HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 20502COUNCIL ORDINANCE NUMBER 20602
COUNCIL BILL 5074
AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING SIGN STANDARDS AND AMENDING SECTIONS
9.0500, 9.6610, 9.6615 AND 9.6630 OF THE EUGENE CODE, 1971.
ADOPTED: November 26, 2012
SIGNED: November 27, 2012
PASSED: 7:0
REJECTED:
OPPOSED:
ABSENT: Taylor
EFFECTIVE: December 28, 2012
ORDINANCE NO. 20502
AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING SIGN STANDARDS AND AMENDING
SECTIONS 9.0500, 9.6610, 9.6615 AND 9.6630 OF THE EUGENE CODE,
1971.
THE CITY OF EUGENE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1 . Section 9.0500 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended by deleting the
definition of "Flag."
Section 2 . Sections 9.6610, 9.6615 and 9.6630 of the Eugene Code, 1971, are
amended to provide as follows:
9.6610 Exemations to Sian Standards.
(1) Use of the signs listed in subsection (2) of this section does not affect the
number or types of signs otherwise allowed under EC 9.6000 through 9.6680
of this land use code.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the following signs are
exempt from the requirements of EC 9.6600 through 9.6680, and are exempt
from the requirement to obtain a sign permit if they are located on private
property outside of vision clearance areas:
Addresses Number and street name of any size. (Addresses are regulated
per EC 8.005(21) Numbering of Structures and Premises and Fire Code
901.4.4 Premise Identification
Banners One banner, not to exceed 32 square feet in size, may be installed
on the exterior wall of a hotel, motel, convention center or auditorium in lieu of
the freestanding sign exempt under this section.
Hand Held Signs Hand carried signs of 9 square feet or less in area, worn or
carried by an individual.
Historical Agency Plaques Plaques or historical markers placed by historical
agencies or organizations recognized by the city.
Message Boards One sign per business for the purpose of communicating to
persons on the development site, such as a drive through menu sign or
building directory. Such a sign may be up to 6 feet in height and up to 40
square feet in area.
Murals Painted wall highlights, wall decorations and other murals.
Non - Residential Property Signs One freestanding sign or banner for each
development site that is not used primarily for a single family dwelling or
duplex. A freestanding sign may not exceed 12 square feet in size per face,
with a maximum of two faces; a banner may not exceed 15 square feet in
size. The maximum height of a freestanding sign under this exemption is 6
Ordinance - Page 1 of 4
feet (from grade)
Parking Lot Signs Signs up to 3 square feet in area and up to 5 feet in height
constructed or placed within a parking lot for the purpose of directing traffic,
parking, and towing. (Towing signs are regulated per EC 5.540 Signs
Required for Parking Facilities Before Citing or Towing Unauthorized
Vehicles
Public Signs 1) Signs constructed or placed in a public right -of -way by or with
the approval of a governmental agency having legal control or ownership over
the right -of -way; 2) Signs owned or constructed under the direction or
authorization of the city, including, but not limited to, signs installed within
parks and at natural resource areas within the NR Natural Resource Zone and
PRO Parks, Recreation and Open Space Zone to account for entrances, trail
signs, and markers; and 3) Signs placed by a public utility for the purpose of
providing information concerning a pole, line, pipe or other facility belonging to
the public utility.
Residential Property Signs Two signs for each development site used
primarily for a single family dwelling or duplex. The signs are limited to the
following types: freestanding sign or banner. A freestanding sign may not
exceed 12 square feet in size per face, with a maximum of two faces; a
banner may not exceed 15 square feet in size. The maximum height of a
freestanding sign under this exemption is 6 feet (from grade), and it must be
separated by at least 8 feet from any other freestanding sign on the same
development site.
Seasonal Decorations Lights and decorations in place during the period
between November 15 and January 15.
Signs During Elections Signs 12 square feet or less in area, located on
private property during the period from 60 days before to 5 days after any
public election to be held in Lane County, Oregon.
Signs on Historic Property Signs constructed or maintained on historic
property, as defined in this land use code, which signs are otherwise subject
to regulation because of their location on historic property.
Stadium Signs Signs located within a sports stadium which are intended for
viewing primarily by persons within such stadium, where the stadium is
enclosed by a site obscuring fence or wall at least 6 feet in height.
Traffic Directinq Siqns The owner or lessor of private property may construct
1 sign at each entrance to the property and at each entrance to a building on
the property for the purpose of providing direction to vehicular or pedestrian
traffic. Except for signs painted on paved surfaces, each sign shall not
exceed 3 square feet of surface area and shall be no more than 30 inches in
height, if located in a vision clearance triangle as defined in EC 9.6780 Vision
Clearance Area If the sign is located outside a vision clearance triangle, then
the sign shall be no more than 5 feet in height.
Ordinance - Page 2 of 4
Transit Signs Signs identifying transit stops, facilities, and bus routes only.
Transit signs shall not include commercial advertising at bus stops or on
transit - oriented street furnishings.
Vehicular Siqns Any sign permanently or temporarily placed on or attached
to a motor vehicle, where the vehicle is used in the regular course of business
for purposes other than the display of signs, except taxis whose signage is
regulated by EC 3.345 Public Passenger Vehicle Services - License and /or
Permit Required
Vending in Downtown Activity Area Signs, including portable signs, for
activities authorized by Downtown Activity permits issued for private
commerce on public property.
Vendinq Machine Signs Any sign which forms an integral part of a machine
used to dispense goods to consumers.
Wall Signs, Small Wall signs with no interior illumination, a surface area of 6
square feet or less and which are 8 feet or less above grade, intended for
persons already on the development site.
Warning Signs Any public notice or warning required by a valid and
applicable federal, state or local law, regulation, or ordinance, and emergency
warning signs erected by a governmental agency, utility company or a
contractor doing authorized or permitted work within a public right -of -way.
(3) No sign is exempt from the provisions of:
(a) EC 9.6615 Prohibited Signs,
(b) EC 9.6620 Nonconforming Signs or
(c) EC 9.6640 General Provisions
unless specifically exempted under one of those provisions.
9.6615 Prohibited Signs Except where qualified as a nonconforming sign, the following
signs are unlawful and are declared to be nuisances:
(1) Any sign constructed or maintained which, by reason of its size, location,
movement, coloring or manner of illumination may be confused with or
construed as a traffic control device or which hides from view any traffic
control device.
(2) Any sign written or placed upon or within a motor vehicle with the primary
purpose of providing a sign not otherwise allowed by the sign standards.
(3) Any sign constructed, maintained or altered in a manner not in compliance
with the sign standards.
(4) Balloons and banners (pursuant to EC 9.6605 Reconciliation banners exempt
under EC 9.6610(2) and signs permitted as public signs are not included
within this prohibition);
(5) Decorative laser signs, search lights, and flashing signs, except electronic
message centers;
(6) Inflatable signs other than balloons;
(7) Portable signs, except as authorized by a permit within the Downtown Activity
Zone and warning signs as permitted by EC 9.6605 Reconciliation
(8) Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background or otherwise
Ordinance - Page 3 of 4
qualified as seasonal decorations; and
(9) Signs in the public right -of -way not authorized by a governmental agency.
9.6630 Permit Application
(1)
An application and related information shall be submitted by the applicant, in a
manner prescribed by the city, together with a fee established by the city
manager as provided by EC 2.020 City Manager - Authority to Set Fees and
Charges When a person begins construction of a sign requiring a sign permit
before the permit is issued, the permit fee shall be doubled. Payment of a
double permit fee shall not otherwise exempt the person from liability for other
penalties prescribed for a violation of the sign standards.
(2)
No application shall be considered, nor a permit issued until the applicant has
submitted a complete application, including a set of plans for the proposed
sign and structural calculations where required. A complete application shall
be an application where all required information is provided to allow the city to
make a determination on the application. If a sign permit application is not
determined complete by the city within 180 days of submittal, it shall expire.
(3)
The city shall grant or deny a sign permit application within 21 calendar days
following receipt of a complete application.
(4)
When required, the applicant shall submit proof that work will be done by a
contractor licensed in compliance with local or state law to perform the
specialized tasks required for construction of the proposed sign.
Section 3 . The findings set forth in Exhibit A attached to this Ordinance are adopted as
findings in support of this Ordinance.
Section 4 . The City Recorder, at the request of, or with the concurrence of the City
Attorney, is authorized to administratively correct any reference errors contained herein or in
other provisions of the Eugene Code, 1971, to the provisions added, amended or repealed
herein.
Section 5 . If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this
Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction,
such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.
Passed by the City Council this
26 day of November, 2012
ity Recorder
Ordinance - Page 4 of 4
Approved by the Mayor this
day of November, 2012