18B.20.080 Electronic Message Signs

18B.20.080 Electronic Message Signs.

Electronic message signs are allowed as follows:

A. Electronic message signs are allowed for the following civic uses in urban areas as shown in Table 18B.20.080-1, Electronic Message Signs:

1. Schools (elementary, middle, high, college, university);

2. Regional park facilities;

3. Police and fire stations; and

4. Religious facilities.

B. Electronic message signs are allowed for the following civic uses in rural areas as shown in Table 18B.20.080-1, Electronic Message Signs:

1. Schools (elementary, middle, high, college, university); and

2. Police and fire stations.

C. Electronic message signs shall be allowed in urban commercial zone classifications as shown in Table 18B.20.080-1, Electronic Message Signs.

D. Temporary electronic message signs used for traffic control purposes within the County or State rights-of-way, as approved by the County Engineer or Washington State Department of Transportation, are permitted Countywide.

E. All electronic message signs are subject to PCC 18B.20.080 C.

Table 18B.20.080-1. Electronic Message Signs (1)
	Commercial Urban Zones	Civic Uses (2) in Urban Areas	Civic Uses (2) in Rural Areas	Minimum Display Time: Major Arterials	Minimum Display Time: All Other Roadways	Display Requirements
Pierce County Non-Community Plan Areas	P	P	P	No less than 8 seconds	No less than 20 seconds	Text and numerals including punctuation, static images, graphics, logos and symbols only
Alderton-McMillin Community Plan Area		P	P	No less than 8 seconds	No less than 20 seconds	Text and numerals including punctuation, static images, graphics, logos and symbols only
Browns Point/Dash Point Community Plan Area	(3)	P		No less than 8 seconds	No less than 20 seconds	Text and numerals including punctuation, static images, graphics, logos and symbols only
Frederickson Community Plan Area	(4)	P		No less than 8 seconds	No less than 20 seconds	Text and numerals including punctuation, static images, graphics, logos and symbols only
Gig Harbor Peninsula Community Plan Area		P	P	No less than 8 seconds	No less than 20 seconds	Text and numerals including punctuation, static images, graphics, logos and symbols only
Graham Community Plan Area		P	P	No less than 8 seconds	No less than 20 seconds	Text and numerals including punctuation, static images, graphics, logos and symbols only
Key Peninsula Community Plan Area			P
Mid-County Community Plan Area		P	P	No less than 8 seconds	No less than 20 seconds	Text and numerals including punctuation, static images, graphics, logos and symbols only
Parkland-Spanaway-Midland Communities Plan Area	P	P		No less than 8 seconds	No less than 20 seconds	Text and numerals including punctuation, static images, graphics, logos and symbols only
South Hill Community Plan Area		P		No less than 8 seconds	No less than 20 seconds	Text and numerals including punctuation, static images, graphics, logos and symbols only
Upper Nisqually Valley Community Plan Area			P
(1) For the purposes of this Section, fuel price signs are not considered electronic message signs. See PCC 18B.20.085. (2) Permitted civic uses are limited to schools, regional parks, religious facilities, and Police/Fire Stations in the urban area and schools and police/fire stations in the rural area. (3) Permitted in conjunction with a master sign plan for the Town Center complex. (4) Permitted only for public information signs. P Permitted. Note: All electronic message signs are subject to PCC 18B.20.080.F, Regulations – Electronic Message Signs.

1. An electronic message sign, as a wall or freestanding sign, shall not exceed the size, setback or height limits of the zone classification.

2. When an electronic message sign is located in a residential zone classification, the sign shall not operate between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

3. An electronic message sign shall be located on the same site as the use for which it is associated.

4. Information on the electronic message sign shall only include alphanumeric characters, punctuation, static images, graphics, logos, and symbols.

5. Electronic message signs shall display static messages only. No video, scrolling, streaming, flashing, or trailing content, animations, or similar displays are permitted.

6. The change from one message to another message shall be no more frequent than once every 8 seconds when along a major arterial and 20 seconds when along all other roadways.

7. The change of message shall be completed in two seconds or less. Messages, including backgrounds, text, numbers, static images, graphics, logos, and symbols, may change by dissolve, fade, or by instantaneous change from one static display to another, but shall remain as a static display after completing the change and, once changed, shall remain static until the next change.

8. Electronic message signs shall not exceed a brightness level of 0.3 foot candles above ambient light as measured using a foot candle meter at a preset distance depending on sign size. Measurement distance shall be determined using the following calculation: the square root of the product of the sign area times 100. Example using a 12 square foot sign: √(12x100) = 34.6 feet measuring distance.

9. Electronic message signs shall be equipped with a mechanism that automatically adjusts the brightness in response to ambient conditions and equipped with a means to immediately turn off the display if it malfunctions or if for some reason it is not complying with the regulations in this Section.

10. All electronic message signs shall be designed to prevent light trespass into the sky.