§ 21.75.070. Exemptions.

The following signs do not require a sign permit (unless noted), nor shall the area and number of such signs be included in the area and number of signs permitted for any site or use. This shall not be construed as relieving the owner of the sign from the responsibility of its erection and maintenance and its compliance with the provisions of this chapter or any other law or ordinance:

A.

The flag, emblem or insignia of a nation or other governmental unit or nonprofit organization subject to the guidelines concerning their use set forth by the government or organization which they represent. Flag poles require a sign permit for structural review;

B.

Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, stained glass windows and dates of erection when cut into the surface or the facade of the building or when projecting not more than two inches;

C.

Traffic or other municipal signs, bench signs located at designated public transit bus stops, signs required by law or emergency, railroad crossing signs, legal notices; and any temporary signs as may be authorized by the board and this chapter;

D.

Signs of public utility companies indicating danger or which serve as an aid to public safety or which show the location of underground facilities or of public telephones;

E.

Flush mounted wall signs, used to identify the name and address of the occupant for each dwelling provided the sign does not exceed two square feet in sign area;

F.

Signs located in the interior of any building or within an enclosed lobby, mall, arcade, porch, patio, court, or similar area of any building or group of buildings, which signs are designed and located to be viewed exclusively by patrons of such use or uses;

G.

One bulletin board not over fifty square feet in sign area for each public, or noncommercial institution where the same are located on the premises of said institution. A sign permit is required;

H.

Decorations. Such signs in the nature of decoration, clearly incidental and customary and commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday;

I.

Painting, repainting or cleaning of an advertising structure or the changing of the advertising copy of message thereon shall not be considered an erection or alteration which requires sign permit unless a structural change is made;

J.

Sculptures, fountains, mosaics and design features which do not incorporate advertising or identification;

K.

"No trespassing," "no dumping," "no parking," "private," signs identifying essential public needs (i.e., restrooms, entrance, exit, telephone, etc.) and other informational warning signs, which shall not exceed three square feet in surface area;

L.

Directional signs erected by the county on arterial streets directing the public to public, civic, or nonprofit facilities;

M.

Signs being manufactured, transported, and/or stored within the Lacey UGA shall be exempt; provided, however, that such signs are not used, in any manner or form for purposes of advertising at the place or places of manufacture or storage;

N.

Commemorative plaques of recognized historical societies and organizations;

O.

Religious symbols and identification emblems of religious orders or historical societies;

P.

Signs on vehicles regulated by the county that provide public transportation, including, but not limited to, buses and taxicabs;

Q.

Signs on licensed commercial vehicles, including trailers; provided, however, that such vehicles shall not be utilized as parked or stationary outdoor display signs;

R.

Real Estate Signs. No sign permit is required. All exterior real estate signs must be of wood or plastic or other durable material. The permitted signs, with applicable limits are as follows:

1.

Residential "For Sale" and "Sold" Signs. Such signs shall be limited to one sign per street frontage not to exceed five square feet in sign area, placed wholly on the property for sale, and not to exceed a height of seven feet.

2.

Residential Directional "Open House" Signs. Such signs shall be limited to one sign per street frontage on the premises for sale and three off-premises signs. However, if a realtor has more than one house open for inspection in a single development or subdivision, he/she is limited to four off-premises "open house" signs in the entire development or subdivision. Such signs are permitted only during daylight hours and when the realtor or seller or an agent is in attendance at the property for sale. No such sign shall exceed five square feet in sign area. The sign may be placed along the periphery of a public right-of-way within one mile of the subject residential development.

3.

Undeveloped Commercial and Industrial Property "For Sale or Rent" Signs. One sign per street frontage advertising undeveloped commercial and industrial property for sale or rent. The sign shall not exceed thirty-two square feet in sign area and seven feet in height.

4.

Developed Commercial and Industrial Property "For Sale or Rent" Signs. One sign per street frontage advertising a commercial or industrial building for rent or sale is permitted while the building is actually for rent or sale. If one face of the building is less than ten feet from the building line, the sign shall be placed on the building or in a window. The sign shall not exceed seven feet in height, if free-standing, shall be located more than fifteen feet from any abutting property line and a public right-of-way line. Such sign shall not exceed thirty-two square feet in sign area.

5.

Undeveloped Residential Property "For Sale" Signs. One sign per street frontage advertising undeveloped residential property for sale is permitted not exceeding thirty-two square feet in sign area. Such sign must be placed more than thirty feet from the abutting owner's property line and may not exceed a height of seven feet.

S.

Event Signs (commercial). No sign permit is required. Such temporary signs may be placed upon private property only and shall not be larger than four square feet, such signs and shall not be posted or attached to traffic control device, county owned or maintained signs or posts, utility boxes, signal control boxes, telephone poles, power poles or other public utility facilities. Such signs may be displayed thirty days prior to an event and must be removed within seven days after the event's conclusion. The event committee business or enterprise for which the sign is displayed shall be responsible for its removal and subject to the penalties as provided in this code. Such temporary signs, such as: posters, banners, strings of lights, clusters of flags, balloons or other air or gas filled figures, and searchlights may be permitted for any business or enterprise provided the beam of light does not flash against any building or does not sweep an arc of forty-five percent from vertical. Such displays are permitted only in districts where the enterprise so advertised is allowed under district zoning regulations or by special use permit.

T.

Signs which identify the future use of a site, and other individuals or firms involved with the owner interest on sites that have obtained a building, land division, or other development permit, but not including advertisement of any products, during the construction period, and up to thirty days after an occupancy permit has been issued.

(Ord. 12761 § 46, 2002; Ord. 11274 § 1 (part), 1996)

(Ord. No. 15637 , § 1(Att. B, § III), 6-26-2018)