# Sign Regulations in Dalles, Oregon

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dalles, Oregon (OR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oregon/dalles
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21

## At a glance

Dalles, Oregon regulates 26 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Secondary Signs in the Central Business Zone, Central Business Commercial Zone (CBC) zoning district are capped at 20 ft. above street grade tall and 35 sq. ft., with a Building setback over 20 ft. setback (Sec. §10.13.040.050.B). Most commercial signs in Dalles require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones | 3 | 8 ft. above grade | 48 sq. ft. | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial Zones | 2 | 8 ft. above street grade | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Recreational Commercial Zones, Recreational Commercial Zone (CR) | 3 | 8 ft. above street grade | 48 sq. ft. | — |
| Community Facilities Overlay Zone (CFO) | 2 | 8 ft. above grade | 48 sq. ft. | — |
| Central Business Zone, Central Business Commercial Zone (CBC) | 4 | 45 in. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| General Commercial Zones, General Commercial Zone (CG) | 2 | 20 ft. above street grade | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Light and Heavy Industrial and Manufacturing Zones, Industrial Zones | 3 | 24 ft. above grade (40 ft. in Highway District) | Primary/Secondary Highways: 672 sq. ft.; City Streets: 288 sq. ft. | — |
| Highway District | 2 | 40 ft. above grade | 250 sq. ft. | — |
| Shopping Centers | 2 | 40 ft. | 250 sq. ft. | — |
| Historic Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial Zones | 1 | 5 ft. above ground level | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 40 ft. max (typical for maximum, see zone); 8-20 ft. in certain secondary situations. | See specific zone for max area (commonly 100 sq. ft., 250 sq. ft. in Highway/Shopping Center). | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Central Business Zone, Central Business Commercial Zone (CBC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Principal Sign (Flush, Projecting, or Freestanding) | — | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property, 1 per street frontage for freestanding | On premises, building or freestanding. | — | §10.13.040.050.A; §10.13.050.030 |
| Secondary Sign | 20 ft. above street grade | 35 sq. ft. | — | Building setback over 20 ft. | 1 | On premises. | — | §10.13.040.050.B |
| Flush or Freestanding Sign (CBC Zone) | 8 ft. (freestanding) | 48 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On premises. | — | §10.13.040.050.C |
| Sidewalk Signboard | 45 in. | — | 25 in. | Not closer than 3 ft. from door or property corner; at least 6 ft. apart from another signboard. | 1 per business | On sidewalk adjacent to business, not in alleys. Minimum 6 ft. sidewalk clearance required. | — | §10.13.050.160 |

### Light and Heavy Industrial and Manufacturing Zones, Industrial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Principal Sign (Flush, Projecting, or Freestanding) | — | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | On premises, building or freestanding. | — | §10.13.040.070.A; §10.13.050.030 |
| Secondary Sign | 20 ft. above street grade | 50 sq. ft. | — | Building setback 50 ft. | 1 | On premises. | — | §10.13.040.070.B |
| Advertising Sign (Off-Premises) | 24 ft. above grade (40 ft. in Highway District) | Primary/Secondary Highways: 672 sq. ft.; City Streets: 288 sq. ft. | 14 ft. (Primary/Secondary highways), 12 ft. (City streets) | — | Max 8 per mile | Only in General Commercial and Industrial Zones. | — | §10.13.050.150 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On private property. | — | §10.13.030.020.C, D, E |
| Exempt Signs | — | Varies by sign type (e.g., ATM sign 4 sq. ft.; construction 32 sq. ft./16 sq. ft.; garage/yard sale 3 sq. ft., etc.) | — | — | Per list | Varies by exempt type. | — | §10.13.030.010 |
| Flush Sign | — | See table: Residential: 2 sq. ft. (multifamily per §10.13.040.010.C); Shopping Centers: 25% bldg front; Neighborhood Commercial: 25%; Central Business: 50%; General Commercial & Industrial: 50%; Highway District: 50%; CR: 50%; CFO: 48 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On any wall, marquee, canopy, or roof overhang. | — | §10.13.050.040 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building, projected over alley/sidewalk (see projection/clearance requirements). | — | §10.13.050.030 |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 ft. max (typical for maximum, see zone); 8-20 ft. in certain secondary situations. | See specific zone for max area (commonly 100 sq. ft., 250 sq. ft. in Highway/Shopping Center). | — | — | 1 per street frontage (in relevant zones) | On premises. | — | §10.13.050.030 |
| Roof Sign | Top not more than 12 ft. above sidewalk grade | — | — | — | — | On roof of building, structure, or canopy/marquee roof. | — | §10.13.050.060 |
| Secondary Marquee Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Under canopy or flush in an alley; minimum clearance 7.5 ft. | — | §10.13.050.070 |
| Message Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §10.13.050.050; §10.13.050.140 |

## Prohibited signs in Dalles

- No sign shall be erected or maintained which bears or contains statements, words or pictures of an immoral character, that will offend the public morals or decency.
- No sign shall be erected above the roof line of the building to which it is attached, except as provided in Section 10.13.050.060.
- No sign may be erected or maintained if the Director determines it creates confusion with or interferes with the effectiveness of traffic signs or signals or resembles traffic signs.
- No sign shall be placed on, affixed to, or painted on a motor vehicle, vehicle, or trailer and placed on public or private property for the primary purpose of providing a sign not otherwise permitted by this Title.
- Private signs are prohibited on, painted on, or affixed to any utility pole.
- No sign is allowed in a residential zone except for those signs designated in specific sections (10.13.030.010, 10.13.040.010, 10.13.040.040).
- By use of lights or illumination, no sign shall create an unduly distracting or hazardous condition to a motorist or pedestrian. No exposed reflective-type bulb, spot, or incandescent lamp shall exceed 30-watt capacity.
- A sign may not exceed an average horizontal foot candle of 0.3 at an adjacent property line of a residentially zoned property.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained if it violates any provision of this Title.
- All signs must be maintained in a safe, neat, clean, and attractive condition.
- Signs must be kept from excessive rust, corrosion, peeling paint, or other surface deterioration; display surfaces, trims, frames, and supports must be neatly painted or otherwise neatly maintained.
- All signs except temporary signs shall be rigid and firmly attached to their supporting structure.
- Ground or freestanding signs must be directly supported by poles or supports in the ground; no external cross-braces, guy wires, T-frames, A-frames, trusses, or similar bracing systems may be used in constructing these signs.
- All signs as well as their supports, braces, guys, and anchors must be kept in good repair and maintained in a safe condition.
- No sign may be erected using a 'sandwich board' or 'A frame' structure on public property; such structures are only allowed on private property and where specifically permitted.
- No sign may be located in the public right-of-way or on City-owned real property except in conformance with the requirements of this Chapter.
- It is a violation to erect, maintain, display, or use an illegal sign, including nonconforming signs not brought into compliance, signs without a permit when required, abandoned signs, unsafe signs, prohibited signs, or any sign not in compliance with this Chapter.
- Electric signs must bear the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. seal of approval and comply with the National Electric Safety Code and City ordinances regarding electrical installations.
- Animated signs are prohibited except as specifically allowed (e.g., time/temperature signs, signs rotating not more than 7 rpm).
- No neon or fluorescent colors shall be used on sidewalk signboards.
- No extraneous fixed or moving attachments shall be placed on any sidewalk signboard.
- Sidewalk signboards must not block murals unless the bottom of the mural is above the top of the signboard.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dalles

- ATM sign: Each ATM is allowed one sign not to exceed 4 square feet.
- Benches with advertising thereon, if approved by the Planning Commission.
- Building directory signs in shopping centers and multi-tenant buildings.
- Christmas or seasonal decorations as customarily used.
- Construction signs (32 sq ft for nonresidential, 16 sq ft for residential) during construction period from building permit issuance to completion.
- Community interest signs identified by the City on a temporary or permanent basis for purposes like promoting events, public parks, points of interest with substantial public purpose.
- Directional signs erected by public authority.
- Flags of the United States, State of Oregon, military services, foreign countries, United Nations, or civic/fraternal/veterans/charitable organizations.
- Garage/yard sale signs: One per calendar month per premises, max area 3 sq ft, duration not to exceed 72 hours.
- Historic landmark signs by the City or historic building owners, or placed per an official historic designation.
- House/building numbers (up to 6 inches for dwellings up to 4 families, up to 1 foot for other buildings).
- Historic murals and murals not containing words or logos.
- Name signs for owner or occupant, limited to 2 sq ft sign area.
- Non-illuminated directional and motor vehicle directional signs painted on paving or up to 4 feet high and 8 sq ft area (not in residential zones).
- Official sign, traffic sign, traffic signal, or sign identifying a public building or erected by a public officer under law.
- Permanent building identification signs up to 24 sq ft (not in residential zones).
- Permanent political, ideological, or religious signs not advertising a product/service for sale (must comply with applicable standards).
- Signs located inside a building (unless prohibited outright in Section 10.13.030.030).
- Street banners approved by the City Manager advertising public entertainment/events (if erected and maintained safely and as conditioned by City Manager).
- Temporary 'For Sale' signs (not exceeding 6 sq ft and 4 ft high) on residential property advertising the property for sale/lease/rental; one additional 'For Sale' or 'Open House' sign permitted. On commercial property, one 'For Sale' sign not exceeding 32 sq ft per property for sale.
- Political campaign signs on private property only, subject to timing and location limits.
- Temporary subdivision signs (32 sq ft max, up to 5 years after subdivision approval).
- Warning signs to warn public of danger or limit access (max width 2 ft, max area 4 sq ft, max height 6 ft).
- Tourist Oriented Destination (TOD) signs meeting specified criteria.
- One 20 sq ft name sign in the CFO zone.
- Window signs.
- Ghost signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, re-erected, constructed, altered or maintained until a sign permit has been issued, unless exempted (see Section 10.13.020.030 and 10.13.030.010). Each sign generally requires a separate permit.
- A sign plan is required for new sign arrangements in districts of special control (see 10.13.080.010), which must be presented to, and approved by, the Planning Commission, then forwarded to City Council.
- Sign permit applications must include drawings showing the dimension, location, and height of all existing and proposed signs for the subject business.
- A permit is required for all temporary signs (with specific exceptions, e.g., for some nonprofit temporary signs).
- Where a group of signs is to be erected on the same building at the same time, each sign requires a separate permit.
- In historic districts, signs must meet Historic District guidelines or seek approval from the Historic Landmarks Commission.
- Variance or appeal requests regarding sign permit determinations are decided by the Planning Commission; variances require a public hearing.
- Application for Tourist Oriented Destination (TOD) signs requires a fee and includes City review contingent upon any necessary multi-jurisdictional approvals.
- A permit is required for all signs erected or maintained by transient merchants and mobile food vendors (per Sec. 8.28.060 and 8.29.090).
- Sidewalk signboards and sandwich/A-frame boards require permits (per Section 10.13.050.160 and 10.13.050.170).
- A sign plan is required (including a petition of all property owners) for any group of commercial activities wishing to create a unique sign display as a district of special control.

## 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 12 zoning districts in Dalles — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Dalles+OR&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-dalles

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