# Sign Regulations in Klamath Falls, Oregon

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Klamath Falls, Oregon (OR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oregon/klamath-falls
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44055598#44055598)

## At a glance

Klamath Falls, Oregon regulates 42 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Freestanding Others in the General Commercial (GC), Light Industrial (LI), Industrial (I) zoning district are capped at 30 ft (LI), 25 ft (GC, I) tall and 80 sq ft, with a 5 ft if <=10 ft high, 15 ft if >10 to 15 ft, 25 ft if >15 to 30 ft setback (Sec. Table 14.348-1, Table 14.348-2, Table 14.348-3, Table 14.348-2 note 12). Most commercial signs in Klamath Falls require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Residential (SF), Medium Density Residential (MD) | 5 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| Apartment Residential (A) | 5 | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (NC) | 7 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Mixed Use (MU) | 7 | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Public Facility (PF) | 2 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial (GC), Light Industrial (LI), Industrial (I) | 8 | 30 ft (LI), 25 ft (GC, I) | 80 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Business (DB), Downtown Business Zone | 8 | 16 ft max above grade (or no taller than roofline) | Max 80% of balcony/marquee fascia | — |
| Institutional Uses Permitted in Residential Zones (PUB), Public Facility Zone | 3 | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| PUD - Basin View (Single-Family, Multifamily, Commercial, School) | 1 | — | — | — |
| PUD - Harbor Isles (Single-Family, Single-Family w/o setbacks, Multifamily, Multifamily Condominium, Golf Course/Open Space/Recreation) | 1 | — | — | — |
| PUD - Campus (High Density, Neighborhood Commercial, Medical-Professional, Highway Commercial, Schools, Office) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Mixed Use Zone | 3 | 4 ft | Up to 20% of window/door area; max 2 per use | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones, Residential Zones | 18 | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### General Commercial (GC), Light Industrial (LI), Industrial (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Other | 30 ft (LI), 25 ft (GC, I) | 80 sq ft | — | 5 ft if <=10 ft high, 15 ft if >10 to 15 ft, 25 ft if >15 to 30 ft | 1 per 175 ft frontage | On property, only with permit | — | Table 14.348-1, Table 14.348-2, Table 14.348-3, Table 14.348-2 note 12 |
| Incidental | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 14.348-1, note 4 |
| Temporary (Banner) | — | — | — | — | — | On property | — | §14.336, Table 14.348-1, note 10 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building façade | — | Table 14.348-1, Table 14.348-2, Table 14.348-3 |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On canopy attached to building | — | Table 14.348-1 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On building façade, may extend over ROW | — | Table 14.348-1, Table 14.348-2, note 7 |
| Portable Sign (Private Property) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per side | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | On private property at business premises | — | §14.337, Table 14.348-1 |
| Portable Sign (Right-of-Way) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per side | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | Sidewalk/public right-of-way in front of business | — | §14.338, Table 14.348-1 |

### Downtown Business (DB), Downtown Business Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Within property boundaries, at least 8 ft from structures | — | §14.354.H, Table 14.348-1, Table 14.348-2 |
| Wall Sign | 16 ft max above grade (or no taller than roofline) | 5% building façade area | — | — | 1 per business | On building façade | — | §14.354.C, Table 14.348-1, Table 14.348-3 |
| Parapet Sign | — | 6% building façade area; max vertical: 2 ft | — | — | 1 per building | Between lintels of upper windows and parapet | — | §14.354.D |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per business | Attached/hung from wall, under marquee/balcony; below sill of 2nd story or roof/eaves/parapet | — | §14.354.B, Table 14.348-1, Table 14.348-2 |
| Awning Sign | — | 15% awning area, 12 sq ft max on side panels | — | — | — | On awning (ground floor only) | — | §14.354.G |
| Marquee Sign | — | Max 80% of balcony/marquee fascia | — | — | 1 per building | Attached to marquee/balcony, parallel to street | — | §14.354.F |
| Window/Door Sign | — | Max 20% total window/door area per building; max 2 per frontage | — | — | 2 per frontage | On interior side of 1st/2nd story window or door | — | §14.354.E |
| Portable Sign (Right-of-Way) | 4 ft max | 6 sq ft per side | 2 ft max | — | — | Sidewalk/public right-of-way in front of business | — | §14.354.I |

### General Regulations For All Zones, Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt: Real Estate (Residential Use) | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On residential property | — | §14.324.G |
| Exempt: Real Estate (All Other Zones) | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On property (non-residential zones) | — | §14.324.G |
| Exempt: Construction Signs | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property | — | §14.324.H |
| Exempt: Political (Residential Use) | 3.5 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | Unspecified | Private property (residential zone) | — | §14.324.I |
| Exempt: Political (All Other Zones) | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | Unspecified | Private property (non-residential) | — | §14.324.I |
| Exempt: Ownership Identification | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property | — | §14.324.K |
| Exempt: Date of Construction | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property (building) | — | §14.324.M |
| Exempt: Lost Animal / Garage Sale | — | — | — | — | 1 per lot | Private property | — | §14.324.N, §7.872 |

## Prohibited signs in Klamath Falls

- A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created or maintained in the City only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions and other requirements of this article.
- Prohibit all signs not expressly permitted by this article.
- All signs not expressly permitted under this act or exempt from regulation hereunder in accordance with the previous section, are prohibited by the City.
- No signs shall be erected in the public right-of-way except in accordance with Section 14.340.
- No sign shall be placed within the vision clearance area of Section 14.390.
- Except for flags, temporary signs and window signs conforming in all respects with the requirements of this article, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building or another structure by direct attachment to rigid wall, frame or structure.
- No person shall fail to maintain a sign or sign structure component on such person's premises, including signs exempt from the permit requirements, in good repair, free from deterioration, in a neat, clean, legible, and safe structural condition at all times.
- To install, create, erect or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such sign or the lot on which the sign is located.
- To install, create, erect or maintain any sign requiring a permit without such a permit.
- To install, create, erect or maintain any sign that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such sign or the lot on which the sign is located.
- To fail to remove any sign that is installed, created, erected or maintained in violation of this act or for which the sign permit has lapsed.
- For sale signs or advertisements of any kind are prohibited (per § 9.164).
- Posting more than one sign for a garage sale on the premises or on public property advertising such sale is prohibited (per § 7.872).

## Signs exempt from permit in Klamath Falls

- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable Federal, State or local law, regulation or ordinance.
- Any sign placed by the City on City property or within the right-of-way, at the discretion of the City Manager.
- Any sign that is not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel on which it is located or from any public thoroughfare or right-of-way.
- Works of art, located on private property, that do not include a commercial message.
- Holiday displays, located on private property, that do not include a commercial message, but the holiday message shall not be displayed more than 40 days prior to the holiday and no more than 15 days past the holiday.
- Traffic control signs on private property, such as stop, yield and similar signs, the face of which meet Department of Transportation standards.
- One temporary non-illuminated real estate sign per lot, located on private property, subject to maximum size and duration restrictions by zone.
- Construction signs, located on private property, with a maximum of 32 square feet of total signage area limited to the duration of the construction period.
- Temporary non-illuminated political signs, subject to size, height, zone, and duration restrictions.
- Flags located on private property.
- Signs, located on private property, having an area of not more than one and one-half square feet, the message of which is limited to conveying street numbers, the name of the owner of the premises and the name of the occupants of the premises.
- An institutional church is permitted one bulletin board, located on private property, per lot without interior illumination having an area not exceeding 25 square feet.
- Signs, on private property, indicating only the date of construction of a building and having an area not exceeding four square feet.
- One temporary 'lost animal' or 'garage sale' sign per lot placed on private property with the owner's permission for a period not to exceed 10 days.
- A window sign of no more than four square feet in area and placed no more than 25 feet above finished grade, filling less than 25% of the window and not exceeding 25% of the total allowable sign area for the premises.
- A sign carried by a person and not set on or affixed to the ground.
- Inflated balloons having an area of not more than two square feet.
- Signs on the Historic Sign Inventory (after designated by the Commission) are exempt from all requirements of this sign act and the sign area is exempted from the total allowable sign area, subject to conditions imposed by the Commission.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for sign permits must include a set of plans for the proposed sign.
- A sign may not be erected or modified unless a sign permit has been issued and the plans conform to this article.
- A sign permit may be denied if the sign does not conform to the requirements of an applicable plan.
- For signs suspended or projected over public right-of-way, the issuance and continuation of a sign permit is conditioned on the sign owner obtaining a right-of-way encroachment permit.
- Modification or demolition of historic signs (on the Historic Sign Inventory) requires review by the Downtown Development Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
- One application and permit may include multiple signs on the same lot.
- The Director may require detailed drawings and plans as part of the sign permit application, including location, dimensions, construction materials, attachment method, diagrams, etc.
- No sign permit shall be issued unless the sign is consistent with requirements of this article and any applicable plan.
- Sign permits for signs within the Downtown Business Zone may be appealed under specific provisions (Chapter 10, Article 5 - Appeals).
- Any expansion or alteration of an existing nonconforming sign may require compliance with current standards and a new sign permit.

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

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