Title 17C Land Use Standards

Chapter 17C.240 Signs

1. No new off-premises signs may be constructed, on any site.
    

2. Off-premises signs now in existence in any zone are declared nonconforming uses and may remain, subject to the following restrictions:

   1. A nonconforming off-premises sign may not be increased in size or elevation, relocated to another site or to a new location on the same site or expanded, enlarged, or extended in any way, including, but not limited to, the addition of advertising faces or the addition of rotating faces with movable panels designed to create additional advertising, except as provided for in the public works exception below.

   2. Public Works Exception.
      An existing off-premises sign that is allowed to remain in conformance with SMC 17C.240.250(B) shall be allowed to be relocated if necessitated for the accomplishment of a governmental public works project. This relocation of these off-premises signs for public works projects shall be subject to the limitations in subsections (a) through (e) below:

      1. No increase in square footage of outdoor advertising display copy shall be permitted. These signs shall be replaced at the same size they existed at immediately prior to relocation.

      2. No additional outdoor advertising faces shall be added.

      3. No increase in height of the existing outdoor advertising display shall be permitted except where needed to provide for minimum height clearance (from the ground to the bottom of the off-premises signs) to comply with roadway safety.

      4. The outdoor advertising display shall be relocated along the same roadway it was removed from in the geographical vicinity and shall comply with the Scenic Vistas Act of 1971 (chapter 47.42 RCW and chapter 468-66 WAC) if located along a state highway.

      5. The relocation of the outdoor advertising shall be subject to all current City of Spokane rules, regulations, and procedures relating to the regulation and control of off-premises signs.

   3. A nonconforming off-premises sign may not be structurally altered. Structural alterations mean alterations to, including replacement of, either the off-premises sign face, or the supporting structure. Normal maintenance and repair including painting, cleaning, or replacing damaged parts of the off-premises sign, shall not be considered a structural alteration.

   4. Any nonconforming off-premises sign which is damaged or destroyed by fire, explosion, wind, act of nature, or other accidental means may be restored if the cost thereof does not exceed fifty percent of its replacement cost. Off-premises signs damaged in an amount in excess of fifty percent of replacement cost shall be removed.

   5. All nonconforming off-premises signs shall be kept in good repair and maintained in a neat, clean, attractive and safe condition. Any work required to repair or maintain an off-premises sign shall be completed promptly so long as the off-premises sign is not structurally altered.

Date Passed: Monday, June 22, 2009

Effective Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2009

ORD C34390 Section 1