20.37.170 Samish Way urban village – Signs.
A. Applicability. The regulations of this section shall apply to the development of any principal and/or accessory use within any area in the Samish Way urban village except as follows:
Development in residential transition areas shall comply with Chapter 20.28 BMC, Infill Housing, Chapter 20.30 BMC, Residential Single Development, or Chapter 20.32 BMC, Residential Multi Development.
B. General Provisions. No sign shall be permitted unless it complies with the provisions herein.
C. Exemptions. The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this title:
1. Traffic signs installed by a government agency.
2. Directional, way finding program signs installed by a government agency if the signs are consistent with the provisions of the Samish Way subarea plan.
D. Standards.
1. Off-premises and rooftop signs are prohibited. Pole signs are prohibited with the exception of freeway-oriented signs as specified herein.
2. Building-mounted signage shall not exceed 300 square feet per use, and no single use shall have more than 100 square feet per building elevation, except as provided in subsections (D)(4) and (5) of this section.
Exemption: Building identification signs or cornerstones are permitted as an integral and architecturally compatible part of the building or structure. Cornerstones shall not exceed four square feet and building identification signs shall not exceed 32 square feet. These exemptions shall not contain any colors, words, letters, numbers, symbols, graphic designs, logos or trademarks for the purpose of identifying a good, service, product or establishment.
3. One monument sign per development site is permitted whether it is for a single or mixed use. The monument sign shall not exceed 60 square feet per face or six feet in height measured from existing grade.
4. Freeway-oriented signs are permitted as follows:
a. Limited to the commercial approach area.
b. Limited to one sign per property.
c. Sign may be freestanding or located on a building.
d. Sign shall be located between the subject building and the freeway.
e. Sign height shall be no more than 20 feet above the surface of the nearest primary driving lane at the nearest point to the sign.
f. Sign size shall not exceed 250 square feet in area on any one face.
5. Animated, moving, blinking or electronic (LED or similar) message boards are permitted as follows:
a. Only in association with theaters.
b. The total gross area of the message board for any one use shall not exceed one square foot of area to one lineal foot of street frontage or 100 square feet, whichever is more restrictive.
c. Message boards are prohibited as freeway-oriented signs.
6. Building-mounted signs extending over the street right-of-way shall comply with applicable building and public works codes.
7. Directional Signs.
a. Directional signs are limited to six square feet per sign face and four feet in height if freestanding.
b. The message shall not contain the name of the establishment or advertising of any kind. Examples of directional signs include: “Enter,” “Service Entrance,” “No Parking,” etc.
c. There is no limit on the number of directional signs.
8. Temporary building signs shall not exceed 32 square feet.
9. Real estate signs are limited to one sign per street frontage, shall be unlighted, and shall not exceed 32 square feet. [Ord. 2019-12-038 § 2 (Exh. B); Ord. 2009-11-069].