§ 15.33.050. Computations.

The following principles shall control the computation of sign area and sign height:

(1)

Computation of Area of Individual Signs. The area of sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets zoning regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.

(2)

Computation of Area of Multi-Faced Signs. The sign area from a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. When two identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than forty-two (42) inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.

(3)

Computation of Height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of: (A) existing grade prior to construction, or (B) the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the zone lot, whichever is lower.

(4)

Computation of Maximum Total Permitted Sign Area. The permitted sum of the area of all individual signs (attached, detached and on-premise directionals) on a lot shall be limited to the frontage of the premises along a street or private way. For property with frontage on more than one street, the total frontage shall be calculated as the longest frontage plus one-half the length of all additional frontages.

(5)

For purposes of this chapter, that part of a property line abutting interstate right-of-way, including ramps, shall not be considered street frontage for calculating the maximum total permitted sign area.

(6)

The maximum allowable area of each monument or ground sign face will be measured from the finish grade to the top of the structure and from one end of the structure to the other. The maximum allowable square feet per sign face shall not be greater than each property's linear feet of street frontage, as measured on one adjacent street, or one hundred fifty (150) square feet, whichever is less.

(Ord. 5920 § 2 (part), 2007).