“Alley” means a public street not designed for general travel and used primarily as a means of access to the rear of residences and business establishments.

“Building” means any structure built for the support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or property of any kind.

“Building code” means the building codes of the City adopted by PMC Title 16.

“Building line” means a line established by ordinance beyond which no building may extend.

“Building Official” means the Building Official of the City and/or the person designated to enforce the sign code by the City Manager.

“Change of copy” means the change of a logo, and/or message upon the face or faces of a legal sign.

“City” means the City of Pasco, Washington.

“Community event” means a community-wide event open to the general public and sponsored by a public agency, a public or private school, or a not-for-profit civic organization.

“Curb line” means the line at the face of the curb nearest to the street or roadway. In the absence of a curb, the City Engineer shall establish the curb line.

“Display surface” means the area made available by the sign structure for the purpose of displaying the advertising message.

“District” or “zoning district” means any district established pursuant to the provisions of PMC Title 25.

“Durable” means a nonbiodegradable material that withstands degradation from the elements such as weatherproof card stock, aluminum, metal, UV-protected plastics, treated or painted wood concrete, stone and similar materials.

“Erects” means to build, construct, attach, place, suspend, or affix, including the painting of a wall sign.

“Face of building” means the general outer surface of any exterior wall of a building or other structure.

“Facade” means the entire building front or street wall face, including the grade to the top of the parapet or eaves, and the entire width of the building elevation.

“Fence – subdivision” means a common fence constructed along the rear line of residential lots that back on arterial streets and constructed as part of the subdivision improvements.

“Filling station, public motor fuels” means any area of land, including any structure or part thereof, that is used or designed to be used for the supply of motor fuels; also deemed to be included within this term shall be: Any area or structure used or designed to be used for polishing, greasing, washing, spraying (other than paint), dry cleaning, or otherwise cleaning or servicing such motor vehicles.

“Frontage” means the measurement of the length of the property line or building front.

“Hearing Examiner” means the Pasco Hearing Examiner as set forth in Chapter 25.195 PMC.

“Incombustible material” means any material which will not ignite at, or below, a temperature of 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit during an exposure of five minutes, and which will not continue to burn or glow at that temperature.

“Mansard roof” means a sloped roof or roof-like facade architecturally able to be treated as a building wall.

“Multiple-building complex” means a group of commercial or industrial structures.

“Multiple-tenant building” means a single structure that houses more than one retail business, office or commercial venture, but that does not include residential apartment buildings sharing the same lot, access and/or parking facilities.

“Nonconforming signs” are those which were lawfully installed, but which do not comply with the requirements of this title.

“Nonstructural trim” means the molding, batons, caps, nailing strips, latticing, cutouts or letters and walkways that are attached to the sign structure.

“Parapet” means a false front or wall extension above the roof line.

“Parcel” means the real property on which a business is located or the portion of real property designated for use of a business. Parcel shall include all adjacent property used by a business including yards, parking lots, and storage yards. Where more than one business is located within a building, the property on which that building is located is considered one parcel.

“Perimeter” means a square or rectangle required to enclose the sign area.

“Periphery of right-of-way” means that portion of the right-of-way lying behind the street improvement. (See definition for “Street improvements.”)

“Person” means and includes persons, firms, partnerships, associations, corporations, and other business entities.

“Premises” means the real estate as a unit, upon which is displayed the sign or signs mentioned in this chapter.

“Private road or driveway” means every way or place in private ownership and used for travel of vehicles by the owner or those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons.

“Projection” means the distance by which a sign extends over public property or beyond the property line.

“Right-of-way (ROW)” means that area of land dedicated for public use or secured by the public for purposes of ingress and egress to abutting property and other public purposes, including that space between the adjacent property line and the back of the street and/or sidewalk improvements.

“Roadway” means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk or shoulder. In the event a highway includes two or more separated roadways, the term “roadway” shall refer to any such roadway separately but shall not refer to all such roadways collectively.

“Roofline” means the top edge of a roof or parapet or the top line of a building silhouette.

“Setback” means the distance measured on a horizontal plane between a public right-of-way line or a property line and the closest portion of a sign thereto.

“Sidewalk” means that property between the curb lines or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property, set aside and intended for the use of pedestrians, or such portion of private property parallel and in proximity to a public highway and dedicated to use by pedestrians.

“Sign” means a name, identification, description, display or illustration that is affixed to, or represented directly or indirectly upon, a building, structure, or piece of land and that directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business. However, a “sign” shall exclude any display of official court or public office notice, emblem or insignia of a nation, political unit, school, or religious group. A “sign” shall not include a sign located completely within an enclosed building unless the public may view the sign from a roadway or sidewalk, or the context of this chapter shall so indicate.

“Sign, abandoned” means a sign that no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person nor advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner, product or activity conducted or available on the premises whereon such sign is located.

“Sign area” means the total area of a sign visible from any one viewpoint or direction, excluding the sign support structure, architectural embellishments, or framework that contains no written copy, and includes only one side of a double-faced sign. Individual letter signs using a wall as the background without added decoration or change in wall color shall be calculated by measuring the perimeter enclosing each letter. The combined total area of each individual letter shall be considered the total area of the sign. Module signs consisting of more than one sign cabinet shall be computed by adding together the total area of each module. Perimeter or sign area shall be established by the smallest rectangle enclosing the extreme limits of the letter module or advertising message being measured.

“Sign – awning” means a sign that is hung from and below a building awning or canopy that may extend outwards under the awning or canopy and over the walkway or parking area.

“Sign – banner” means flexible material on which a sign is painted or printed that is attached to a building or displayed on the grounds.

“Sign – billboard” means a sign or sign structure supported by one or more uprights and braces in the ground or on a building roof upon which general advertising matter is placed, usually by the poster method, erected entirely upon private property.

“Sign – blade or projecting” means a sign that is wall-mounted perpendicular to the building that may extend upwards and above the facade and/or outwards and over the walkway or parking area.

“Sign – business” means a sign which directs attention to a business or profession conducted, or to a commodity, service, or entertainment sold, or offered upon the premises where such sign is located, or to which it is affixed.

“Sign – canopy” means a sign that is painted onto the face or edge of an awning or canopy that is mounted to the building facade.

“Sign – changing message center” means an electronically controlled public service time and temperature sign, message center, or readerboard where different copy changes of a public service or commercial nature are shown on the same lamp bank.

“Sign – combination” means any sign incorporating any combination of the features of freestanding, projecting and roof signs. “Combination sign” shall include signs commonly referred to as “fin signs.”

“Sign – community event regional” means a sign that identifies events occurring at a regional sports/entertainment/convention/trade facility containing 60 or more acres located within 1,000 feet of a freeway interchange and adjacent to a highway of statewide significance.

“Sign – construction” means a temporary sign designating the contractor(s), architect(s), and engineer(s) participating in a construction project underway on the same premises. A construction sign may also include the name of the project.

“Sign – directional” means any sign designated and used solely for the purpose of indicating the location or direction of a place on the premises upon which the sign is located.

“Sign – directional off-premises kiosk” means a structure erected by the City or a private party through a license agreement with the City in approved locations bearing multiple off-premises directional signs.

“Sign – directional traffic” means a sign that is located to guide or direct pedestrian or vehicular traffic to parking entrances, exits and service areas.

“Sign – directory of tenants” means a sign that identifies the building or project name and the tenants which share a single structure or development.

“Sign – double-faced” means a sign with two faces.

“Sign – electrical” means a sign or sign structure in which electrical wiring, connections, and/or fixtures are used as part of the sign proper.

“Sign – flashing” means an electrical sign or portion thereof that changes light intensity in a sudden transitory burst or that switches on and off in a constant pattern with more than one-third of the light source that is not constant being off at any one time.

“Sign – follow-through” means a sign which identifies the location of a business for the purpose of participating in the Washington State Department of Transportation Motorist Information Sign Program.

“Sign – freestanding pedestal” means a self-supported sign permanently attached directly to the ground upon a pedestal base or monument foundation and not attached to any building, wall or fence (also called pedestal or monument sign).

“Sign – freestanding pole” means a self-supported sign permanently attached directly to the ground supported by upright poles or posts or braces placed on or in the ground (also called ground or pole sign).

“Sign – freeway” means a freestanding sign located on the premises where the business, product or service is located, with said sign being within 250 feet of I-182, SR-395 or SR-12.

“Sign – freeway interchange” means a sign that provides only regional identification for a group of businesses within an area defined by a state-recognized business association where the businesses collectively occupy a minimum of 15 acres of land.

“Sign – garage or yard sale” means a sign advertising a private sale of personal household possessions; not for the use of any commercial venture.

“Sign height” means the vertical distance measured from the adjacent grade at the base of the sign support to the highest point of the sign or sign structure, whichever is higher.

“Sign – identification” means a sign of an informational nature that directs attention to certain uses other than businesses, individual private residences.

“Sign – inflatable” means a large balloon or balloon-like object greater than 18 inches in any dimension that uses blown air or a gas to remain inflated.

“Sign – informational private” means a sign placed for the convenience of the property owner used for the sole purpose of designating property control and warning signs such as “no trespassing,” “no dumping,” “patrolled by dogs,” etc.

“Sign – informational public” means a sign placed for the convenience of the public used for the sole purpose of designating restrooms, hours of operations, entrances and exits to buildings and parking lots, help wanted, public telephones, public notary, etc. Also included are plaques, tablets or inscriptions that are an integral part of a building.

“Sign – interior” means any sign attached to the interior surface of the window of any building or structure, or maintained within the building or structure.

“Sign – landmark” means a sign or plaque that is attached to the surface of the building or on a site that identifies or describes the historical, cultural, social, or other significance of a building or site.

“Sign – limited duration” means any sign advertising real estate sales or rentals or construction projects utilized for a specified period of time.

“Sign, marquee or readerboard” means a sign that displays a changing message using manually mounted lettering or electronic printout that may be mounted on a building or freestanding pedestal or pole.

“Sign, marquee or readerboard – portable” means a sign that displays a changing message using manually mounted lettering or electronic printout that may be mounted on an easel, trailer, or other movable equipment.

“Sign – nameplate” means a sign which indicates no more than the name and address of the resident of the premises.

“Sign – nonconforming” means any sign lawfully constructed prior to the enactment of the ordinance codified in this title, which fails to conform to the provisions of this title.

“Sign – off-premises” means a sign that carries a message of any kind or directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered elsewhere than upon the premises where such sign is located, or to which it is affixed. Signs identifying a business complex and containing the names of multiple businesses within the complex shall not be considered an off-premises sign.

“Sign – off-premises directional” means a sign providing directions to a public or other community event or facility in a location different than the property on which the sign is posted.

“Sign – off-premises informational” means a sign providing information about events conducted at a public or other community facility in a location different than the property on which the sign is posted.

“Sign – open house” means a sign welcoming viewers to a piece of residential real estate that is being offered for sale.

“Sign – pedestrian-oriented” means a sign the primary purpose of which is to provide information for pedestrians and bicyclists.

“Sign – political” means a temporary sign that identifies a candidate(s) for public elective office; urges a particular vote on a ballot measure in a pending public election, whether local, state or national; or expresses an opinion on a public issue.

“Sign – portable” means an unlighted business sign, including paper, cardboard, wood or metal, that is capable of being moved easily and that is not permanently affixed to the ground, structure or building. This includes a sidewalk or sandwich board signs, except those worn by a person.

“Sign – poster” means a decorative placard or advertisement intended to advertise a movie, theater production, video or CD, or other product or special event that is being conducted or offered for sale.

“Sign – readerboard” means a lighted or unlighted business sign or part of a sign on which the letters are readily replaceable such that the copy can be changed from time to time at will.

“Sign – readerboard, portable” means a lighted or unlighted business sign or part of a sign on which the letters are readily replaceable such that the copy can be changed from time to time at will. A portable readerboard is capable of being moved or trailer mounted and is not permanently affixed to the ground, structure or building.

“Sign – real estate” means a temporary sign erected by the owner, or his/her agent, that advertises the real estate upon which the sign is located for rent, lease or sale, or directing people to the property.

“Sign – real estate directional” means a temporary and/or portable sign that is intended to assist people finding the location of difficult-to-locate property that is for sale, rent, or lease.

“Sign – revolving” means any sign that rotates or turns in a circular motion by electrical or mechanical means and does not exceed eight revolutions per minute.

“Sign – roof” means a business sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet of a building or structure. Mansard roof signs shall be considered wall signs.

“Sign – sandwich 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.

“Sign – special event” means a temporary sign advertising activities concerning a drive or event of a political, civic, seasonal, cultural, philanthropic, educational or religious event or organization that will occur intermittently.

“Sign structure” means any structure supporting or capable of supporting any sign defined in this chapter. A sign structure may be a single pole or may or may not be an integral part of the building or structure.

“Sign – temporary” means any real estate, open house, special event, garage sale, or political sign corresponding to a specific event and displayed for a limited period of time.

“Sign – tract” means signs used for the sale of real property in a platted subdivision.

“Sign – wall” means any sign or graphic design which is attached parallel to, or flat against, or is painted on, the wall or exterior of a building or structure having a commercial message or identification.

“Sign – wall-mounted” means a sign attached or erected parallel to and extending from the facade or wall of any building to which it is attached. A wall sign is supported through its entire length with the exposed face of the sign parallel to the plane of said wall or facade. A sign painted on the wall of a building or a sign painted or attached to a marquee shall be considered a wall-mounted sign.

“Sign – window” means any sign which is painted or mounted onto an exterior window pane, or which is hung directly inside the window, including advertisements for services or products in the form of decals, emblems, paint, exposed neon, banners, etc., within three feet of the window pane.

“Sign – window, temporary indoor” means any sign (or poster) of a temporary nature displayed within a commercial building on the inside of the glass or in close proximity to the window and may be viewed by persons outside of the building.

“Street” means a public or private way open to general public use including all classes of roadways and excepting alleys, driveways, and interstate freeways, but including major internal circulation corridors within parking lots.

“Street frontage” means the side of the building facing a street that abuts the property on which the building is located.

“Street improvements” means the paved roadway, and adjoining curb, gutter, sidewalk and landscaping.

“Structure” means anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on the ground or attachment to something having location on the ground.

“U.L.” means Underwriters Laboratory.

Zone, Zoning District. See definition under “District.” [Ord. 4678 § 1, 2023; Ord. 4190 § 1, 2014; Ord. 3909 § 1, 2009; Ord. 3790 § 2, 2006; Code 1970 § 17.03.010.]