1. Animated sign: a sign which contains wind-, electronically, or mechanically operated moving parts or which flashes or simulates motion by the use of electric lights.

2. Awning: A fabric-covered structure mounted on the face of a building above a window, entrance, or storefront opening, providing weather and/or sun protection.

3. Canopy: An architectural structure made of permanent materials such as metal, wood, etc. mounted on the face of a building above a window, entrance, or storefront opening, providing weather and/or sun protection.

4. Awning/Canopy Sign, Under: A sign which is suspended from an awning or canopy but does not extend beyond the horizontal limits of the awning/canopy.

5. Changeable copy sign: A sign or portion of a sign designed to allow the changing of copy through manual, mechanical, or electronic means including time and temperature.

6. Exposed Incandescent Bulb Illumination: The illumination of a sign by multiple individual incandescent bulbs which are aligned to “spell out” letters and numerical characters and/or provide graphic accents, are mounted directly to the face of the sign, and whose light-emitting surfaces are directly visible.

7. Exposed Neon Tube Illumination: The illumination of a sign by neon tubes which are intended to “spell out” letters and numerical characters and/or provide graphic accents, are mounted directly to the face of the sign, and whose light-emitting tubes are directly visible.

8. Exposed LED Illumination: The illumination of a sign by use of multiple individual Light Emitting Diode (LED) sources which are aligned to “spell out” letters and numerical characters and/or provide graphic accents, are mounted directly to the face of the sign, and whose light emitting surfaces are directly visible.

9. External Illumination: The illumination of a sign by projecting light on to the face of the sign from a light source located outside of the sign, such as “gooseneck” lamps; light sources are shielded from direct view.

10. Halo Illumination: The illumination of a sign by projecting light behind an opaque letter or emblem onto the backing panel which results in the appearance of “halo” of light around the letter or emblem; light sources are shielded from direct view.

11. Internal Illumination: The illumination of a sign by projecting light through translucent panel(s) from a light source within an enclosed sign cabinet.

12. Illuminated Open Channel Letters: The use of letter-shaped forms to create lettering within a sign, which are individually enclosed on the sides and back and are open at the vertical front and containing light sources to illuminate the letter-shaped volume.

13. Sign Area: The following shall apply for the purpose of defining sign area for various types of signs:

14. Sign Type: A distinct physical form of sign in terms of configuration, placement, orientation, and size, independent of message content.

15. Temporary sign: an allowed portable sign intended for short-term use, not to exceed 60 days in a calendar year.

16. Valance: The vertical front face of a fabric awning, parallel to the face of the building to which it is mounted.

17. Window Area: Any window pane or group of window panes contained entirely within glazing separators (muntins, mullions, piers, columns, etc.), in which separators are of a width of one and one quarter inches or greater. Multiple window panes divided by glazing separators less than one and one quarter inches in width shall be considered to be a single window area.

1. Sign types shall be permitted according to Districts, as indicated in Figure 12.64.600, Signage Regulations Chart.

2. Sign types not listed in this section are not permitted.

3. “Categories of Signs” noted in BMC 12.22.030 include those defined by physical form, message content, and parcel or building use. Signs classified under Chapter 12.22 BMC relate to the requirements and guidelines of this section as follows:

4. Requirements for sign permits or registration shall be governed by Chapter 12.22 as follows:

5. Requirements applicable to all signs (BMC 12.22.130) in Chapter 12.22 shall be applicable to all signs listed in this section.

6. Allowable Sign Area: For each establishment, two square feet of total sign area shall be allowed for each linear foot of street frontage. This standard shall be known hereafter as the Linear Frontage Ratio. Unless otherwise noted, all signs (including temporary signs) shall count toward the total sign area permitted based on the Linear Frontage Ratio.

7. Changeable copy signs shall not be permitted, except as a permitted time and temperature sign, as part of a permitted marquee sign, or as an indoor sign contained within a cinema, theatrical, or museum ticket office.

8. In the event that a sign falls under more than one sign definition found within this section, the more restrictive sign regulations shall apply.

9. All issues not specifically addressed herein shall be addressed pursuant to Chapter 12.22, “Signs” of the Bothell Municipal Code.

10. In the event of a conflict between this section and any other city code, the provisions of this section shall apply.

1. In general, natural construction materials such as wood, metals, ceramic, glass, and stone should be used for visible components of signs. Synthetic materials should only be used if they are designed to be indistinguishable from the recommended natural materials, or if they have a secondary or minor visual presence. Large plastic panels are strongly discouraged. Materials subject to yellowing from light exposure or age such as polycarbonate should not be used.

2. Internally illuminated “can” signs consisting of rectangular enclosures with large translucent plastic sign faces should not be used. If used, one of the following treatments should be applied:

3. Recommended exposed and non-exposed illumination (light source) types include incandescent, halogen, neon, warm-white encapsulated compact fluorescent, warm-white encapsulated induction lamps, and LED light sources. Exposed spiral-tube compact fluorescent, induction, fluorescent tube, metal halide, and cold-cathode light sources should only be used for non-exposed illumination, i.e. where lamps are shielded from view. High pressure sodium and low pressure sodium light sources are not recommended due to their limited color. The use of energy-efficient illumination sources is recommended.

4. For legibility, contrasting colors should be used for the color of the background and the color of the letters or symbols. Light letters on a dark background or dark letters on a light background are most legible.

5. Colors or color combinations that interfere with the legibility of the sign copy should be avoided. Too many colors can confuse the message of a sign.

6. Fluorescent colors should not be used as predominant colors in permanent signs or on their structural supports (except as required for municipal traffic and public safety signs). When fluorescent colors are used as part of temporary signage, they should be limited to 10 square feet of sign area per façade per establishment.

7. Sign design, including color, should be appropriate to the establishment, conveying a sense of what type of business is being advertised.

8. The location of all permanent signs should be incorporated into the architectural design and composition of the building. Placement of signs should be considered an integral part of the overall façade design. Locations should be carefully composed and align with major architectural features.

9. Storefront signage should help create architectural variety from establishment to establishment. In multi-tenant buildings, signage should be used to create interest and variety.

10. All signs (including temporary signs) should present a neat and aligned appearance.

11. All signs (including temporary signs) should be constructed and installed utilizing the services of a professional sign fabricator. (Ord. 2145 § 2 (Exh. B), 2014).