# Sign Regulations in Molalla, Oregon

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Molalla, Oregon (OR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oregon/molalla
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43130856#43130856)

## At a glance

Molalla, Oregon regulates 42 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility)s in the Central Business District zoning district are capped at 9 ft tall and 40 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) (Sec. 18.02.100N.1.a). Most commercial signs in Molalla require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones | 9 | 8 ft | Bulletin board up to 75% of sign face | — |
| Central Business District | 16 | 18 ft | 65 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — |
| Commercial District | 16 | 26 ft | 150 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — |
| Community Planning Area | 12 | Shall not project above roofline or parapet wall; min 8.5 ft clearance under sign | 75% of sign face area | — |
| Industrial Districts (M1, M2, Support Commercial) | 8 | Shall not project above roofline or parapet wall; min 8.5 ft clearance under sign | 50% of sign face area | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 3 ft (top max 42 in from ground) | Typically up to 6 sq ft; up to 32 sq ft for lots >2 acres, election signs, and for sale/signs | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility) | 9 ft | 40 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 18.02.100N.1.a |
| Blade/Overhang Sign (All Other Uses) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet | 20 sq ft (per sign); combined wall + blade/overhang signs on primary frontage: 12% of elevation area | — | — | 1 per building frontage per business license | 1 per building frontage for each business license | — | 18.02.100N.2.a |
| Wall Sign (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet wall | 9% of building elevation area (max 60 sq ft primary frontage; 30 sq ft secondary) | — | — | 1 per building frontage | 1 per building frontage | — | 18.02.100N.3.a |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet wall | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | 1 per premise | — | 18.02.100N.3.b |
| Wall Sign (Commercial Uses) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet wall | Primary: 8% of elevation area (max 120 sq ft); Secondary: 6% of elevation area (max 60 sq ft); if elevation > 5000 sq ft: 130 sq ft | — | — | 1 sign per building frontage per business license | 1 sign per building frontage per business license | — | 18.02.100N.3.c |
| Pole Sign (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility) | 12 ft | 40 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 18.02.100N.6.a |
| Pole Sign (Minor Business Complex) | 18 ft | 50 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 18.02.100N.6.b |
| Pole Sign (Major Business Complex) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet wall | Primary: 8% of elevation area (max 60 sq ft); Secondary: 6% (max 30 sq ft); Total wall/blade/overhang on primary frontage: Max 12% of elevation area | — | — | 1 per building frontage per business license | 1 per building frontage per business license | — | 18.02.100N.6.c |

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Church, School, Public Facility) | 9 ft | 48 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 18.02.100O.1.a |
| Monument Sign (Minor Business Complex) | 12 ft | 100 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — | — | — | 1; except on sites abutting collector/arterial, 1 per such frontage | — | 18.02.100O.1.b |
| Monument Sign (Major Business Complex) | 12 ft | 150 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — | — | — | 1; except on sites abutting collector/arterial, 1 per such frontage | — | 18.02.100O.1.c |
| Monument Sign (All Other Uses) | 12 ft | 48 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — | — | — | 1; except on sites abutting collector/arterial, 1 per such frontage | — | 18.02.100O.1.d |
| Blade/Overhang Sign (All Other Uses) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet | 48 sq ft (per sign), combined wall + blade/overhang signs on primary frontage: 12% of elevation area | — | — | 1 per building frontage per business license | 1 per building frontage for each business license | — | 18.02.100O.2.a |
| Wall Sign (All Uses) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet wall | Primary: 8% of elevation area (max 120 sq ft); Secondary: 6% (max 60 sq ft); elevation >5000 sq ft: 130 sq ft | — | — | 1 sign per building frontage per business license | 1 sign per building frontage per business license | — | 18.02.100O.3.a |
| Bulletin Board (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility) | Determined by height of sign | 75% of sign face area | — | — | — | Only allowed as a permitted sign | — | 18.02.100O.4.a |
| Pole Sign (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility) | 18 ft | 48 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 18.02.100O.5.a |

### Community Planning Area

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Church, School, Public Facility) | 7 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 18.02.100P.1.a |
| Monument Sign (All Other Uses) | 7 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — | — | — | 1 per collector/arterial street frontage | — | 18.02.100P.1.c |
| Blade/Overhang Sign (All Other Uses) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet wall | 6 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | — | 1 per building frontage per business license | — | 18.02.100P.2.a |
| Wall Sign (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet | Max 60 sq ft on primary frontage; secondary: 6% of elevation, max 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | 1 per building frontage | — | 18.02.100P.3.a |
| Wall Sign (All Uses) | Shall not project above roofline or parapet wall | Secondary: 6% of elevation of primary building; secondary: 4% of secondary elevation, max 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage per business license | 1 per building frontage per business license | — | 18.02.100P.3.b |
| Bulletin Board (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility) | Determined by sign height | 75% of sign face area | — | — | — | Only allowed as permitted sign | — | 18.02.100P.4.a |
| Bulletin Board (All Other Uses) | Determined by sign height | 50% of sign face area | — | — | — | Only allowed as part of permitted sign | — | 18.02.100P.4.b |
| Pole Sign (Church, School, Public/Semi-Public Facility) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face (up to 2 faces) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 18.02.100P.5.a |

## Prohibited signs in Molalla

- No sign, unless exempt or allowed pursuant to this chapter, shall be permitted.
- Proposals for signs where the code is silent, or where the rules do not provide a basis for concluding that the sign is allowed, are prohibited.
- No permanent sign, other than a public sign, may be placed within or over any portion of the public right-of-way, except those signs which are consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
- No sign shall be allowed within 2 feet of any area subject to vehicular travel.
- No temporary sign, except for permitted banner signs and those necessary for temporary traffic control, 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 be 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, 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.
- A sign with lighting of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare on adjoining properties or roadways or impair the vision of a driver of a motor vehicle or otherwise to interfere with the operations thereof or allows light to be directed upward is prohibited.
- A sign erected or maintained on public property or within the public right-of-way without permission of the public body having jurisdiction is prohibited.
- Any sign larger than 32 square feet (counting both sides) on an undeveloped lot or parcel is prohibited.
- Signs larger than 3 square feet on fences or fencing are prohibited.
- Signs placed on, affixed to, or painted on any motor vehicle, trailer or other mobile structure not registered, licensed and insured for use on public highways, and/or parked with the primary purpose of providing a sign not otherwise allowed by this chapter are prohibited.
- Video signs are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs—any sign advertising a business or use that has discontinued operation—shall be removed within 90 days, or becomes the property owner's responsibility.
- Signs in violation of other chapters of the Molalla Municipal Code are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained that interferes with the free use of, or access to, any fire escape or obstructs any required window of light or ventilation.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain a sign which, by reason of its size or location, poses immediate danger to health, safety, and welfare of the public.
- All signs shall be located entirely within the boundaries of the subject property unless specifically authorized by this code.
- All signs shall be kept in good repair and maintained in a safe, neat, clean, and attractive condition.

## Signs exempt from permit in Molalla

- All signs 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 1 square foot in area hung from a building is exempt from permit and fee.
- One sign not exceeding 2 square feet in area placed on any occupied residential lot is exempt from permit and fee.
- Incidental signs not exceeding 6 square feet in area on any parcel with a multiple dwelling are exempt from permit and fee.
- Public signs for hospitals or emergency services, legal notices, railroad signs, and danger signs are exempt from permit and fee.
- Signs or tablets (including names of buildings, and the date of erection) cut into any masonry surface, or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible surface not exceeding 8 square feet, are exempt from permit and fee.
- Rigid athletic field signs located on the outfield fence of athletic fields, conforming to specified sizes, are exempt from permit and fee.
- Accessory signs within a commercial or industrial zone that are permanent and part of permitted outdoor accessory or display structures such as soft drink machines, fuel pumps, and newspaper dispensers are exempt from permit and fee.
- No 'solicitation' sign pursuant to size is exempt from permit and fee.
- Signs attached to or carried by a person limited to 6 square feet in total size are exempt from permit and fee.
- Flags as outlined in Chapter 21.30 are exempt.
- Temporary signage meeting the criteria of Section 18.02.120 (e.g., residential or commercial temporary signs of specific size, duration, and placement) is exempt from permit and fee.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A proposed sign plan drawn to scale and dimension showing height, width, square footage, thickness, size and style of letters, color, type of illumination, and materials is required as part of the sign permit application.
- Site plan and/or building elevation plans drawn to scale and dimension showing existing structures, driveways, street and right-of-way, existing signs, proposed sign, vision clearance, and all incidental signs are required as part of the sign permit application.
- Application for a sign permit must include all plans and information necessary to establish that the proposed sign complies with the applicable requirements of the chapter and applicable building, structural, and life safety codes.
- Sign permit applications are reviewed administratively, and a denial constitutes the City's decision unless appealed to the City Manager.
- For certain types of signs (e.g., monument or A-frame signs that do not meet standards), a discretionary application may be submitted and approved by the Planning Director upon demonstration of compliance with specified criteria.
- A sign for which a variance is granted under the provisions of this chapter is not considered nonconforming.
- Encroachment permits are required prior to placing wall signs or blade/overhang signs into public right-of-way.

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

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