§ 19.82.185. Off-premises signs—Billboards.

A.

Purpose. This section provides for the reasonable regulation of off-premises signs with the intent of enhancing the aesthetics of existing and future billboards, mitigating negative impacts, promoting safety and protecting property values that further the goals and planning policies of Salt Lake County.

B.

Cap on Number of Off-Premises Signs. The number of off-premises signs allowed in unincorporated Salt Lake County and established or future townships shall be limited to the number of off-premises signs that are existing as defined herein as of May 18, 2004. This cap shall automatically decrease as off-premises signs are annexed into a municipal jurisdiction or removed and not relocated.

C.

Location. Off-premises signs shall be allowed in the C-1 zone as a conditional use. Off-premises signs shall be allowed in the C-2, C-3, M-1 and M-2 zones as a permitted use.

D.

Size. Off-premises signs shall not exceed six hundred seventy-two square feet in the C-2, C-3, M-1 and M-2 zones. Off-premises signs located in a C-1 zone shall not exceed three hundred square feet in size.

E.

Height. The maximum height of an off-premises sign shall be thirty-five feet in a C-1 zone. The maximum height of an off-premises sign shall be forty-five feet above the grade level of the road in the C-2, C-3, M-1 and M-2 zones or, when oriented for freeway viewing only and located within three hundred feet of the nearest freeway lane, twenty-five feet above freeway grade level or fifty feet overall, whichever is greater.

F.

Separation. The minimum distance between off-premises signs larger than three hundred square feet shall be five hundred lineal feet as measured along the same side of the street including intersections. The minimum distance between off-premises signs three hundred square feet or less in size shall be three hundred lineal feet as measured along the same side of the street including intersections. All off-premises signs must be at least one hundred fifty radial feet from any other off-premises sign.

G.

Setbacks. The minimum setback shall be eighteen inches for off-premises signs. The sign's front-yard setback shall be measured from the future right-of-way line (see Transportation Improvement Plan). The closest edge of an off-premises sign shall not project into any required setback area. The minimum setback between an off-premises sign and any residential zone boundary shall be one hundred fifty feet.

H.

Lighting. Lighting shall be confined to the sign face, and the lighting source shall not be directly visible.

I.

Design. Off-premises signs shall utilize either the "mono-pole" or the "bi-pole" design and shall be continually maintained structurally and on the copy face. The back of the sign and the structure behind the sign shall be painted a dark color. Tri-vision sign faces shall be permitted and, if illuminated, must be externally illuminated. Internally illuminated off-premises signs, electronic display (outdoor video advertising) and electronic message centers are only allowed adjacent to the interstate freeway system and limited to no more than one change to the copy face in a twenty-four hour period. Two-decked off-premises signs are prohibited in all zones.

J.

Credits for Removal. Prior to the removal of any off-premises sign, the owner shall obtain a permit for the demolition of the off-premises sign. Permits may be provided following application to the Salt Lake County Planning and Development Services Division. The Salt Lake County Planning and Development Services Division shall by letter inform the affected community council chairman and affected planning commission chairman that a permit for demolition of an off-premises sign has been issued. After any off-premises sign is demolished, the Salt Lake County Planning and Development Services Division shall create a "billboard bank account" for the sign owner. The account shall reflect credits for the off-premises sign square footage as well as the date of removal. Any off-premises sign credits not used within thirty-six months of their creation shall expire and be of no further value or use. An off-premises sign owner may sell or otherwise transfer off-premises signs and/or billboard bank account credits. The transfer of any billboard bank account credits does not extend their thirty-six-month life as provided in this section. Demolition of an off-premises sign that has two advertising faces shall receive billboard bank account credits for the square footage of each sign face.

K.

Relocation. The owner of an existing off-premises sign may remove an existing off-premises sign from any site to an approved location only after a permit for relocation is obtained upon substantiation of compliance with this chapter. Prior to approval of a permit for relocation, the sign owner (applicant) shall submit to the county a notarized affidavit signed by the property owner, a copy of the lease agreement or other document to be signed by the property owner, indicating at a minimum the duration of the lease and renewal provisions. Additionally, prior to approval of a permit for relocation, Salt Lake County Planning and Development Services Division shall by letter inform the affected community council chairman and affected planning commission chairman that application for an off-premises sign permit has been received. Off-premises signs moved to approved locations shall conform to all off-premises sign requirements of the new location. Off-premises signs moved from one location to another must be installed in the new approved location within the period allotted by the International Building Code (IBC). A new off-premises sign permit shall only be issued if the applicant has billboard bank account credits of a sufficient number of square feet. When the permit for construction of a new off-premises sign is issued, the Salt Lake County Planning and Development Services Division shall deduct from the sign owner's billboard bank account the square footage of the new off-premises sign. If the new off-premises sign uses less than the entire available square footage credits, any remaining square footage credits shall remain in the sign owner's billboard bank account.

L.

County Council Review and Monitoring. The county council shall, on a regular six-month schedule be updated at a regular public meeting to changes in status and effectiveness of the provisions related to off-premises signs in unincorporated Salt Lake County.

M.

Severability and Conflict. This section and its various parts are hereby declared to be severable if a court of competent jurisdiction declares any subsection, clause, provision or portion of this section invalid or unconstitutional. No court decision will affect the validity of either this section as a whole or any parts not declared invalid or unconstitutional by that decision. If any part of this section is found to be in conflict with any other provision of the county, the most restrictive or highest standard will apply, prevail and govern.

(Ord. 1532 § 4, 2004)