# Sign Regulations in Oregon City, Oregon

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Oregon City, Oregon (OR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oregon/oregon-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/OR/Oregon_City/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=TIT15BUCO_CH15.28SI)

## At a glance

Oregon City, Oregon regulates 15 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the R-2 Multi-Family Dwelling District zoning district are capped at 5 ft. tall, 40 sq. ft. (display area), 20 sq. ft. (sign face), and 10 ft. wide (Sec. 15.28.065.C). Most commercial signs in Oregon City require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-10 Single-Family Dwelling District, R-8 Single-Family Dwelling District, R-6 Single-Family Dwelling District, R-5 Single-Family Dwelling District, R-3.5 Dwelling District | 3 | — | 24 sq. ft. (display area), 12 sq. ft. (sign face) | — |
| R-2 Multi-Family Dwelling District | 4 | 5 ft. | 40 sq. ft. (display area), 20 sq. ft. (sign face) | — |
| Office Zones, Commercial Zones, Mixed Use Zones, Industrial Zones | 10 | 30 ft. | 300 sq. ft. (display area), 150 sq. ft. (sign face) | — |
| General Commercial, Mixed Use Downtown, Mixed Use Corridor 1, Mixed Use Corridor 2, Willamette Falls Downtown District, Institutional | 1 | Not higher than structure. | No part may exceed the height of structure to which affixed. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 3 ft. | 12 sq. ft. (display area), 6 sq. ft. (sign face) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### R-10 Single-Family Dwelling District, R-8 Single-Family Dwelling District, R-6 Single-Family Dwelling District, R-5 Single-Family Dwelling District, R-3.5 Dwelling District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | 5 ft. | — | 1 per property frontage | On wall of building; not over right-of-way. | — | 15.28.060.B |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq. ft. (display area), 12 sq. ft. (sign face) | — | Must not project within 2 ft. of curb line. | 1 per property frontage | Projecting from building wall. | — | 15.28.060.E |
| Ancillary Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. (display area), 6 sq. ft. (sign face) | — | — | 2 per property | On property, not over right-of-way. | — | 15.28.060.G |

### R-2 Multi-Family Dwelling District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 20 sq. ft. (sign face) | 5 ft. | — | 1 per property frontage | On wall of building; not over right-of-way. | — | 15.28.065.B |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 ft. | 40 sq. ft. (display area), 20 sq. ft. (sign face) | 10 ft. | — | 1 per property frontage | On property | — | 15.28.065.C |
| Projecting Sign | — | 40 sq. ft. (display area), 20 sq. ft. (sign face) | — | Must not project within 2 ft. of curb line. | 1 per property frontage | Projecting from building wall. | — | 15.28.065.E |
| Ancillary Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. (display area), 6 sq. ft. (sign face) | — | — | 2 per property | On property | — | 15.28.065.G |

### Office Zones, Commercial Zones, Mixed Use Zones, Industrial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (<50' street frontage) | 25 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (display area), 25 sq. ft. (sign face) | 20 ft. | — | 1 per street frontage (<600 ft), or 2 if frontage >600 ft on arterial | On property, not in right-of-way. | — | 15.28.080.C.3.a & 15.28.080.C.1-2 |
| Freestanding Sign (<200' street frontage, >=50') | 25 ft. | 100 sq. ft. (display area), 50 sq. ft. (sign face) | 20 ft. | — | — | On property | — | 15.28.080.C.3.b |
| Freestanding Sign (>=200' street frontage) | 30 ft. | 300 sq. ft. (display area), 150 sq. ft. (sign face) | 20 ft. | — | — | On property | — | 15.28.080.C.3.c |
| Incidental Freestanding Sign | 15 ft. | 16 sq. ft. (display area), 8 sq. ft. (sign face) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property | — | 15.28.080.D |
| Projecting Sign | — | See formula. | — | Must not project within 2 ft. of curb line. | 1 per tenant space (see note above) | Projecting from tenant space wall. | — | 15.28.080.E |
| Roof Sign (<50' street frontage) | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (display area), 25 sq. ft. (sign face) | 20 ft. | — | 1 per frontage | On roof | — | 15.28.080.F.2.a |
| Roof Sign (<200' street frontage, >=50') | 10 ft. | 100 sq. ft. (display area), 50 sq. ft. (sign face) | 20 ft. | — | — | On roof | — | 15.28.080.F.2.b |
| Roof Sign (>=200' street frontage) | 10 ft. | 300 sq. ft. (display area), 150 sq. ft. (sign face) | 20 ft. | — | — | On roof | — | 15.28.080.F.2.c |

## Prohibited signs in Oregon City

- Signs that interfere in any way with a traffic control sign or device or prevent clear and unobstructed views of traffic control signs or devices or approaching or merging traffic or do not comply with applicable city code.
- Signs that contain, include or are illuminated by any flashing, revolving, rotating, or moving light or that move or have animated or moving parts which move or rotate or change more than three times per day, except as otherwise allowed.
- Signs with lighting that is not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays from being directed at any portion of the right-of-way or public vehicular accessway or signs not complying with applicable lighting requirements.
- Signs located upon a tree, or painted or drawn upon a natural feature.
- Signs that obstruct free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape, alley, drive or fire lane, or are attached to a fire escape.
- Any sign with a display area larger than twelve square feet or six square feet per sign face on an undeveloped lot or parcel.
- Attention flags.
- A-frame signs with a display area larger than twelve square feet or six square feet per sign face or taller than three feet.
- Air blown signs.
- Billboards.
- Signs on fences or fencing.
- Banners unless otherwise allowed by the sign code.
- Abandoned signs.
- Signs that emit any sound, vibration, or smell.
- Flags larger than one square foot for each lineal foot in height of the flag pole or structure to which the flag is affixed.
- Flags exceeding sixty square feet.
- Signs that may be confused with public traffic signs or highway identification signs.
- Signs not in compliance with any provision of the sign code, Oregon law or the terms and conditions of any valid sign permit issued under this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Oregon City

- Signs not visible from either a right-of-way or property under different ownership, provided such signs are constructed and maintained in accordance with applicable law.
- Signs inside a building, except for strobe lights visible from the right-of-way or other private property.
- Signs carved into or part of materials that are an integral part of a building.
- Signs attached to, or carried by, a person.
- Signs required by law or legal action.
- Government owned signs within the right-of-way, government-designated parks, Metro-designated open space and at stormwater facilities.
- City owned signs.
- Public art murals identified on the Oregon City Existing Mural List.
- Traffic control signs and devices.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be constructed except as provided by this chapter and after a permit has been issued by the sign official, unless specifically exempted.
- A permit application shall include all plans and information necessary to establish that the proposed sign complies with all applicable requirements.
- Public art murals require approval by the Oregon City Arts Commission at a public hearing based on specified criteria before creation.
- Signs within the right-of-way may require a permit as specified for various types (A-frame, cross street banners, banners on light posts, projecting signs), and approval of the adjacent property owner is required.
- Approval from the historic review board is required for signs as specified in Section 17.40.060.
- A variance from sign regulations may be requested through a planning commission process as provided by Chapter 17.50.
- An applicant may appeal a decision regarding a sign permit to the planning commission, with procedures detailed in the ordinance.

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

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