# Sign Regulations in Lake Oswego, Oregon

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lake Oswego, Oregon (OR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oregon/lake-oswego
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43074363#43074363)

## At a glance

Lake Oswego, Oregon regulates 37 sign types across 8 zoning districts. High School Pole Signs in the Commercial, Public Facility, and Campus Institutional Zones (MC, HC, CR&D, OC, PF, CI) zoning district are capped at 15 ft. tall and 70 sq. ft., with a 230 ft. minimum from property line setback (Sec. LOC 47.10.415.3.e). Most commercial signs in Lake Oswego require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones (R-0, R-2, WLG R-2.5, R-3, R-5, R-6, R-7.5, R-10, R-15, R-DD, R-W) | 2 | 9 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Zones (GC, NC, WLG RMU, WLG OC) | 10 | 18 ft. | Up to two ft. in height and up to 75% length of building/business frontage | — |
| Commercial, Public Facility, and Campus Institutional Zones (MC, HC, CR&D, OC, PF, CI) | 13 | 15 ft. | 70 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial Zones (I, IP) | 4 | 18 ft. (max for main wall sign) | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Park and Natural Area Zone (PNA) | 3 | 18 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| EC Zone | 7 | 6 in. (letters/graphics) | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Marylhurst Campus Institutional Area/Hwy 43 | 1 | — | 40 sq. ft. (up to 60 sq. ft. allowed for scale/identity) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 60 in. (freestanding); 8 ft. (wall sign, above grade) | 100 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Commercial Zones (GC, NC, WLG RMU, WLG OC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 8 ft. (monument); 18 ft. (pole, not WLG RMU/WLG OC) | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per primary frontage; another on secondary frontage >300 ft | Primary frontage; another on secondary frontage 300 ft or more | — | LOC 47.10.410.1 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (GC Historical Exception) | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | One | Same location as converted pole sign | — | LOC 47.10.410.1.e |
| Wall Sign | 18 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage | On building, each street frontage | — | LOC 47.10.410.2.a.i, .2.c.i |
| Sign Band | — | Up to two ft. in height and up to 75% length of building/business frontage | 75% of building/business frontage | — | One per ground floor business or service | Above windows/below second story or at/below fascia (multistory) | — | LOC 47.10.410.2.a.ii, .2.b.ii, .2.d |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | Same as sign band per business/service | — | Min. 2 ft from vehicular areas | Same as allowed sign band signs | On awning/canopy, may extend over right-of-way min. 2 ft from vehicular areas | — | LOC 47.10.410.3.a, .4.b |
| Overhanging Sign | — | 6 ft. long x 8 in. high; or single alternative sign 32 sq. ft. | 6 ft. (standard type); up to 32 sq. ft. for alternative case | Min. 2 ft from vehicular areas | One per ground floor tenant | Hanging from canopy/awning, or attached building overhang | — | LOC 47.10.410.3.f, .3.g |
| Monument Sign (Multi-building Complex) | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per complex | Primary entrance to complex | — | LOC 47.10.410.3.b |
| Monument Sign (Service Station/Required by Law) | 5.5 ft. (if free-standing) | 22 sq. ft. (additional signage); monumental sign may be separate at 5.5 ft tall | — | — | One per station/business | With primary sign or separate | — | LOC 47.10.410.3.c |

### Commercial, Public Facility, and Campus Institutional Zones (MC, HC, CR&D, OC, PF, CI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Monument Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. (can be increased by 5 sq. ft. for address number) | — | — | See text for complexes; up to two signs at 5885 Meadows Road (see rules) | Each major access to building site; may be on wall/landscape wall | — | LOC 47.10.415.1.b |
| Monument Sign (Retail Development) | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | As in permitted zones | As generally permitted in LOC 47.10.410(1) | — | LOC 47.10.415.1.c, 47.10.410.1 |
| Wall Sign (Exposure to I-5/Hwy 217, Hotels) | — | 64 sq. ft. | — | — | One per elevation, max 3 per building | One per building elevation (side/face) facing I-5/Hwy 217, max 3 per building | — | LOC 47.10.415.2.a.i |
| Wall Sign (Exposure to I-5/Hwy 217, Other Buildings) | — | 48 sq. ft. | — | — | One per tenant per elevation, max 6 per building | One per tenant per building elevation facing I-5/Hwy 217; max 6 per building, max 3 per side | — | LOC 47.10.415.2.a.ii |
| Wall Sign (No Exposure to I-5/Hwy 217) | — | 24 sq. ft. (may be increased to 32 sq. ft. for size/scale) | — | — | One per tenant per elevation, max 6 per building | One per tenant per building elevation visible to vehicular traffic; max 6 per building, 3 per side | — | LOC 47.10.415.2.b |
| Sign Band (Retail Tenant, Nonretail Development) | 2 ft. | Up to 2 ft height, up to 75% of length | 75% of length | — | See retail sign band rules | Retail tenant, nonretail development | — | LOC 47.10.415.2.c, .2.d; 47.10.410.2.a.ii |
| Pedestrian Circulation Sign | 8 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | One | Freestanding or on building, pedestrian area | — | LOC 47.10.415.3.d |
| High School Pole Sign | 15 ft. | 70 sq. ft. | — | 230 ft. minimum from property line | One | At athletic field entrance, not less than 230 ft. from school campus property line; spans over walkway | — | LOC 47.10.415.3.e |

### EC Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Overhanging Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Attached at/below first floor cornice over pedestrian ways | — | LOC 47.10.412.1.a, 47.10.412.2.b |
| Cornice Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Within 2-ft high area above first floor windows and below retail cornice | — | LOC 47.10.412.1.b, 47.10.412.2.a |
| Sign Above Cornice (Option 1) | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building | Above first floor cornice, building face | — | LOC 47.10.412.1.c.i |
| Sign Above Cornice (Option 2) | 4 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | 4 ft. | — | One per building | Projection over pedestrian way, above first floor cornice | — | LOC 47.10.412.1.c.ii |
| Awning Sign | 6 in. (letters/graphics) | — | — | — | — | On awning | — | LOC 47.10.412.1.d, 47.10.412.4 |
| Canopy Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On canopy | — | LOC 47.10.412.1.f, 47.10.412.2.a |
| Window Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Painted on glass surface of window | — | LOC 47.10.412.1.e, 47.10.412.4 |

## Prohibited signs in Lake Oswego

- No sign, unless exempt or allowed pursuant to this chapter, shall be permitted except as may be permitted pursuant to LOC § 47.12.500 (Variances).
- No sign or sign structure shall be allowed that is constructed in such a manner or at such a location that it will obstruct access to any fire escape or other means of ingress or egress from a building or any exit corridor, exit hallway or exit doorway.
- No sign or supporting structure shall cover, wholly or partially, any window or doorway in any manner that it will substantially limit access to the building in case of fire.
- In commercial, public function, or industrial zone, no sign shall be placed inside or outside a structure to obscure more than 25 percent of any individual window surface. In a residential zone, no sign shall obscure more than 10 percent of any individual window surface. Glass doors are considered an individual window surface.
- No permanent sign, other than a public sign, may be placed within or over any portion of the public right-of-way, except those consistent with this chapter and legally installed in accordance with LOC Chapter 45 (Building Code).
- No sign shall be allowed within 2 feet of any area subject to vehicular travel.
- Except as provided in LOC § 47.08.300(2)(c), no temporary sign, other than permitted banner signs and signs necessary for temporary traffic control that comply with LOC § 47.08.300(1)(b)(ii), shall be placed within or over any portion of the public right-of-way of a major collector or arterial street.
- No sign shall be located in a manner which could impede travel on any pedestrian or vehicular travel surface.
- No temporary signs, bench signs, banners, pennants, wind signs, balloon signs, flags or any other temporary sign structure shall be allowed except as specifically authorized by this Chapter.
- No sign shall be equipped or displayed with moving, flashing or intermittent illumination except athletic scoreboards.
- No sign shall have or consist of any moving, rotating, or otherwise animated part.
- No signs on buildings shall be placed on the roof or extend above the roof line or parapet of the structure.
- No sign shall be attached to a tree or vegetation.
- No non-public 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 on the street, or which hides from view any official traffic sign or signal shall be permitted.
- No public address system or sound devices shall be used in conjunction with any sign or advertising device.
- No signs that are internally illuminated shall be permitted in any residential zone.
- No sign that obstructs free and clear vision of the traveling public at the intersection of any street or driveway shall be permitted.
- No temporary sign shall be internally or externally illuminated.
- No temporary sign shall extend into or over the public right-of-way of any street, except as allowed by specific provisions.
- No temporary sign shall extend into the vision clearance area.
- Temporary signs shall not be attached to trees, shrubbery, utility poles, or traffic control signs or devices.
- Temporary signs shall not obstruct or obscure primary signs on adjacent premises.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, altered, or relocated without first obtaining a permit unless specifically exempt from permit requirements.
- It is unlawful to construct a sign not specifically allowed by this chapter or to maintain a sign in violation of the terms of the issued permit.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lake Oswego

- All signs, except in the EC zone, placed inside a structure or building, not visible through windows or building openings, and not intended to be visible to the public, are exempt from the provisions of the Sign Code.
- One sign not exceeding one square foot in area erected on any building within the City.
- One non-illuminated sign not exceeding two square feet in area placed on any occupied residential lot.
- Incidental signs not exceeding six square feet in area allowed on any parcel with a multiple dwelling or in industrial, PF, or commercial zone (except in EC zone); in the EC zone, incidental signs not exceeding one square foot, with aggregate area less than four square feet.
- Public signs, signs for hospital or emergency services, and railroad signs.
- Signs or tablets (including names of buildings and date of erection) cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible surface not exceeding eight square feet.
- Athletic field signs as specified in LOC § 47.06.205(6).
- Accessory signs within a commercial or industrial zone which are permanent and an internal part of permitted outdoor accessory or display structures such as soft drink machines, fuel pumps, and newspaper dispensers.
- Flags displayed from permanently located freestanding or wall-mounted flagpoles, limited to one per site and 30 feet maximum height.
- Signs erected within a building not obstructing more than 25 percent of any individual window surface in commercial/industrial zone or more than 10 percent in residential zone, and not exceeding other maximum square footage requirements.
- Signs identifying a Sensitive Lands district as required by LOC § 50.05.010.6.c.iii(3).
- Temporary signs as allowed under LOC § 47.08.300 if all conditions met (such as size, duration, location, and maintenance provisions).
- Interior signs in the EC zone not readily visible from any exterior public right-of-way or area open to the public.
- Interior signs in the EC zone located within 15 feet of the business frontage and visible from outside, if lettering is one inch or less, or if beyond 15 feet with lettering three inches or less, unless total visible interior sign faces exceed 10 sq ft.
- A sign that is a recognized historic element of a historical landmark is exempt.
- A sign erected by a public agency.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a sign permit shall include a proposed sign plan drawn to scale and dimension showing, as applicable: height, width, square footage, thickness, size and style of letters, color, type of illumination, and materials (LOC § 47.10.400.4.c).
- All developments in MC, HC, CR&D, OC, PF, and CI zones shall have sign criteria affecting the development as a whole approved as part of any master plan (overall development plan and schedule/planned development) approval to ensure compatibility between signs on individual parcels or structures (LOC § 47.10.415.4.e).
- A request for an exception to requirements in the EC zone may be processed as part of the underlying application (LOC § 47.10.412.7.b).
- Sign permit applications must include site plan/building elevation plans showing existing structures, driveways, street and right-of-way, existing and proposed signs, vision clearance, and all incidental signs.
- Variance requests for signs follow minor variance procedures and require a public process as specified in LOC § 47.12.500.

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

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