# Sign Regulations in Ashland, Oregon

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Ashland, Oregon, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Ashland, Oregon (OR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oregon/ashland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=b0d084fbd535457aa56e48ef1589d114)

## At a glance

Ashland, Oregon regulates 16 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Conditional Use)s in the Residential Zones zoning district are capped at 5 ft above grade tall and 15 sq ft, with a 10 ft from property lines setback (Sec. 18.4.7.060.B.2). Most commercial signs in Ashland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 5 ft above grade (freestanding) | 16 sq ft (residential), 32 sq ft (commercial/industrial) | — |
| Residential Zones | 3 | 5 ft above grade | 15 sq ft | — |
| North Mountain Neighborhood District (NM), NM-R-1-5, NM-C, NM Civic | 1 | 5 ft above grade | 15 sq ft | — |
| Commercial-Downtown Zone (C-1-D) | 6 | 9 in if placed below marquee | 60 sq ft per business frontage | — |
| Commercial Zone (C-1), Health Care Zone (HC), Employment Zone (E-1), Croman Mill Zone (CM), Industrial Zone (M-1) | 5 | 9 in face height if attached | 60 sq ft per business frontage | — |
| Freeway Sign Overlay | 1 | 2,028 ft above mean sea level | 100 sq ft | — |
| Historic District Overlay, Railroad District | 1 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| CM-NC, CM-OE, CM-CI, CM-MU | 2 | 5 ft above grade | 60 sq ft per business frontage | — |
| CM-OS | 1 | — | 60 sq ft per business frontage | — |
| SOU | 1 | — | 60 sq ft per business frontage | — |
| Airport Overlay (A-1) | 1 | — | 60 sq ft per business frontage | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Neighborhood Identification Sign | 3 ft above grade | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entry | At entry point to residential development | — | 18.4.7.060.B.1 |
| Ground Sign (Conditional Use) | 5 ft above grade | 15 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property lines | 1 per use | Set back at least 10 ft from property lines | — | 18.4.7.060.B.2 |
| Wall Sign (Retail, Travelers' Accommodation) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | On wall of building for permitted use | — | 18.4.7.060.B.3 |

### Commercial-Downtown Zone (C-1-D)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 60 sq ft per business frontage | — | — | 2 per building frontage | On business frontage | — | 18.4.7.070.B |
| Ground Sign | 5 ft above grade | 60 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per qualifying lot | On lot; corner lots can count one street frontage | — | 18.4.7.070.C |
| Marquee or Awning Sign | 9 in if placed below marquee | — | — | — | 2 per business frontage in lieu of wall signs | Below/attached to marquee | — | 18.4.7.070.D |
| Projection Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business/group | Projecting from building | — | 18.4.7.070.E |
| Three-Dimensional Sign | 3 ft | Flat surfaces over 2 sq ft count toward aggregate sign area; overall volume max 3 cubic feet | 3 ft | — | 1 per lot | On-premises; may overhang public right-of-way at 8 ft+ if attached to building/marquee | — | 18.4.7.070.F |
| Portable Business Sign (Sandwich Board, etc.) | Sandwich/A-frame: 3 ft; pedestal: 4 ft; wind sign: 5 ft | 4 sq ft per face (2 faces max) | — | — | 1 per lot | Within 10 ft of business entrance; not on public right-of-way | — | 18.4.7.070.G |

### Commercial Zone (C-1), Health Care Zone (HC), Employment Zone (E-1), Croman Mill Zone (CM), Industrial Zone (M-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 60 sq ft per business frontage | — | — | 2 per building frontage | On business frontage | — | 18.4.7.080.B |
| Ground Sign | 5 ft above grade | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying lot | On lot (corner lots count both street frontages for size but only one sign) | — | 18.4.7.080.C |
| Awning or Marquee Sign | 9 in face height if attached | — | — | — | 2 per business frontage (in lieu of wall signs) | On awning/marquee | — | 18.4.7.080.D |
| Portable Business Sign (Sandwich Board, etc.) | Sandwich/A-frame: 3 ft; pedestal: 4 ft; wind sign: 5 ft | 4 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — | — | 1 per lot | Within 10 ft of business entrance; not on public right-of-way | — | 18.4.7.080.E |
| Three-Dimensional Sign | 3 ft | Flat surfaces over 2 sq ft count toward aggregate area; overall volume max 3 cu ft | 3 ft | — | 1 per lot | On premises; may suspend over right-of-way at 8 ft+ if attached | — | 18.4.7.080.F |

## Prohibited signs in Ashland

- No sign shall be located in a commercial or industrial zone so that it is primarily visible only from a residential zone.
- No signs in excess of 2 ½ feet in height shall be placed in the vision clearance area.
- No sign or portion of thereof shall be erected within ten feet of driveways unless the same is less than 2 ½ feet in height.
- No sign or portion thereof shall be erected within future street right-of-ways, as depicted upon the Street Dedication Map, unless and until an agreement is recorded stipulating that the sign will be removed or relocated upon street improvements at no expense to the City.
- No sign or portion thereof shall be placed so that it obstructs any fire escape, stairway, or standpipe; interferes with human exit through any window of any room located above the first floor of any building; obstructs any door or required exit from any building; or obstructs any required light or ventilation.
- No sign found unsafe, insecure, or erected in violation of the permit or this chapter shall be retained after notice; must be removed or altered within seven days.
- Sign posing immediate peril to persons or property, or erected without a permit, may be removed immediately and not re-established until a valid permit is issued.
- No movable sign, temporary sign, or bench sign shall be permitted except as may be provided in section 18.4.7.040 (the exemptions section).
- No wind sign, device, or captive balloon shall be permitted except as may be provided in referenced sections.
- No flashing signs shall be permitted.
- No sign shall have or consist of any moving, rotating, or otherwise animated part.
- No three-dimensional statue, caricature, or representation of persons, animals, or merchandise shall be used as a sign or incorporated into a sign structure except as may be provided.
- No public address system or sound devices shall be used in conjunction with any sign or advertising device.
- No roof signs or signs which project above the roof shall be permitted.
- No exposed sources of illumination shall be permitted on any sign or for the decoration of any building, including but not limited to neon or fluorescent tubing and flashing incandescent bulbs (unless source is within a building and at least ten feet from a window, or sign is internally illuminated or fully shielded).
- No signs that use plastic as part of the exterior visual effects or are internally illuminated shall be permitted in the Historic District or in any residential zone.
- No bulletin boards or signs with changeable copy shall be permitted, except as allowed.
- No wall graphics shall be permitted.
- No unofficial sign which purports to be, is an imitation of, or resembles an official traffic sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view any official traffic sign or signal shall be permitted.
- Vehicle signs used as static displays such that the primary purpose is the display of the sign, placed or parked on the public right-of-way for a continuous period of two days or more, are prohibited (except vehicles regularly used in business).
- Signs in obvious disrepair that are not maintained according to stated maintenance standards are nuisances and must be removed or abated.
- No sign may be altered if it is a nonconforming sign; it must instead be brought into conformance with the ordinance upon alteration.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ashland

- Informational signs placed or approved for installation by the City or State of Oregon in the public right-of-way, including collective identification or directory signs placed by the City, are exempt.
- Memorial tablets, cornerstones, or similar plaques not exceeding six square feet in size are exempt.
- Flags of national, state, or local governments are exempt.
- Historic signs are exempt from some provisions (see specific historic sign section).
- Signs within a building, provided they are not visible to persons outside the building, are exempt.
- Any sign which is not visible to motorists or pedestrians on any public highway, sidewalk, street, or alley is exempt.
- Small incidental signs not exceeding two square feet per sign (not more than two per parcel or per business frontage, whichever is greater), and, within the Downtown Design Standards overlay, up to three incidental signs with a total area of seven square feet (no single sign over three square feet) per business frontage, are exempt.
- Strings of lights in non-residential zones, where the lights do not exceed five watts per bulb and do not flash or blink in any way, are exempt. (Strings of lights in residential zones are not regulated.)
- Temporary, non-illuminated signs not exceeding 16 square feet, for charitable fundraising events by non-profit or charitable organizations, placed up to 7 days prior and removed within 2 days after the event (max. 2 events per lot per year), are exempt.
- Temporary, non-illuminated construction signs (aggregate area 16 sq ft in residential/32 sq ft in commercial or industrial areas), up to four per lot, removed within 7 days of project completion, are exempt (with further criteria).
- Temporary, non-illuminated election signs not exceeding 4 sq ft, erected no more than 45 days prior and removed within 7 days after an election, are exempt.
- Temporary, non-illuminated real estate signs not exceeding 6 sq ft in residential areas or 12 sq ft in commercial/industrial areas, limited to one per lot and removed within 15 days of sale/lease/rental (with further criteria), are exempt.
- Temporary window signs, painted or placed upon a window in a non-residential zone, which do not obscure more than 20% of the window area, and are maintained for no more than 7 days, are exempt (signs that remain longer are considered permanent and must comply).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Sign Permit, granted through Ministerial review, is required before installing any new sign (except exempted signs), altering an existing sign (excluding minor maintenance/repairs or only changing copy on a conforming sign), altering a non-conforming sign, or erecting a temporary sign for a new business.
- Sign permit submission requirements include scaled drawings showing material, color, texture, dimensions, shape, location, attachment, structural elements, and the size/dimensions of any other signs on the applicant's building or property.
- Sign permits are required for nonconforming signs before repair, if damage is <50% of the replacement cost; otherwise, nonconforming signs must be brought into conformance before alteration.
- Any nonconforming sign must be brought into conformance with the ordinance prior to any expansion or change in use requiring Site Design Review or a Conditional Use Permit; no building permits for new construction will be issued until compliance.
- Variances to general sign regulations, nonconforming sign standards, and historic sign regulations may be requested via the City’s variance procedure, but exceptions and variances to other sign code provisions are prohibited.
- Historic signs may be designated via a process with City Council approval, and after designation, may be allowed exemptions or be subject to new conditions.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 11 zoning districts in Ashland — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Ashland+OR&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-ashland

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