# Sign Regulations in Gervais, Oregon

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Gervais, Oregon (OR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oregon/gervais
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/OR/Gervais/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17DE_PTIIGEDEST_CH17.68SI)

## At a glance

Gervais, Oregon regulates 14 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Wall, Canopy, or Free-standing Sign (Single-family, Duplex, Triplex Dwellings - Home Occupations Only)s in the R-1, R-2 zoning district are capped at Wall/Canopy/Window: 4 ft; Free-standing: 6 ft tall and 2 sq ft, with a where fences are allowed. setback (Sec. 17.68.060(B-C, E), 17.68.090(A)). Most commercial signs in Gervais require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| R-1, R-2 | 3 | Wall/Canopy/Window: 4 ft; Free-standing: 6 ft | 50 sq ft (total); max area for a freestanding sign: 24 sq ft | — |
| CR, CG, LI | 2 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Painting, change of sign face, or copy and maintenance of legal signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.68.040(A) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | 17.68.040(B) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Premises upon which the sign is located | — | 17.68.040(C) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 17.68.040(E) |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | — | On permanent flagpoles designed for raising and lowering flags. | — | 17.68.040(F) |
| Sign Within Building | — | — | — | — | — | Within a building | — | 17.68.040(G) |
| Window Sign (Commercial Zone) | — | — | — | — | — | Painted or hung on the inside of windows | — | 17.68.040(H) |
| Residential Name Plate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Residential premises | — | 17.68.040(I) |

### R-1, R-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall, Canopy, or Free-standing Sign (Single-family, Duplex, Triplex Dwellings - Home Occupations Only) | Wall/Canopy/Window: 4 ft; Free-standing: 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | Wall, canopy, or window sign: same setback as the building containing the use. Freestanding sign: where fences are allowed. | Any combination not exceeding sign area and height limits | Wall, canopy or window sign: set back from property lines the same as the building; Free-standing: where fences are allowed | — | 17.68.060(B-C, E), 17.68.090(A) |
| Wall, Canopy, or Free-standing Sign (Multiple Family Dwellings - Home Occupations Only) | Wall/Canopy/Window: 4 ft; Free-standing: 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | Wall, canopy, or window sign: same setback as the building containing the use. Freestanding sign: where fences are allowed. | Any combination not exceeding sign area and height limits | Wall, canopy or window sign: set back from property lines the same as the building; Free-standing: where fences are allowed | — | 17.68.060(B-C, E), 17.68.090(A) |
| Wall, Canopy, or Free-standing Sign (Public and Semi-public Use) | Wall/Canopy/Window: 4 ft; Freestanding: 6 ft | 50 sq ft (total); max area for a freestanding sign: 24 sq ft | — | — | Any combination not exceeding sign area and height limits | Wall, canopy or window sign: set back as far as the building; Freestanding sign: where fences are allowed | — | 17.68.060(B-C, E), 17.68.090(A) |

### CR, CG, LI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | Must meet requirements for vision clearance and special street setbacks. | 1 per street frontage | No projection over street right-of-way; must comply with vision clearance areas and special street setbacks. | — | 17.68.070(A-D), 17.68.090(A) |
| Wall or Canopy Sign | Shall not project above the parapet or roof eaves | 50 sq ft (aggregate with all other signs) | — | — | Maximum 2 wall/canopy | May project up to 1.5 feet from the building. | — | 17.68.070(A-D), 17.68.090(A) |

## Prohibited signs in Gervais

- Balloons or similar types of tethered objects are prohibited as signs.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs that emit odor, visible matter, or sound are prohibited (except for intercom systems used in drive-thrus).
- Signs that use or employ side guy lines of any type are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window or door opening used as a means of egress are prohibited.
- Signs closer than twenty-four (24) inches horizontally or vertically from any overhead power line or public utility guy wire are prohibited.
- Parking vehicles or trailers with signs for advertising purposes so as to be visible from public right-of-way is prohibited if the primary purpose of the vehicle is advertising.
- Rotating/revolving signs are prohibited except by conditional use permit.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Private signs that project into or over driveways and public right-of-ways are prohibited, except signs under canopies projecting over sidewalks that are at least eight feet above the sidewalk.
- Signs that obstruct required vision clearance areas or obstruct a vehicle driver's view of official traffic control signs and approaching or merging traffic, or which present a traffic hazard, are prohibited.
- Signs that interfere with, imitate, or resemble any official traffic control sign, signal or device, emergency lights, or appears to direct traffic, such as a beacon light, are prohibited.
- Signs attached to any pole, post, utility pole or placed on its own stake and placed into the ground in the public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Message signs are prohibited except by conditional use permit.
- Projecting signs are prohibited.
- Any sign on unimproved property is prohibited unless allowed as a temporary sign.
- Any illegible sign or sign that has twenty-five (25) percent or more of its surface destroyed, defaced, missing or inaccurately represents the current business(es) is prohibited.
- All signs shall comply with the uniform sign code of the uniform building code.
- Signs shall provide a minimum clearance of eight feet above sidewalks and fifteen feet above driveways.
- New billboards are prohibited in any zoning district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Gervais

- Painting, change of sign face or copy and maintenance of signs legally existing on the effective date, provided no structural changes or change of use occur.
- Temporary signs not exceeding six square feet in area, provided no lot displays temporary signs for more than ninety (90) days in any three hundred sixty-five (365) day period and only one temporary sign per lot at a time.
- Real estate signs not exceeding six square feet that advertise the sale, rental or lease of premises upon which the sign is located (may be used up to two years without a permit).
- Signs posted by or under governmental authority including legal notices, traffic, danger, no trespassing, emergency, and signs related to public services or safety.
- Incidental signs that do not exceed two square feet.
- Flags on permanent flagpoles designed to allow raising and lowering of the flags.
- Signs within a building.
- In a commercial zone, signs painted or hung on the inside of windows.
- Residential name plates not exceeding two square feet, with only one such sign permitted per premises, and may only be indirectly illuminated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs visible to the traveling public from state highways are subject to the regulations and permit requirements of the state of Oregon, Department of Transportation.
- All signs require a sign permit unless specifically listed as exempt in section 17.68.040.
- Applications for a sign permit must include a sketch to scale indicating the proposed sign, existing signs on the premises, sign location, graphic design, structural/mechanical design, and engineering data to ensure structural stability.
- A permit will not be issued if the sign is in violation of these regulations or other code provisions.
- Any sign not complying with standards must seek a variance, following variance procedures and criteria outlined in 17.68.110.
- Sign permits are not required for owners of conforming or nonconforming signs existing as of the date of ordinance adoption (grandfathered signs) unless they are altered.

## Full detail

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

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