# CHAPTER 4-21 HIGHWAY ADVERTISING (2022)

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## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

CHAPTER 4-21 HIGHWAY ADVERTISING
GENERAL PROVISIONS

4-21-1

Title
This Chapter shall be known as the Highway Advertising Chapter of the Colville Tribes Law and Order
Code.

4-21-2

Legislative Intent
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Code, or this Chapter, no signs visible from the main-traveled
way of the Tribal System Roads, primary system, or scenic system which have any of the following
characteristics shall be erected or maintained:
(a) Signs advertising activities that are illegal under Tribal, state or federal laws or regulations in effect at
the location of such signs or at the location of such activities.
(b) Illegal, destroyed, abandoned, discontinued or obsolete signs.
(c) Signs that are not clean and in good repair.
(d) Signs that are not securely affixed to a substantial structure.
(e) Signs which attempt or appear to attempt to direct the movement of traffic or which interfere with,
imitate, or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device.
(f) Signs which prevent the driver of a vehicle from having a clear and unobstructed view of official signs
and approaching or merging traffic.
(g) Signs which contain, include, or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights
(except those signs giving public service information).
(h) Signs which use any lighting in any way unless it is so effectively shielded as to prevent beams or rays
of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled ways of the highway or is of such low intensity or
brilliance as not to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle, or to otherwise
interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
(i) Signs which move or have any animated or moving parts (except revolving signs giving public service
information).
(j) Signs which are erected or maintained upon trees, power poles, or painted or drawn upon rocks, or other
natural features.
(k) Signs which exceed twenty feet in length, width, or height, or one hundred fifty square feet in area,
including border and trim but excluding supports, except:
(1) Larger signs as permitted within commercial and industrial areas adjacent to the primary
system pursuant to this Chapter; and
(2) Type 3 signs not more than fifty feet from the advertised activity; and
(3) Single on-premise signs advertising shopping centers, malls, and business combinations as
described in this Chapter under type 3.
(4) Type 8 signs shall not exceed thirty-two square feet in area, unless they qualify as Type 3 (on
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premise) signs.
(l) Electronic signs may be used only to advertise activities conducted or goods and services available on
the property on which the signs are located or to present public service information.
(1) Advertising messages may contain words, phrases, sentences, symbols, trade-marks, and logos.
A single message or a segment of a message must have a display time of at least two seconds
including the time to move onto the sign board, with all segments of the total message to be
displayed within ten seconds. A message consisting of only one segment may remain on the sign
board as long as desired.
(2) Electronic signs requiring more than four seconds to change from one single message display
to another shall be turned off during the change interval.
(3) Displays traveling horizontally across the sign board must move between sixteen and thirtytwo light columns per second. Displays can scroll onto the sign board but must hold for two
seconds including scrolling.
(4) Sign displays shall not include any art animations or graphics that portray motion, except for
movement of graphics onto or off of the sign board as previously described.
(5) No electronic sign lamp may be illuminated to a degree of brightness that is greater than
necessary for adequate visibility. Signs found to be too bright shall be adjusted in accordance with
the instructions of the Planning Commission created by Chapter 4-3.
(Amended 08/18/22, Certified 08/23/22, Resolution 2022-553)

(m) Tri-vision signs may be used as Type 3, Type 4, or Type 5 signs, with the following provisions:
(1) Visible to Tribal System Roads, tri-vision signs may only be used as Type 3 signs.
(2) Rotation of one sign face to another sign face is no more frequent than every eight seconds and
the actual rotation process shall be accomplished in four seconds or less.
(3) Tri-vision signs shall contain a default mechanism that will stop the sign in one position should
a malfunction occur.
(4) Maximum size limitations shall independently apply to each sign face, including framework
and border.
(5) Tri-vision signs are subject to all other applicable provisions of this Chapter.
4-21-3

Restrictions on signs
Except as permitted by this Chapter, no person shall erect or maintain a sign, which is visible from the
main-traveled way of the Tribal System Roads, or the scenic system. In case a highway or a section of
highway is both a part of the primary system and the scenic system, only those signs permitted along the
scenic system shall be erected or maintained.
DEFINITIONS

4-21-10

Definitions
The terms when used in this Chapter shall have the following meaning:
(a) “Abandoned” means a sign for which neither sign owner nor land owner claim any responsibility.

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(b) “Centerline of the highway” means a line equidistant from the edges of the median separating the maintraveled ways of a divided highway, or the centerline of the main traveled way of a non-divided highway.
(c) “Commercial and industrial areas” means any area zoned commercial or industrial by a Tribal,
Municipal, or County code or if un-zoned or zoned for general uses by a Tribal or Municipal code, that area
occupied by three or more separate and distinct commercial and/or industrial activities within a space of
five hundred feet and the area within five hundred feet of such activities on both sides of the highway. The
area shall be measured from the outer edges of the regularly used buildings, parking lots, storage, or
processing areas of the commercial or industrial activity and not from the property lines of the parcels upon
which such activities are located. Measurements shall be along or parallel to the edge of the main-traveled
way of the highway. The following shall not be considered commercial or industrial activities:
(1) Agricultural, forestry, grazing, farming, and related activities, including, but not limited to,
wayside fresh produce stands;
(2) Transient or temporary activities;
(3) Railroad tracks and minor sidings;
(4) Signs;
(5) Activities more than six hundred and sixty feet from the nearest edge of the right of way; or
(6) Activities conducted in a building principally used as a residence. Should any commercial or
industrial activity, which has been used in defining or delineating an un-zoned area, cease to
operate for a period of six continuous months, any signs located within the former un-zoned area
shall become nonconforming.
(d) “Discontinued” means a sign that shall be considered discontinued if, after receiving notice of absence
of advertising content for three months, the permit holder fails to put advertising content on the sign within
three months of the notice.
(e) “Electronic sign” means an outdoor advertising sign, display, or device whose message may be changed
by electrical or electronic process, and includes the device known as the electronically changeable message
center for advertising on Reservation premises activities.
(f) “Entrance roadway” means any public road or turning roadway including acceleration lanes, by which
traffic may enter the main-traveled way of a controlled access highway from the general road system within
the Reservation, including rest areas, view points, and sites used by the general public, irrespective of
whether traffic may also leave the main-traveled way by such road or turning roadway.
(g) “Erect” means to construct, build, raise, assemble, place, affix, attach, create, paint, draw, or in any
other way bring into being or establish.
(h) “Exit roadway” means any public road or turning roadway including deceleration lanes, by which
traffic may leave the main-traveled way of a controlled access highway to reach the general road system
within the Reservation, including rest areas, view points, and sites used by the general public, irrespective
of whether traffic may also enter the main-traveled way by such road or turning roadway.
(i) “Planning Commission” means the hearing body created by Chapter 4-3.
(Amended 08/18/22, Certified 08/23/22, Resolution 2022-553)

(j) “Legible” means capable of being read without visual aid by a person of normal visual acuity
(k) “Maintain” means to allow to exist. A sign loses its right to remain as a nonconforming sign if its size is
increased more than fifteen percent over its size on the effective date of this Chapter, or the effective date
of control of a given route, whichever is applicable. The sign may continue as long as it is not destroyed,
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abandoned, or discontinued. Such signs may be re-erected in kind if destroyed due to vandalism, and other
criminal or tortuous acts.
(l) “Main-traveled way” means the traveled way of a highway on which through traffic is carried. In the
case of a divided highway, the traveled way of each of the separated roadways for traffic in opposite
directions are a main-traveled way. It does not include such facilities as frontage roads, turning roadways,
entrance roadways, exit roadways, or parking areas.
(m) “Person” means the Colville Tribes or any public or private corporation, firm, partnership, association,
as well as any individual, or individuals.
(n) “Primary system” means any highway which is part of the federal-aid primary system as described in
section 23 USC 103(b), in existence on June 1, 1991, as enacted in the 1991 Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act, and any highway which is not on such system but which is on the National
Highway System.
(o) “Reservation” means the Colville Indian Reservation
(p) “Scenic system” means any:
(1) designated Tribal System Road within any public park, federal forest area, public beach, public
recreation area, or national monument;
(2) state highway or portion thereof outside the boundaries of any incorporated city or town
designated in RCW 47.42.140 by the legislature as a part of the scenic system.
(q) “Sign” means any outdoor sign, display, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, placard, poster,
billboard, or other thing which is designed, intended or used to advertise or inform, any part of the
advertising or informative contents of which is visible from any place on the main-traveled way of the
Tribal System Road or other state highway.
(r) “Trade name” means and shall include brand name, trademark, distinctive symbol, or other similar
device or thing used to identify particular products or services.
(s) “Traveled way” means the portion of a roadway for the movement of vehicles, exclusive of shoulders.
(t) “Tribes” means the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation.
(u) “Turning roadway” means a connecting roadway for traffic turning between two intersection legs of an
interchange.
(v) “Public service information” means a message on an electronic sign, which provides the time, date,
temperature, weather, or information about nonprofit activities sponsored by civic or charitable
organizations.
(w) “Temporary agricultural directional sign” means a sign on private property adjacent to Tribal System
Roads right of way to provide directional information to places of business offering for sale seasonal
agricultural products.
(x) “State scenic byway” means any scenic and recreational highway established by RCW 47.39.
(y) “Tri-vision sign” means a sign having a series of three sided rotating slats arranged side by side, either
horizontally or vertically, which are rotated by an electric-mechanical process, capable of displaying a total
of three separate and distinct messages, one message at a time.
(z) “Tribal System Road” means any highway or road within the boundaries of the Colville Indian
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Reservation.
(aa) “Visible” means capable of being seen (whether or not legible) without visual aid by a person of
normal visual perception.
(bb) “Visible development” means those areas determined by the Tribes to have development, both in
type and location, that meet the requirements for un-zoned commercial and industrial areas prescribed by
Chapter 4-3, Land Use and Development and such development is not visually obstructed by vegetation
or other natural features. It is prohibited to remove vegetation or other natural features located within the
Tribal System Road right of ways that may act as visual obstructions.
CLASIFICATION OF SIGNS—REQUIREMENTS
4-21-20

Classification of signs
Signs shall be classified as follows:
(a) Type l: Directional or other official signs or notices.
(1) Signs and notices erected and maintained by public offices or public agencies within their
territorial or zoning jurisdiction and pursuant to and in accordance with direction or authorization
contained in federal, state, or local law for the purposes of carrying out an official duty or
responsibility. Historical markers authorized by Tribal and state law and erected by state or local
government agencies or nonprofit historical societies may be considered official signs.
(2) Service club and religious notices, whose message shall contain only the name of a nonprofit
service club or religious organization, its address and the time of its meeting or service.
(b) Type 2: For sale or lease sign. A sign not prohibited by Tribal and state law that is consistent with the
applicable provisions of this Chapter and which only advertises the sale or lease of the parcel of real
property upon which the sign is located. The name of the owner of the property offered for sale or lease, or
the owner's agent and phone number shall not be displayed more conspicuously than the words “for sale” or
“for lease.” No other message may be displayed on the sign. Not more than one such sign advertising the
sale or lease of a parcel of property shall be visible to traffic proceeding in anyone direction on a Tribal
System Road, primary system or scenic system highway.
(c) Type 3: On-premise sign.
(1) A sign advertising an activity conducted on the property on which the sign is located. The sign,
except as provided under (2) of this subsection, shall be limited to identifying the establishment or
the principal or accessory products or services offered on the property. A sign consisting
principally of a brand name, trade name, product, or service incidental to the principal products or
services offered on the property, or bringing rental income to the property owner, is not considered
an on-premise sign. Not more than one such sign, visible to traffic proceeding in anyone direction
on a Tribal System Road, primary system, or scenic system highway may be permitted more than
fifty feet from the advertised activity.
(2) Temporary political campaign signs are a Type 3 on premise sign, on which the property
owner expresses endorsement of a political candidate or ballot issue, with the following
restrictions:
(A) Temporary political campaign signs are limited to a maximum size of thirty-two
square feet in area.
(B) Temporary political campaign signs must be removed within ten days after the
election.
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(C) Except as provided in (2), (A) and (B) of this subsection, temporary political
campaign signs are subject to all other applicable provisions of Chapter 4-3, Chapter 415-12 and Chapter 8-3-95 that pertain to Type 3 on-premise signs.
(3) Signs reading “future site of” or similar wording will be allowed as an on-premise sign without
any activity being apparent on the site for one-year from date of installation provided the
following conditions have been met:
(A) The Colville Confederated Tribal Roads Department has received a letter of
notification of intent from the owner of the proposed advertised activity.
(B) The sign shall not inform of activities conducted elsewhere.
(C) The maximum size of a future site sign shall not be greater than one hundred fifty
square feet. The sign must be removed at the end of the one-year time period if the
advertised activity has not become operational.
(d) Type 4: Signs within twelve air miles of advertised activities. Signs not prohibited by Tribal and state
law which are consistent with the applicable provisions of this Chapter and which advertise activities
conducted within twelve air miles of such signs.
(e) Type 5: Signs in the specific interest of the traveling public. Signs authorized to be erected or
maintained by Tribal and state law which are consistent with this Chapter and which are designed to give
information in the specific interest of the traveling public.
(f) Type 6: Signs lawfully identified are subject to the approval of the Colville Confederated Tribes
Archeology and History Program, 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 4-4, Cultural Resources Protection.
(g) Type 7: Public service signs located on school bus stop shelters, which:
(1) Identify the donor, sponsor or contributor of said shelters;
(2) Contain safety slogans or messages which do not pertain to the donor and occupy not less than
sixty percent of the area of the signs. In addition to this area limitation the donor identification
portion of the sign may not appear more prominently than the safety slogan message;
(3) Contain no other message;
(4) Are located on school bus shelters which are authorized or approved by Tribal law, regulation
or ordinance, off the highway right of way. No school bus shelter shall be located along fully
controlled access highways without permission of the Tribes pursuant to Chapter 4-3, Land Use
and Development; and
(5) Do not exceed thirty-two square feet in area. Not more than one sign on each shelter may face
in anyone direction. The sign shall not protrude above the roofline or beyond the sides of the
shelter.
(h) Type 8: Temporary agricultural directional signs, with the following restrictions:
(1) Signs shall be posted only during the period of time the seasonal agricultural product is being
sold;
(2) Signs shall not be placed adjacent to the Tribal System Roads unless the sign qualifies as an
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Type 3 on-premise sign;
(3) Signs shall not be placed within an incorporated city or town, but may be placed in un-zoned
areas and areas zoned for agricultural, commercial, and industrial activities;

(4) Premises on which the seasonal agricultural products are sold must be within fifteen miles of
the state highway, and necessary supplemental signing on local roads must be provided before the
installation of the signs on the state highway;
(5) Signs must be located so as not to restrict sight distances on approaches to intersections, or
restrict the visibility of other authorized signs; and
(6) The minimum spacing between sign structures shall be three hundred feet. For the purposes of
this subsection, a back-to-back sign and a V-type sign shall be considered one sign structure
(spacing is independent of off-premise (Type 4 and Type 5) signs).
4-21-21

Signs along scenic, primary, and interstate systems
Signs of Types 4 shall not be erected or maintained within view of the main-traveled way of the scenic or
primary system, except those signs visible from the main-traveled way of the primary system within
commercial and industrial areas shall be permitted as provided in WAC 46866-110. Only signs of Type 1,
Type 2, Type 3, Type 4 and Type 5 shall be erected or maintained within view of the main-traveled way of
the interstate system to the extent and in the manner permitted by WAC 468-66-080,WAC 468-66-090, and
WAC 468-66-100U. After May 10, 1974, no Type 4 or Type 5 signs shall be maintained within view of the
main-traveled way of the interstate system outside of commercial and industrial areas. Signs of Type 7 and
Type 8 may be erected or maintained within view of the primary and scenic highway systems to the extent
and manner permitted by Chapter 4-3.

4-21-22

On-premise signs (Type 3)
(a) Not more than one Type 3 sign visible to traffic proceeding in anyone direction on an interstate system,
primary system outside an incorporated city or town or commercial or industrial area, or scenic system
highway may be permitted more than fifty feet from the advertised activity. The entire sign installation
shall be located within the fifty feet distance.
(b) For the purpose of measuring from the “advertised activity,” the distance shall be measured from the
sign to the nearest portion of that building, storage, or other structure, or processing area, which is the most
regularly used and essential to the conduct of the activity.
(c) For signs advertising shopping centers, malls and business combinations, the distance from the
“advertised activity” may be measured from the nearest portion of a combined parking area for purposes of
allowing a single on premise sign.
(1) In the event that a shopping center, mall or business combination does erect a single onpremise sign as permitted herein, such sign may identify each of the individual businesses
conducted upon the premises, and may include a single display area such as a manually
changeable copy panel, reader board, or electronically changeable message center for advertising
on premise activities.
(2) Individual business signs in such a center, mall or combination area are not permissible more
than fifty feet from the individual activity.
(d) A Type 3 sign permitted more than fifty feet from the advertised activity pursuant to subsection (a) of
this section shall not be erected or maintained a greater distance from the advertised activity than one of the
following options selected by the owner of the business being advertised:

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(1) One hundred fifty feet measured along the edge of the protected highway from the edge of the
main entrance to the activity advertised (when applicable);
(2) One hundred fifty feet from any outside wall of the main building of the advertised activity; or
(3) Fifty feet from any outside edge of a regularly used parking lot maintained by and contiguous
to the advertised activity.
(e) One Type 3 sign in each direction, not exceeding fifty square feet in area bearing only the name and a
directional message, indicating the location of a business, farm, ranch or orchard may be allowed on such
premises that were in existence on the date of approval of this Chapter, provided that the following
conditions exist:
(1) No other Type 3 signs legible from the main traveled lanes of the highway are maintained.
(2) The sign is located on property abutting the highway where ownership or unrestricted lease is
contiguous to and includes the advertised activity and not on a strip or parcel of land deemed by
the Colville Confederated Tribes Roads Department to be acquired for the sole purpose of outdoor
advertising.
(3) No Type 4 or Type 5 signs which are visible from the main-traveled way of the Tribal roads
shall be erected or maintained in any manner inconsistent with the following:
(A) In advance of an intersection of the main-traveled way of the highway and an exit
roadway, such signs visible to traffic approaching such intersection may not be permitted
to exceed the following number:
Distance from intersection Number of signs
0-2 miles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
2-5 miles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
More than 5 miles . . . . . . . . . . . . . Average of one sign per mile
The specified distances shall be measured to the nearest point of the intersection of
the traveled way of the exit roadway and the main-traveled way of the highway.
(B) Subject to the other provisions of this section, not more than two such signs may be
permitted within any mile distance measured from any point, and no such signs may be
permitted to be less than one thousand feet apart.
(C) Such signs may not be permitted adjacent to any highway right of way upon
any part of the width of which is constructed an entrance or exit roadway.
(D) Such signs visible to highway traffic which is approaching or has passed an
entrance roadway may not be permitted for one thousand feet beyond the furthest point of
the intersection between the traveled way of such entrance roadway and the maintraveled way of the highway.
(E) Not more than one such sign advertising activities being conducted as a
single enterprise or giving information about a single place may be permitted to be
erected or maintained in such manner as to be visible to traffic moving in any one
direction on any one Tribal system Road. Preference of applicants for Type 4, Type 5,
and Type 8 sites. Applications for available Type 4, Type 5, and Type 8 sign sites, where
the number of applications shall exceed the available sites, shall be awarded upon the
following preferential basis:
(i)

Department or enterprises of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville
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Indian Reservation in order of their applications.
(ii) State, Counties, or incorporated cities in the order of their applications.
(iii) Federal agencies in the order of their applications.
(vi) All other applicants in the order of their applications, giving preference,
however, to the holder of an existing permit for renewal thereof. In the event the
Colville Confederated Tribes Planning Department has initiated proceedings for
removal of an existing sign situated on a legal site, the Planning Department will
not accept new applications until such proceedings are concluded. All
applications received during the Planning Department’s normal office hours
during the same day shall be construed as having been received simultaneously.
In the case of a tie between applicants, and upon notification thereof by the
Planning Department, the Planning Department shall determine by lot, which
shall receive the permit.
4-21-23

Advertising copy
(a) A Type 4 sign that displays any trade name which refers to or identifies any service rendered or product
sold, used or otherwise handled more than twelve air miles from such sign may not be permitted unless the
name of the advertised activity which is within twelve air miles of such sign is displayed as conspicuously
as such trade name.
(b) In Type 5 signs, only information about public places operated by federal, state or local governments,
natural phenomena, historic sites, areas of natural scenic beauty or naturally suited for outdoor recreation,
and places for camping, lodging, eating and vehicle service and repair is deemed to be information in the
specific interest of the traveling public only if it identifies or characterizes such a place or identifies vehicle
service, equipment, parts, accessories, fuels, oils or lubricants being offered for sale at such a place. Signs
displaying any other trade name may not be permitted under Type 5.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, Type 4 signs that also qualify as Type 5
signs may display trade names in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section.
(d) A Type 8 sign shall contain the business name, product(s) for sale, and travel direction and distance to
the nearest mile from the intersection with the Tribal System Road to the business activity. The materials
and workmanship in fabricating and installing the signs should have a professional appearance.
SIGN ERECTION AND REMOVAL REQUIREMENTS

4-21-30

Signs within commercial and industrial areas of primary system
Signs visible from the main-traveled way of the primary system within commercial and industrial areas
whose size and spacing are consistent with the customary use of property for the effective display of
outdoor advertising as set forth in this section may be erected and maintained. Nothing in this section shall
restrict Type 3 signs located along any portion of the primary system within an incorporated city or town or
within any commercial or industrial area.
(a) Size of signs:
(1) The maximum area for any one sign shall be six hundred seventy-two square feet with a
maximum height of twenty-five feet and maximum length of fifty feet inclusive of any border and
trim but excluding the base or apron, supports and other structural members. Cut-outs and
extensions may add up to twenty percent of additional sign area.
(2) For the purposes of this subsection, double-faced, back to-back or V-type signs shall be
considered as two signs.

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(3) Signs, which exceed three hundred twenty-five square feet in area, may not be double-faced
(abutting and facing the same direction).
(b) Spacing of signs:
(1) Signs may not be located in such a manner as to obscure, or otherwise physically interfere with
the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal, or device, obstruct or physically interfere with
the driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic.
(2) On limited access highways, no two sign structures shall be spaced less than one thousand feet
apart, and no sign may be located within three thousand feet of the center of an interchange, a
safety rest area or information center, or within one thousand feet of an intersection at grade.
Double-faced signs shall be prohibited. Not more than a total of five sign structures shall be
permitted on both sides of highway per mile.
(3) On non-controlled access highways inside the boundaries of incorporated cities and towns not
more than a total of four sign structures on both sides of the highway within a space of six hundred
sixty feet shall be permitted with a minimum of one hundred feet between sign structures. In no
event, however shall have more than four sign structures be permitted between platted intersecting
streets or highways. On non-controlled access highways outside the boundaries of incorporated
cities and towns minimum spacing between sign structures on each side of the highway shall be
five hundred feet.
(4) For the purposes of this subsection, a back-to-back sign and a V-type sign shall be considered
one sign structure.
(5) Official signs, signs advertising activities conducted on the property on which they are located
(Type 2 and Type 3 signs), public service signs on school bus stop shelters (Type 7 signs), and
temporary agricultural directional signs (Type 8 signs) shall not be considered in determining
compliance with the above spacing requirements. The minimum space between structures shall be
measured along the nearest edge of the pavement between points directly opposite the signs along
each side of the highway and shall apply to signs located on the same side of the highway.
4-21-31

Signs erected prior to this Chapter in Commercial and Industrial areas along the Primary System
Signs lawfully erected and maintained which are visible from the main-traveled way of the primary
system within commercial and industrial areas on the approval of this Chapter shall be permitted to
remain and be maintained. Such signs, however, shall be included in the determination of spacing
requirements for additional signs as permitted by Chapter 4-3.

4-21-32

Signs to be removed
Non-visible signs within the main-traveled way of the Tribal System Road, the primary system, or the
scenic system which was there lawfully maintained immediately prior to enactment of this Chapter, but
which does not comply with the provisions of this Chapter, shall be maintained by any person:
(a) After the date of enactment of this Chapter; or
(b) With respect to any highway hereafter designated as a part of the scenic system, after one year from the
effective date of the designation. Signs located in areas zoned by the Colville Tribes for predominantly
commercial or industrial uses, that do not have development visible to the highway, as determined by the
Tribes Planning Department, and that were lawfully installed after the enactment of this Chapter, visible to
any highway now or hereafter designated by the legislature as part of the scenic system, shall be allowed to
be maintained.
APPLICATIONS—PERMITS—PENALTIES

4-21-40

Applications
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(a) Application forms shall contain:
(1) The name and address of the owner of the sign;
(2) A statement and the signature of the owner or occupant of the land on which the sign is to be
erected or maintained, indicating that he has consented thereto;
(3) A statement of the precise location where the sign is to be erected or maintained;
(4) A statement of the proposed size and shape of the sign.
(5) For Type 5 signs, application forms to request a sign to be erected along the interstate system
shall contain a description of the copy to be placed on the sign;
(6) Such other information as may be required by the Tribes Planning Department;
(7) Applications transmitted by mail shall be effective from date of receipt, rather than of mailing.
(8) For Type 8 signs, application forms accompanied by a fee of fifty dollars for each sign face
must be submitted to the Colville Tribal Planning Department and submittals must include, in
addition to (1) through (7) of this subsection, an exact description of the location of the temporary
agricultural business activity, a description of the proposed sign copy, identification of the
products sold, expected weeks/months of sales, and assigned tax number. After approval of the
application by the Colville Tribal Planning Department, the sign may be erected at the beginning
of the sale season and must be removed at the end of the sale season.
(b) Applications shall be accompanied by a fee of three hundred dollars for each sign face. Approved
applications shall be valid for five consecutive years from the date of application approval. A new
application must be submitted and approved prior to erection of a sign at a location where the five-year
validation has expired.
For any Type 8 signs not in compliance with this Chapter, the Colville Tribal Planning Department shall
request the Reservation Attorneys (ORA) on their behalf to institute legal proceedings to cause such sign to
be removed as an illegal sign without payment of compensation. Subsections 4-21-40(b) and 4-21-41(d),
(e) and (f) do not apply to Type 8 signs.
4-21-41

Permits
(a) Permits shall be issued upon the approval of an applicant and shall be valid for five consecutive years
from the date of the application approval. A new permit must be obtained prior to erection of a sign at a
location where the five-year validation has expired.
(b) No signs except Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3 signs shall be erected or maintained adjacent to the Tribal
System Road, or scenic system highways without permit issue by the Tribes. Permits for erection and
maintenance of signs adjacent to the Tribal System Road, primary system, or scenic system will be issued
by the Tribes in accordance with this Chapter.
(c) Applications for permits (except for Type 8 signs) will be accepted only at the Colville Tribal Planning
Department in Nespelem, Washington.
(d) Changes in size, shape, or position of a permitted sign shall be reported to the Colville Tribal Planning
Department located at Nespelem, Washington (Agency Campus) at least ten days before a change is to be
made.
In the case of Type 5 signs permitted along the Tribal System Road, changes in copy shall be reported 10
days before a change is to be made.
(e) Assignment of permits in good standing shall be effective only upon receipt of assignment by the
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Tribes.
(f) Every permit issued by the Tribes shall be assigned a separate identification number, and it shall be the
duty of each permittee to fasten to each sign a weatherproof label, not larger than six square inches, which
shall be furnished by the Tribes and on which shall be plainly visible the said permit number. The permittee
shall also place his name in a conspicuous position on the front or back of each sign.
(g) A permit issued under this Chapter does not relieve the permittee from the duty to comply with all local
rules, regulations, and ordinances pertaining to signs and sign structures.
4-21-42

Penalties
(a) After hearing, as required by Chapter 2-4, Administrative Procedure Act and the rules and regulations
of the Tribes adopted pursuant thereto, any permit may be revoked without refund by the Tribes for any of
the following reasons:
(1) For the making of any false or misleading statements in the application for any permit, whether
or not the same is material to or relied upon by the Tribes in the issuance of such permit when
such false or misleading statement or information shall remain uncorrected after the expiration of
fifteen days following written notification thereof.
(2) For allowing or suffering any sign to remain in a condition of disrepair or unreasonable state of
repair after the expiration of fifteen days following written notification thereof.
(3) For maintaining any sign, for which a permit has been issued, in violation of any provision of
this Chapter after the expiration of fifteen days following written notification thereof.
(4) For any convictions of a violation of this Chapter, any permit held by the convicted person
may be revoked whether or not such violation is related to the sign for which the permit is
revoked.
(5) For maintaining a discontinued sign as defined in this Chapter.
(b) Notice whenever required herein shall be given to the person entitled thereto by registered mail at the
last known address of such person which shall be such address as may be on file with the Planning
Department, if any, otherwise the last address of such person shown by the property records of BIA Realty
and or the county in which the real property upon which the sign in question is maintained.
(c) The computation of time shall begin from the date the Planning Department mailed the notice, rather
than the day of receipt.
(Enacted 3/16/06, Resolution 2006-77)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aconfederated_colville%3A3e349e275696dfb3. Public record. Not legal advice.