AN ACT Relating to designated advertising signs; and amending RCW 47.42.040.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. Section 4, chapter 96, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 1, chapter 69, Laws of 1979 and RCW 47.42.040 are each amended to read as follows:

It is declared to be the policy of the state that no signs which are visible from the main traveled way of the interstate system, primary system, or scenic system shall be erected or maintained except the following types:

(1) Directional or other official signs or notices that are required or authorized by law;

(2) Signs advertising the sale or lease of the property upon which they are located;

(3) Signs advertising activities conducted on the property on which they are located;

(4) Signs, not inconsistent with the policy of this chapter and the national policy set forth in section 131 of title 23, United States Code as codified and enacted by Public Law 85-767 and amended only by section 106, Public Law 86-342, and the national standards promulgated thereunder by the secretary of commerce or the secretary of transportation, advertising activities being conducted at a location within twelve miles of the point at which such signs are located: PROVIDED, That no sign lawfully erected pursuant to this subsection adjacent to the interstate system and outside commercial and industrial areas shall be maintained by any person after three years from May 10, 1971;

(5) Signs, not inconsistent with the policy of this chapter and the national policy set forth in section 131 of title 23, United States Code as codified and enacted by Public Law 85-767 and amended only by section 106, Public Law 86-342, and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the secretary of commerce or the secretary of transportation, designed to give information in the specific interest of the traveling public: PROVIDED, That no sign lawfully erected pursuant to this subsection adjacent to the interstate system and outside commercial and industrial areas shall be maintained by any person after three years from May 10, 1971;

(6) Signs lawfully in existence on October 22, 1965, determined by the commission, subject to the approval of the United States secretary of transportation, to be landmark signs, including signs on farm structures or natural surfaces, of historic or artistic significance the preservation of which would be consistent with the purposes of chapter 47.42 RCW; ((~~and~~))

(7) Public service signs, located on school bus stop shelters, which:

(a) Identify the donor, sponsor, or contributor of said shelters;

(b) Contain safety slogans or messages which occupy not less than sixty percent of the area of the sign;

(d) Are located on school bus shelters which are authorized or approved by city, county, or state law, regulation, or ordinance, and at places approved by the city, county, or state agency controlling the highway involved; and

(e) Do not exceed thirty-two square feet in area. Not more than one sign on each shelter may face in any one direction.

Subsection (7) of this section notwithstanding, the department of transportation shall adopt regulations relating to the appearance of school bus shelters, the placement, size, and public service content of public service signs located thereon, and the prominence of the identification of the donors, sponsors, or contributors of the shelters.

(8) Temporary agricultural directional signs and tourist-oriented signs that meet the following requirements:

(a) They shall not be placed on interstate highways, although such signs may be located adjacent to interstate highways;

(b) They shall not be placed within an incorporated city or town with a population over ten thousand persons;

(c) The premises on which agricultural or tourist-oriented activities are being conducted shall be within five miles of the state highway;

(d) Supplemental directional signs shall be placed at key decision point intersections, if any, between the state highway and the agricultural or tourist activity for which the sign is intended;

(e) Not more than one directional sign may be installed at each approach to an intersection. Each sign shall be placed no closer than one hundred fifty feet nor farther than five hundred feet before the intersection and shall be located in such a manner that it does not interfere with other signs authorized by this chapter. Each agricultural or tourist-related activity shall be limited to one sign board at each approach to an intersection;

(f) The area of each sign shall be no more than thirty-two square feet;

(g) They may be erected and maintained for the duration of the normal business season of the activity;

(h) Signs in existence on October 22, 1965, are exempt from the requirements of this subsection.

(9) Temporary signs advertising candidates or ballot measures as defined in RCW 42.17.020, which signs meet the following requirements:

(a) Before erecting the sign, the candidate or political committee shall obtain written permission from the department;

(b) The signs do not exceed thirty-two square feet in area;

(d) Signs substantially identical in size and appearance may be erected and maintained under a single permit;

(e) The permit shall specify the earliest date upon which signs may be erected and a date by which they shall be removed.

The department shall adopt rules to carry out this section and may charge a fee to cover the costs of issuing permits.

Only signs of types 1, 2 ((~~and~~)), 3, 7, 8, and 9 shall be erected or maintained within view of the scenic system. ((~~Signs of type 7 may be erected or maintained within view of the scenic system and the federal aid primary system.~~))