a traffic hazard.

K. Signs that interfere with, imitate, or resemble any official traffic control sign, signal or device, emergency lights, or appears to direct traffic, such as a beacon light.

L. Signs attached to any pole, post, utility pole, or otherwise placed in the public right-of-way.

M. Signs or sign structures placed on or over private property without the written consent of the owner or agent thereof.

N. Pennants, banner signs and streamers except in a commercial zone, with prior approval of the city manager for a period of display not to exceed thirty (30) days.

O. Billboard signs.

P. Roof signs, except by variance.

Q. Signs attached to trees, shrubs, stones or fences.

R. Bench signs, except as a conditional use, or those designating donor(s).

S. Any sign on unimproved property unless allowed as a real estate or temporary sign.

T. Any illegible sign or sign that has twenty-five (25) percent or more of its surface destroyed, defaced or missing.

U. Message signs, except by conditional use permit.

(Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

The following regulations apply to signs in the AH, SR, MH, MX, and MR zones:

A. Maximum Number. Any combination of signs not exceeding the sign area and height limitations of this section; plus signs allowed in Section 17.80.040.

B. Maximum total sign area for property on which the building or buildings are located:

1. Single-family and two-family (duplex) dwelling: six square feet;

2. Multiple family dwelling: twenty-four (24) square feet;

3. Public and semi-public: thirty-two (32) square feet.

C. Maximum sign height of freestanding signs: six feet.

D. Location of freestanding signs: where fences are allowed.

E. Illumination. Signs may only be indirectly illuminated by a concealed light source, and shall not flash, blink, fluctuate or produce glare. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

A. Permit Required. No property owner, lessee or contractor shall construct or alter any sign without first obtaining a valid sign permit.

B. Current Signs. Owners of conforming or nonconforming signs existing as of the date of adoption of this title are not required to obtain a permit.

C. Permit Fees. Permit fees may be established by city council resolution.

D. Application Requirements.

1. An application for a sign permit shall be made on a form prescribed by the city manager. The application shall include, at a minimum, a sketch drawn to scale indicating the proposed sign and identifying existing signs on the premises, the sign’s location, graphic design, structural and mechanical design and engineering data which ensures its structural stability. The application shall also contain the names and address of the sign company, person authorizing erection of the sign and the owner of the subject property.

2. The city manager shall issue a permit for a sign unless the sign does not comply with the provisions of these regulations or other provisions of this title. Sign permits mistakenly issued in violation of these regulations or other provisions of this title are void. The city manager may revoke a sign permit if he or she finds that there was a material and misleading false statement of fact in the application for the permit.

E. Design, Construction, and Maintenance. All signs shall be designed, constructed, and maintained according to the following standards:

1. All signs shall comply with the applicable provisions of Uniform Building Code in effect at the time of the sign permit application and all other applicable structural, electrical and other regulations. The issuance of a sign permit under these regulations does not relieve the applicant of complying with all other permit requirements;

2. All signs shall be maintained in a good structural condition at all times;

3. The owner shall be responsible for its erection and maintenance and its compliance with the provisions of these regulations or other laws or ordinances regulating signs. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

All signs in the CB, CI and IG zones shall conform to Sections 17.80.020 through 17.80.050 and the following standards:

A. Signs or sign structures located in commercial and industrial zones which are within seventy-five (75) feet of a residentially zone property shall be set back so as to meet the side and front yard setback requirements of the adjoining residential district.

B. Accessory temporary signs are permitted provided such signs are securely affixed to the surface of a building wall or window, and must have the date of initial posting clearly written on the face of the sign. Such signs, including but not limited to sale signs and special product announcements, must be removed not later than ten (10) days after initial posting. Such signs shall not exceed the permitted ratio of sign area, including temporary signs, to building face area.

C. Historical signs that are an integral part of a building design, or signs with a cultural significance to the community, as determined by the planning commission, may be exempted from the standards for signs.

D. Sidewalk signs or sandwich boards shall be professional in appearance with a maximum height of thirty-six (36) inches and a maximum width of twenty-four (24) inches in width. The total sign area shall not exceed six square feet per side. Signs must be removed at the close of each business day. One sandwich board sign per business is permitted. For off-premise sandwich board signs, the sign shall not be placed within a public right-of-way and the business must obtain the permission of the property owner where the sign will be placed prior to placement.

E. On-premise sidewalk and sandwich board signs shall only be allowed within an adjacent public right-of-way when they can be placed so that a minimum clear width of thirty-six (36) inches within the right-of-way is available for pedestrians immediately adjacent to the sign. Adjacent private property may be used to provide the thirty-six (36) inch clear width area when approved by the city manager.

F. Suspended signs that are suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by that surface, shall have a maximum area of three square feet and shall not project more than thirty (30) inches from the face of the building. (Ord. 661 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2007: Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

A. Businesses with Two or More Street Frontages.

1. Land abutting more than one street shall be allowed its quota of signs on each of the streets, and up to ten (10) percent of the permitted quota on any street may be deducted there from and added to the other street frontage.

2. Where a business located on a corner erects an attached sign designated to be read from both intersecting public streets, the total aggregate area of such sign shall not exceed one-half that which would be allowed for separate signs fronting on the intersecting public streets.

3. Where a business located on a corner is allowed a monument sign, it may have one such sign designed to be read from both intersecting public streets, or two such freestanding signs, provided that each sign is designed to be read from only one of the intersecting streets.

B. Area.

1. Wall signs shall not exceed ten (10) percent of the building face facing a street. For purposes of the area, the height of the lower level or story or twenty (20) feet, whichever is larger, shall be multiplied by the building frontage. Height of lettering cannot exceed twenty-four (24) inches.

2. Awning signs shall not exceed ten (10) percent of the awning area. For purposes of calculating the awning area, the height shall be multiplied by the width of the awning.

3. Projecting signs shall not exceed five percent of the building face facing a street. For purposes of calculating the area, the height of the lower level or story, or twenty (20) feet, whichever is less, shall be multiplied by the building frontage. Height of lettering cannot exceed eight inches.

4. Roof signs are not permitted except by variance.

5. Freestanding signs: one square foot of sign area for each linear foot of property frontage upon a city street or a total of fifty (50) square feet for each street frontage, whichever is lesser.

C. Height. Not more than four feet above the eave line provided the maximum height above the ground line shall not exceed twenty (20) feet.

D. Location. Attached to the building, except such signs shall not be roof signs.

(Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

All signs permitted within the commercial or industrial zones of the city shall conform with the following design review criteria, unless otherwise provided for in this title:

A. Signs must be compatible in design and color with the architectural and historical qualities of Carlton and with the buildings with which they are associated.

B. Signs illuminated by spotlights or indirect lighting shall be lighted in such a manner that glare from the light source is not visible to pedestrian or vehicle traffic.

C. Directory signs (wall, projecting, and freestanding), and the individual signs comprising a directory sign shall be uniform or consistent in size, shape, and design. Individual signs in a directory sign may be added, moved, or substituted with signs for new businesses or uses without going through the design review process, provided that the design is consistent and the provisions of the original permit are met. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

A. Permit Required. No property owner, lessee or contractor shall construct, alter or relocate any sign without first obtaining a valid sign permit.

B. Current Signs. Owners of conforming or nonconforming signs existing as of the date of adoption of this title are not required to obtain a permit.

C. Permit Fees. Permit fees may be established from time to time by city council resolution.

D. Application Requirements. An application for a sign permit shall be made on a form prescribed by the city manager. The application shall include the following information:

1. The names and addresses of the sign company, person authorizing erection of the sign and the owner of the subject property;

2. The location by street address of the proposed sign;

3. A drawing suitable for folding for file storage, accurately colored and to scale showing the details of the sign, including all mounting structures and devices, materials from which constructed, lighting, and the name of the proposed lettering style, along with detailed illustration of the sign face;

4. An accurate scaled site plan, showing the location of building(s), street(s) and other existing sign(s);

5. In the case of wall and projecting signs, an accurate scaled drawing of all building faces to be signed, including the scaled outlines of all existing a proposed signs.

E. Design, Construction, and Maintenance. All signs shall be designed, constructed, and maintained according to the following standards:

1. All signs shall comply with the applicable provisions of Uniform Building Code in effect at the time of the sign permit application and all other applicable structural, electrical and other regulations. The issuance of a sign permit under these regulations does not relieve the applicant of complying with all other permit requirements;

2. All signs shall be maintained in a good structural condition at all times;

3. The owner shall be responsible for its erection and maintenance and its compliance with the provisions of these regulations or other laws regulating signs. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

A. All signs requiring a permit shall be reviewed by the city staff. staff shall consider the design, lettering, arrangement, size, texture, materials, colors, lighting, placement, and appropriateness of the proposed sign in relation to other signs and other structures on the premises and contiguous area in keeping with the intent of this title. city staff shall recommend approval, modification or denial of the permit to the planning commission.

B. In the event the permit is modified or denied by the planning commission, the applicant may appeal to the city council by giving written notice of the appeal to the city recorder no later than ten (10) days following the modification or denial of the sign permit application by the planning commission. The city council shall hear the matter at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The planning commission shall furnish to the city council its findings and conclusions with respect to the permit. The city council may modify or deny the permit. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

To ease the economic impact of this title on persons with substantial investments in signs in existence on the date of adoption of this title, nonconforming signs may be continued provided they are maintained in good repair, subject to the following provisions. All signs erected after thirty (30) days following adoption of this title must be approved prior to installation. All signs must be in conformance with the provisions of this Chapter 17.80 within ten (10) years of adoption of the ordinance codified in this title.

A. Loss of Nonconforming Status. A nonconforming sign shall immediately lose its nonconforming status if:

1. The sign is altered in any way in structure or copy, which tends to be or makes the sign less in compliance with the requirements of this chapter than it was before the alteration;

2. The sign is relocated to a position making it less in compliance with the requirements of this chapter;

3. The sign is replaced;

4. Signs not maintained in good repair, any illegible sign or sign that has twenty-five (25) percent or more of its surface destroyed, defaced, missing or inaccurately represents the name or nature of the current business.

In such events the city manager shall notify the sign user, sign owner, or owner of the property upon which the sign is located of cancellation of the signs nonconforming status and the sign shall be removed or a new sign permit secured.

B. Damaged Nonconforming Sign Faces. When a nonconforming sign is damaged or destroyed by fire, flood, wind, or other calamity, such sign face may be restored to its original condition provided such work is completed within thirty (30) days of such calamity. A sign structure or support mechanisms so damaged shall not be replaced except in conformance with the provisions of these regulations.

C. Abandoned Signs. All signs and sign structures for a business shall be removed within thirty (30) days after that business ceases to operate on a regular basis. Abandoned signs that are not removed may be removed by the city following notice to the property owner. The property owner will be assessed the cost of sign removal if the owner fails to remove the abandoned sign and the city exercises its authority under this provision. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

Any allowance for signs not complying with the standards set forth in these regulations shall be by variance. Variances to this chapter will be processed according to the procedures in Chapter 17.148; however, the criteria in Chapter 17.148 shall not be used, but instead the following criteria shall be used to review and decide sign variance applications:

A. There are unique circumstances or conditions of the lot, building or traffic pattern such that the existing sign regulations create an undue hardship;

B. The requested variance is consistent with the purpose of this chapter as stated in Section 17.80.010;

C. The granting of the variance compensates for those circumstances in a manner equitable with other property owners and is thus not a special privilege to any other business. The variance requested shall be the minimum necessary to compensate for those conditions and achieve the purpose of this chapter;

D. The granting of the variance shall not decrease pedestrian or traffic safety; and

E. The variance request shall not be the result of a self-imposed condition or hardship.

(Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

A. Any unlawful sign that has not been removed within thirty (30) days after notification of the property owner may be removed by the city and the costs charged to the property owner. If removal costs have not been paid and the sign reclaimed within thirty (30) days of its removal by the city, the city is entitled to file a lien against the property on which the sign was located to secure payment of such costs and expenses of removal by the city. The city may sell or otherwise dispose of the sign so removed and apply the proceeds towards the cost of removal.

B. Signs which are found upon public streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way, or other public property, or which present an immediate and serious danger to the public may be removed without prior notice. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

A. Procedures. Applications for conditional use permits for rotating/revolving signs or message signs shall be processed according to the procedure set forth in Chapter 17.156 of this title. The criteria to be reviewed and applied in conditional use permit proceedings are set forth in this section, and the criteria of Chapter 17.152 shall not be applied.

B. Decision Criteria. The following criteria shall be used to review and decide conditional use permit applications for rotating/revolving, and message signs:

1. The proposed sign is located in the CB, CI, or IG zones;

2. The proposed sign, when conditioned, will not significantly increase or lead to street level sign clutter, or to signs adversely dominating the visual image of the area;

3. The proposed sign, as conditioned, will not adversely impact the surrounding area to a significant degree;

4. The proposed sign will not present a traffic or safety hazard;

5. If the application is for a message sign, no rotary beacon lights, zip lights, strobe lights, or similar devices shall be allowed. No chaser effect or other flashing effect consisting of external lights, lamps, bulbs or neon tubes are allowed;

6. If the application is for a rotating/revolving sign, such sign cannot flash or be illuminated by intermittent light. Rotating/revolving signs shall revolve at a speed no greater than five revolutions per minute;

7. The total allowed sign area for a business shall be reduced by twenty-five (25) percent if the business has a rotating/revolving or message sign;

8. The proposed sign will comply with all other regulations, including, but not limited to height and placement restrictions. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006)