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The use and appearance of signage in the City is an important issue for
citizens, businesses, and city officials. About half the calls and inquiries
that come to my office are related to sign code requirements and enforcement.
These are the questions most frequently posed.
Is a permit required for all signs in the City?
And is there a cost involved?
Yes. In most cases, a permit must be obtained to install a new, altered,
or relocated sign. Fees are based primarily on the estimated value of the
proposed signage. Our Building Division Applications & Forms page has
Sign
Permit applications.
How do I get a sign permit and who approves it?
Sign permit applications are available at the Permit Center, located on the
first floor of Redmond City Hall. Applications are reviewed for size, location,
and placement. If necessary, they are forwarded to the Building Division to
make sure they meet standards for safety and weight. In some cases, especially
if it is for a large commercial or residential project, a signage program is
sent on to the City's Design Review Board for its assessment of how well it fits
in with the rest of the community.
Is there a height restriction on signs?
Wall mounted signs must not extend beyond the building's roof. Ground mounted
signs are restricted to a maximum height of ten feet. Any sign currently
exceeding that height had to have been installed prior to the adoption of the
current sign code. If they are altered or relocated, they will be required to
meet today's standards.
What are the rules for political signs?
Political signs may be placed on public rights-of-way or on private property
with permission of the owner. However, they must be situated in such a way so as
to not impede driver vision. Political signs may not exceed six square feet in
size (unless located at the candidate's headquarters) and are restricted in
height to six feet. All political signs must be removed within seven days
following the election.
Are businesses allowed to advertise with sandwich
board signs?
Sandwich board signs (also known as "A-boards") are allowed, but banner signs
are not allowed.
What about real estate properties? Are they
allowed sandwich board signs?
Yes. Real estate properties are allowed one six square foot sandwich board on
site and three six square foot sandwich boards off site - but only while a
seller, agent, or person providing information is on the advertised site. When
the seller or agent leaves the property, the signs must be removed. No balloons
may be attached to the signs and no property outside Redmond is allowed to
advertise with signage within Redmond City limits.
How many signs are permitted for a multi-tenant
building?
Tenants in a multi-tenant building are allowed a wall sign advertising their
place of business. Individual ground mounted entry signs are not allowed. In
order to reduce the number of signs along the street, the City encourages
property owners to group tenants onto a strategically placed sign. In addition,
each multi-tenant complex must provide city and landlord approved guidelines for
the tenants in order to provide a consistent visual appearance.
Does the City allow moving signs?
No. Moving signs, whether animated, revolving, or rotating, are considered
distracting to drivers and are not allowed. This does not include such features
as the hands of a clock, barber poles, or digital changing date/weather signs.
Note: there are still some older rotating signs within the city that are
currently non-conforming but have been "grandfathered in." When
replaced, these will be brought up to Code.
What other signs are prohibited?
Any sign that resembles a traffic device/sign and may confuse pedestrians or
drivers is prohibited as well as any sign that is considered obscene under the
prevailing statutes or U.S. Supreme Court rulings. Advertising signs placed
along a roadway or attached to a tree, utility, or telephone pole are not
allowed and no new billboards may be constructed within the City. For a complete
list of prohibited signs, feel free to contact Carl McArthy at 425-556-2412 or
Deborah Seidenstein at 425-556-2465 or e-mail the Code Enforcement Officer.
What does the City do with illegal signs?
The City may confiscate illegal signs that are placed on public property or
rights-of-way and hold on to them for 30 calendar days. The advertiser may
retrieve their sign(s) only after paying a retrieval fee and/or any associated
fines. City personnel try hard to inform all business owners of the City code(s)
before ever issuing a fine. Most fines end up being issued to repeat offenders.
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