# Sign Regulations in Canby, Oregon

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Canby, Oregon (OR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oregon/canby
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Canby, Oregon regulates 13 sign types across 2 zoning districts. A-Frame Sign (General)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall, Each sign face may not exceed 12 sq ft. Max width 3 ft. Max height 4 ft., and 3 feet wide, with a 5 ft unimpeded sidewalk, 2 ft from curb, or 10 ft from street lane if no curb. setback (Sec. 16.42.025.C.7, 16.42.040.D). Most commercial signs in Canby require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 4 feet | Each sign face may not exceed 12 sq ft. Max width 3 ft. Max height 4 ft. | — |
| Residential Zones (R-1, R-1.5, R-2, C-R) | 11 | 8 feet | 60 sq ft (primary), 30 sq ft (secondary) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | — | — | — | — | As allowed by specific section per site use/zoning | — | 16.42.025.C, 16.42.030 |
| A-Frame Sign (General) | 4 feet | Each sign face may not exceed 12 sq ft. Max width 3 ft. Max height 4 ft. | 3 feet | 5 ft unimpeded sidewalk, 2 ft from curb, or 10 ft from street lane if no curb. | One per business license holder | Allowed on public sidewalks in commercial/industrial zones. Must be set back to preserve 5 ft pedestrian space. Setback from curb or 10 ft from street travel lane if no curb. | — | 16.42.025.C.7, 16.42.040.D |

### Residential Zones (R-1, R-1.5, R-2, C-R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Subdivision >20 lots) | 7 feet | 16 sq ft per sign face | — | — | Max two signs per entrance | One sign either side of public/private street entrance | — | 16.42.050 Table 1 |
| Monument Sign (Multi-family Development) | 7 feet | 16 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per accessway (see description) | One sign at primary street frontage vehicle access way; one at collector/arterial if different | — | 16.42.050 Table 1 |
| Monument Sign (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility, Community Center) | 7 feet | 40 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 | No specific restriction; maximum one sign | — | 16.42.050 Table 1 |
| Pole Sign (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility, Community Center) | 8 feet | 40 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per frontage | Adjacent each street frontage | — | 16.42.050 Table 1 |
| Wall Sign (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet | 60 sq ft (primary), 30 sq ft (secondary) | — | — | One per frontage | On building frontage | — | 16.42.050 Table 1 |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation or Other Commercial Use) | Shall not project above roofline/parapet | 2 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One | Front façade or as permitted | — | 16.42.050 Table 1 |
| Blade/Overhang Sign (Home Occupation or Commercial Use) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet | 2 sq ft per sign face | — | 2 ft from curb, 8 ft clearance | One per frontage | On building frontage | — | 16.42.050 Table 1; 16.42.040.E |
| Window Sign (All Uses) | As installed; by window height | 15% of total window area | — | — | — | In ground or 2nd floor windows | — | 16.42.050 Table 1 |

## Prohibited signs in Canby

- Abandoned signs. A sign that has been abandoned for 30 days or more must have the sign copy area removed by the property owner within 30 days after abandonment.
- Vehicle signs.
- Video signs.
- Signs that may be confused as a traffic control device.
- Signs that impede movement or create a physical hazard.
- Signs with rotating or other moving parts, except barber shop poles and clocks.
- Signs illuminated by flashing lights.
- Searchlights or beacons, except for temporary events such as grand openings with a permit.
- Signs affixed to power, utility, or traffic control poles, or other public utility structures, except city-approved traffic control signs, utility signs, and pole identification placards.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in a manner that interferes with the free use of, or any access to, any fire escape, exit, or standpipe.
- No signs shall be erected or maintained so as to obstruct any window such that light or ventilation falls below required standards.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain a sign that, by reason of its size, location, or placement, creates an immediate danger to health, safety, and welfare by blocking vision for pedestrians or motorists at public or private roadways, intersections, driveways, or railroad crossings.
- No temporary sign shall be erected or maintained that, by reason of its size, location, or construction, constitutes a hazard to the public.
- Temporary signs may not be attached to trees, shrubbery, utility poles, or traffic control signs or devices (except as approved in a Community Event Sign Plan).
- Temporary signs in the right-of-way may not interrupt the normal flow of vehicle, pedestrian, or bicycle traffic, and must provide a minimum of 5 feet of clear passage for pedestrians.
- Temporary signs are not allowed to encroach into a vision clearance area.
- Signs shall not obstruct a vision clearance area required in the applicable zone district.
- External or internal sign illumination shall not result in glare onto neighboring properties or public right-of-way, or create visual discomfort/disability.
- Sign illumination shall not appear to flash, undulate, pulse, or portray explosions, fireworks, flashes of light, or blinking or chasing lights.
- A-frame signs shall not incorporate reflective materials or neon colors.

## Signs exempt from permit in Canby

- All signs which are placed inside a structure or building, and are either not visible through windows/building openings, or are not intended to be visible from outside the structure as determined by the City Planner.
- Bench signs (up to 15 square feet, approved by the bench owner).
- Signs attached to mass transit shelters approved by the transit agency and shelter owner.
- Directory signs.
- Menu board signs.
- Nameplate signs.
- Utility signs.
- Flags.
- Approved Public Art Murals as defined in CMC Chapter 2.80.020.
- Temporary signs as outlined in Section 16.42.025.C (if meeting specific standards).
- Signs installed by city, county, or state for public purposes within the public right-of-way.
- Temporary safety and directional signs installed by non-governmental persons (such as at road/construction sites) with written Public Works Director approval.
- A-frame signs and lawn signs up to 3 feet high and 6 square feet may be displayed by real estate brokers on weekends/holidays in the right-of-way near an open house property.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs erected after the effective date of this chapter (other than those exempt per 16.42.025) require a sign permit. Application is made on forms from the Planning Director.
- Temporary banners or seasonal holiday decorations that extend over a street, private road, or attach to utility/streetlight poles require an approved Community Event Sign Plan from City Council.
- Application for a Community Event Sign Plan is made to the Planning Director with required forms and fees; other agency encroachment permits/approvals may be needed.
- Permanent geographic identification banners or signage over streets/roads or attached to utility/streetlight poles require a permanent sign plan submitted by a recognized neighborhood association or with 51% property owner consent in the area.
- A monument sign not meeting standard material/design requirements may be approved by the Planning Director through a Type II land use application.
- Non-standard A-frame sign materials/designs may be approved by the Planning Director through a Type II land use application.
- Conditional use or design review applications including signs: the Planning Commission reviews size, height, location of proposed signs during the application process.
- Major Sign Variance (over 10% deviation from numeric standards) requires a Type III review.
- Minor Sign Variance (up to 10% deviation from numeric standards) reviewed through a Type II procedure per Chapter 16.89.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Canby, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Canby+OR&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-canby

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