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A. Sign Location Restrictions. Except where specifically authorized by this chapter, signs are prohibited in the locations set forth below. Prohibited signs are subject to removal (except legal nonconforming signs as defined by this chapter) by the city at the owner’s or user’s expense.

1. Any temporary or permanent freestanding sign located within or projecting over a city right-of-way or within five feet of a city right-of-way. Sandwich board signs and feather signs meeting the provisions of LMC 16.75.100(H) and (I) are an exception;

2. Any sign attached to any public utility pole, structure or street light, tree, fence, fire hydrant, bridge, curb, sidewalk, park bench, statue, memorial, or other location on public property, except those signs approved as part of a special event permit on city property or banner signs permitted by the city on light poles in certain zones within the city. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a person from holding a sign while located on city property so long as the person holding the sign is located on public property determined to be a traditional public forum and does not block ingress and egress from buildings or create a safety hazard by impeding travel on sidewalks, bike and vehicle lanes, and trails;

3. Any sign which, by reason of its location, will obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal, or other traffic control device or which by reason of shape, color, or position interferes with or could be confused with any authorized traffic signal or device;

4. Any sign that interferes with safe sight distance at an intersection;

5. Any sign which is placed so as to prevent or inhibit free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or any exit way required by the Building and/or Fire Code currently in effect;

6. Any commercial, advertising, or business sign that is not located on the premises of the business to which it refers.

7. Signs located on roofs, except that departures per LMC 16.75.040(C) will be considered where signs are placed in an architectural space that is specifically incorporated into the roof design and does not project higher than the peak of the roof; and

8. Any sign mounted, attached, or painted on a trailer, boat, or motor vehicle when parked, stored, or displayed conspicuously on private premises in a manner intended to attract attention of the public for the purpose of advertising or identifying the business premises. This provision excludes signs indicating the name of the owner or business that are permanently painted or wrapped on the surface of the vehicle, adhesive vinyl film affixed to the interior or exterior surface of a vehicle window, or signs magnetically attached to motor vehicles or rolling stock that are actively used in the daily conduct of the business. Such vehicles shall be operable and parked in a lawful or authorized manner.

B. Sign Display Restrictions.

1. Purpose. The purpose of this subsection is to regulate the manner in which signs convey their messages by specifying prohibited display features that create distractions to the traveling public and create visual clutter that mars the natural and architectural aesthetics of the city.

2. Applicability. The display features set forth below are prohibited. Prohibited signs are subject to removal (except legal nonconforming signs as defined by this chapter) by the city at the owner’s or user’s expense.

a. Any digital sign except for those associated with freestanding signs per LMC 16.75.080(A)(7);

b. Any sign or lighting device, whether on the exterior of a building or on the inside of a window, which is visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel, or from any public right-of-way, with intermittent, flashing, rotating, blinking or strobe light illumination;

c. Any sign with an exposed light source, except for neon incorporated into the design of the sign;

d. Any sign which emits sound, odor, smoke, laser or hologram lights, or other visible matter, including any sign that uses motion picture projection;

e. Any sign animated by any means, including fixed aerial displays, balloons, pennants, spinners, including strings of flags, streamers, tubes, or other devices affected by the movement of the air or other atmospheric or mechanical means, except when used for a grand opening display or special event signage per LMC 16.75.100(B) or (C);

f. Any sign in which the sign body or any portion of the sign rotates, moves up and down, or any other type of action involving a change in position of the sign body or any portion of the sign, whether by mechanical or any other means, except when used for a grand opening display or special event signage per LMC 16.75.100(B) or (C);

g. Changeable copy signs, except as provided for in LMC 16.75.030(C) for exempt signs and 16.75.080(A)(7) for freestanding signs; and

h. Mannequins holding a sign or displaying advertising, whether stationary or animated.

C. Other Prohibited Signs. Prohibited signs are subject to removal (except legal nonconforming signs as defined by this chapter) by the city at the owner’s or user’s expense. The following signs or displays are prohibited:

1. Mobile signs;

2. Strings of banners, pennants, and other graffiti-like material;

3. Freestanding signs except where permitted in LMC 16.75.080(A), 16.75.090, or 16.75.100; and

4. Billboards. (Ord. 1454 §2 (part), 2015).