HomeMy WebLinkAbout4815 Ordinance - Amending PMC Title 17 Sign Code - Sandwich Board Signs
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 1
ORDINANCE NO. 4815
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING PASCO MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 17 SIGN CODE RELATED
TO SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Pasco City Council adopted a new Sign Code and repealed the
previous Sign Code through Ordinance No. 3790 in 2006; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted the first comprehensive Downtown Pasco Master
Plan in January of 2023; and
WHEREAS, the Downtown Pasco Master Plan includes a vision for creating a Downtown
that provides flexibility for signage; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes the allowance of Sandwich Board Signs within
public right-of-way to be of benefit to downtown businesses.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO,
WASHINGTON DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The definition of “Sign – sandwich board or A-frame” contained in PMC
Section 17.10.010 is hereby amended as follows:
“Sign – sandwich board or A-frame” means a temporary portable two-faced board-style sign that
is readily movable and has no permanent attachment to a building, structure, or the ground.
Section 2. PMC Section 17.15.010, Interpretation of sign allowance table, is hereby
amended as follows:
17.15.010 Interpretation of sign allowance table.
(1) The sign allowance table, as incorporated herein, determines whether a specific sign is
allowed in a zone district or by land use activity. The zone district or land use activity is identified
in the left column and the specific sign allowances are located in the rows of the table.
(2) If no symbol or number appears in the table box at the intersection of the column and row,
the sign is not allowed in that category or is not subject to an allowance.
(3) If a number appears in the table box at the intersection of the column and row or in the column
or row heading, the sign may be allowed subject to the appropriate requirement and specific
conditions indicated in the table footnotes.
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 2
(4) All applicable requirements shall govern a sign whether or not the requirements are cross-
referenced in the table.
Sign Allowance Table
Permit requirement
| Material restrictions
| | Number of signs
| | | Allowable surface area in sq. ft. (1)
| | | | Height in feet (2)
| | | | | Projection over ROW to curb line
| | | | | | Spacing in linear feet (3)
| | | | | | | Visible ground plane/passage area (4)
| | | | | | | | Setback from adjacent property line
| | | | | | | | | Setback from ROW in feet (5)
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Duration (days)
| | | | | | | | | | | Notes
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Access, landmark, and informational signs - all zones
entry/exit freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
yes durable 1 4 4 5 0 per exit/entry
landmark wall sign/plaque yes durable 1 10 8 5 0 per building frontage
informational - private (6) wall sign no durable 1 2 8 5 0 per building frontage
freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
no durable 1 6 4 5 0 per street frontage
informational - public wall sign no durable 1 2 8 5 0 per building frontage
freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
no durable 1 6 4 5 0 per street frontage
Permanent signs
Residential districts - RT, R-S-20, R-S-12, R-S-1, R-1, RFAH-1/1A, R-2, R-3, R-4, RMHP
identification - dwelling unit wall sign no durable 1 2 8 5 0 per property
freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
(17)
no durable 1 2 4 5 0 per property
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 3
Sign Allowance Table
Permit requirement
| Material restrictions
| | Number of signs
| | | Allowable surface area in sq. ft. (1)
| | | | Height in feet (2)
| | | | | Projection over ROW to curb line
| | | | | | Spacing in linear feet (3)
| | | | | | | Visible ground plane/passage area (4)
| | | | | | | | Setback from adjacent property line
| | | | | | | | | Setback from ROW in feet (5)
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Duration (days)
| | | | | | | | | | | Notes
| | | | | | | | | | | |
identification - bldg complex wall sign yes durable 1 24 20 5 0 per building frontage
freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
(17)
yes durable 1 24 4 5 0 per street frontage
daycare facility wall sign yes durable 1 16 20 5 0 per building frontage
commercial freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
(17)
yes durable 1 16 15 5 0 per street frontage
school/religious use (15) wall sign yes durable 1 24 20 5 0 per building frontage
freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
(17)
yes durable 1 40 15 5 0 per street frontage
freestanding
marquee/readerboard
sign (17)
yes durable 1 24 15 5 0 per street frontage
Office/commercial districts - O, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-R, BP, I-1, I-2, I-3
Composite allowance - all sign surfaces
maximum per sign window sign (11) no transparent na 25% 15
per building/street frontage awning sign per
business
yes durable 1 24 15 (2) 8 may extend over
walkway
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 4
Sign Allowance Table
Permit requirement
| Material restrictions
| | Number of signs
| | | Allowable surface area in sq. ft. (1)
| | | | Height in feet (2)
| | | | | Projection over ROW to curb line
| | | | | | Spacing in linear feet (3)
| | | | | | | Visible ground plane/passage area (4)
| | | | | | | | Setback from adjacent property line
| | | | | | | | | Setback from ROW in feet (5)
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Duration (days)
| | | | | | | | | | | Notes
| | | | | | | | | | | |
canopy sign yes maintained na 25% 24 (2) 8 may extend over
walkway
wall sign yes durable na 25% na 14 0
blade/projecting sign yes durable 1 125 (2) (2) 5 0
freestanding pedestal
sign
yes durable 1 350 15 0 5 0
freestanding
marquee/readerboard
sign (17)
yes durable 1 48 15 5 0 per street frontage
freestanding pole -
tenant directory sign
(17)
yes durable 1 12 35 0 6 5 0 up to 12 tenants per sign
freestanding pole sign
(17)
yes durable 1 350 35 0 6 5 0
freestanding billboard
sign (7)(17)
yes durable 1 250 35 0 500 6 5 0 Maximum 25 billboard
sign structures in City.
freestanding digital
billboard sign (7)(17)
yes durable 1 250 35 0 500 6 5 0
off-premises
directional sign (14)
yes durable 1 5 15 5 0
Commercial/industrial districts - C-3, C-R, BP, I-1, I-2, I-3
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 5
Sign Allowance Table
Permit requirement
| Material restrictions
| | Number of signs
| | | Allowable surface area in sq. ft. (1)
| | | | Height in feet (2)
| | | | | Projection over ROW to curb line
| | | | | | Spacing in linear feet (3)
| | | | | | | Visible ground plane/passage area (4)
| | | | | | | | Setback from adjacent property line
| | | | | | | | | Setback from ROW in feet (5)
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Duration (days)
| | | | | | | | | | | Notes
| | | | | | | | | | | |
maximum per sign freeway sign yes durable 1 350 70 500 6 35 35 per freeway frontage
per freeway or freeway
interchange (9) sign
yes durable 1 480 70 500 6 35 35 per 15-acre site
minimum
frontage property and freeway
readerboard (9) sign
yes durable 1 150 35 500 6 35 35 per 15-acre site
minimum
Limited duration signs
Undeveloped property
Residential freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
yes durable 1 24 8 5 0 15 after closing
- lot
- tract freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
yes durable 1 60 8 5 0 15 after last closing
Commercial freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
yes durable 1 24 8 5 0 15 after closing
- lot
- tract freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
yes durable 1 60 8 5 0 15 after closing
Construction wall/banner sign yes durable 1 24 8 5 0 const
freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
yes durable 1 32 8 5 0 const
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 6
Sign Allowance Table
Permit requirement
| Material restrictions
| | Number of signs
| | | Allowable surface area in sq. ft. (1)
| | | | Height in feet (2)
| | | | | Projection over ROW to curb line
| | | | | | Spacing in linear feet (3)
| | | | | | | Visible ground plane/passage area (4)
| | | | | | | | Setback from adjacent property line
| | | | | | | | | Setback from ROW in feet (5)
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Duration (days)
| | | | | | | | | | | Notes
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Real estate sales/rentals per building or property
Residential zones window/poster sign no 1 2 0 15 after closing
freestanding
pedestal/pole sign
(10)
no durable 1 6 8 5 0 15 after closing
freestanding sign (10) no durable 2 2 8 5 0 15 after closing
Commercial zones (12) window/poster sign no 1 2 0 15 after closing
wall/banner sign no durable 1 6 20 5 0 15 after closing
freestanding
pedestal/pole sign (9)
no durable 1 6 8 5 0 15 after closing
Temporary signs
Open house - real estate sales sandwich - directional
(10)
no durable 4 6 4 5 0 after event
sandwich - site (10) no durable 1 6 4 5 0 after event
Special event - sales, charities, etc.
Schools, churches, parks,
farmers mkt, Xmas trees
sandwich - directional
(10)
no durable 4
6 4 5 0 after event
sandwich - site (10) no durable 1 6 4 5 0 after event
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 7
Sign Allowance Table
Permit requirement
| Material restrictions
| | Number of signs
| | | Allowable surface area in sq. ft. (1)
| | | | Height in feet (2)
| | | | | Projection over ROW to curb line
| | | | | | Spacing in linear feet (3)
| | | | | | | Visible ground plane/passage area (4)
| | | | | | | | Setback from adjacent property line
| | | | | | | | | Setback from ROW in feet (5)
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Duration (days)
| | | | | | | | | | | Notes
| | | | | | | | | | | |
window poster no na 50% after event
window banner no durable 1 16 0 after event
wall sign/banner no durable 1 64 20 5 0 after event
banner - mounted
freestanding pole
no durable 1 10 20 (2) 8 5 0 after event
marquee/readerboard
- portable
no durable 1 18 4 5 0 after event
balloons (12) no biodegradable 15 20 5 after event
Residential zones sandwich - directional
(10)
no durable 2 6 4 5 0 after event
sandwich - site (10) no durable 1 6 4 5 0 after event
Commercial zones sandwich - directional
(10)
no durable 2 6 4 5 0 after event
sandwich - site (10) no durable 1 6 4 (18) 5 (18) 0 (18) after event
window poster no na 50% after event
window banner no durable 1 16 0 after event
wall sign/banner no durable 1 64 20 5 0 after event
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 8
Sign Allowance Table
Permit requirement
| Material restrictions
| | Number of signs
| | | Allowable surface area in sq. ft. (1)
| | | | Height in feet (2)
| | | | | Projection over ROW to curb line
| | | | | | Spacing in linear feet (3)
| | | | | | | Visible ground plane/passage area (4)
| | | | | | | | Setback from adjacent property line
| | | | | | | | | Setback from ROW in feet (5)
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Duration (days)
| | | | | | | | | | | Notes
| | | | | | | | | | | |
banner - mounted
freestanding pole
no durable 1 16 20 (2) 8 5 0 after event
marquee/readerboard
- portable
no durable 1 18 4 5 0 after event
balloons (12) no biodegradable 15 20 5 after event
inflatables (13) yes nonflammable 1 350 70 250 5 0 after event
SR-12/395 and I-182 inflatables (13) yes nonflammable 1 350 70 500 5 0 after event
Political (16) freestanding no durable na 6 4 5 0 10 after election
1 The area within a continuous perimeter enclosing the outer limits of the sign face, but not
including structural elements, which are not a part of the display. The area of a two-sided sign
equals the area of one side. The area of a spherical, cubical, or polyhedral sign equals 1/2 the total
surface area.
2 Height: measured from the average finished grade at the sign foundation.
Awning signs shall be at least 8 and no more than 16 feet above the walkway.
Blade/projecting signs shall not extend more than 10 feet above the building facade or 6 feet from
the face of the building.
3 Spacing: the linear distance between signs, or sign structures, in feet.
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 9
4 The area under the sign that shall be free of obstructions to allow passage of pedestrians and
vehicles.
5 Setback: shall be that portion of any sign or sign structure that is closest to the property line.
6 Private informational signs must be for an original purpose and may not simply repeat the same
message over and over.
7 Signs visible from Washington State Highways may be subject to the Highway Advertising
Control Act of 1971 and require approval by the Washington State Department of Transportation
in additional to local approval.
8 On private property adjacent to an arterial road: not within 100 feet of a public street
intersection, 300 feet of a residential district, within 250 feet of a freestanding sign of 200 sf of
display area.
9 Freeway interchange signs must be located within 1,000 feet of an interchange, and 300 feet of
ROW, on site of business on a minimum 15-acre site.
10 Square feet per one face of a two-sided sandwich board.
11 Window signs may include credit card logos and advertise hours of operation and address.
12 Balloons shall be no larger than 18 inches in diameter, not attached to a roofline.
13 Inflatables shall be securely anchored to the ground and not create a traffic or other hazard in
the event of deflation.
Inflatables shall be measured by square feet of surface volume.
14 Off-premises directional signs shall be of the material, color, lettering font, and structure
specified by the Building Official.
15 Excepting Pasco High School Bulldogs stadium sign.
16 Campaign signs on private property are limited to 32 square feet in size.
17 Permanent freestanding pole signs are not allowed within the downtown core, as illustrated in
PMC 25.95.050(2) of the downtown Pasco overlay zone.
18 Sandwich board signs may be located within the public right-of-way only within the
Downtown Pasco Overlay District and shall comply with PMC 17.15.025.
Section 3. A new section 17.15.025, entitled “Sandwich Board Signs,” is hereby
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 10
adopted to read as follows:
17.15.025 Sandwich Board Signs
Sandwich board signs located within the Downtown Pasco Overlay District shall comply with the
regulations identified as “sandwich - site(10).” in the PMC 17.15.010 Sign Allowance Table, as
referenced under Temporary signs, Special event - sales, charities, etc. - Commercial zones, in
addition to the requirements outlined below.
(1) Placement Area.
(a) Signs shall be located on the business frontage or parcel frontage addressed by the
business.
(b) Where no building exists, signage shall be restricted to the parcel frontage.
(c) Signs shall be located between the sidewalk and the curb. Placement on private property
is permitted at the discretion of the business owner. In areas with unimproved right-of-way,
signs shall be restricted to the road verge or parcel.
(d) Signs shall not block building entrances, stairways, private driveway access, or other
points of access.
(2) Sign Limit. Only one sandwich board sign is allowed per business tenant.
(3) Hours of Display. Signs are permitted only during the business’s operating hours.
(4) Intersection Placement. Corner lot businesses shall place their sandwich board sign at the point
along the frontage that is furthest from the intersection while still fronting the business. Where this
is not feasible, a minimum clearance of ten (10) feet from the actual radius curb line or road verge
shall be maintained to ensure adequate sight distance for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
(5) Liability. The sign owner shall indemnify and hold the City and its agents, employees, and/or
officers harmless from and shall process and defend at its own expense any and all claims,
demands, suits, at law or equity, actions, penalties, loss, damages, or costs, of whatsoever kind or
nature, brought against the City arising out of, or in connection with, or incident to, the placement
of a sandwich board sign; provided, however, that if such claims are caused by or result from the
concurrent negligence of the City, its agents, employees, and/or officers, this indemnity provision
shall be valid and enforceable only to the extent of the negligence of the sign owner; and provided
further, that nothing herein shall require the sign owner to hold harmless or defend the City, its
agents, employees, and/or officers for damages or loss caused by the City’s sole negligence.
(6) Prohibited Mounting. Signs shall not be affixed to, mounted upon, or placed on vehicles parked
in the public right-of-way.
(7) Removal and Return of Violations.
(a) Signs placed in violation of this section may be removed by the City.
(b) Signs removed more than twice from public property may be destroyed; otherwise,
removed signs may be returned to the owner.
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 11
(8) ADA Compliance.
(a) Signs shall preserve ADA accessible pedestrian routes at all times.
(b) Signs shall not encroach into any portion of a handicapped ramp.
(9) Prohibited Locations.
(a) Signs shall not be placed within travel lanes, medians, or roundabouts.
(b) Signs shall not be placed within fire hydrant clear zones, on utility poles, or within
transit stops.
(10) Sign Stability and Maintenance Requirements. Signs shall be constructed and installed in a
manner that prevents tipping, falling, or displacement from their intended location due to wind or
other conditions. All signs shall be maintained in good repair and in a safe, orderly condition at
all times.
Section 5. PMC Section 17.15.040(3) is hereby amended as follows:
(3) Private signs placed in or upon a public right-of-way, except as expressly provided herein;
(a) Sandwich board signs located within the public right-of-way in the Downtown Pasco
Overlay District shall comply with PMC 17.15.025.
Section 6. PMC Section 17.25.030, Traffic obstruction and visibility, is hereby
amended as follows:
17.25.030 Traffic obstruction and visibility.
(1) No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct the vision of vehicular traffic, or at any location where
it may interfere with, or be confused with, any traffic signal or device.
(2) No sign or sign structure, except sandwich board signs located within the Downtown Pasco
Overlay District, which shall comply with PMC 17.15.025, shall be erected within the vision
triangle of a corner lot property measured (20 feet along the property line from the intersection of
two streets or 15 feet from the intersection of a street and alley).
Section 7. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word
of this ordinance should be held to the invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality thereof shall not affect the validity or
constitutionality of any other section, subsection, sentence, clause phrase or word of this ordinance.
Section 8. Corrections. Upon approval by the city attorney, the city clerk or the code
reviser are authorized to make necessary corrections to this ordinance, including scrivener’s errors
or clerical mistakes; reference to other local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulation s; or
Ordinance – Amending PMC Title 17 – Sign Code - 12
numbering or referencing of ordinances or their sections and subsections.
Section 9. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take full force and effect five (5) days
after approval, passage and publication as required by law.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco, Washington this 17th day of February,
2026.
Charles Grimm
Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________ ___________________________
Krystle Shanks, CMC Ogden Murphy Wallace, PLLC
Deputy City Clerk City Attorney
Published: February 22, 2026