# Sign Regulations in Salem, Oregon

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Salem, Oregon (OR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oregon/salem
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/OR/Salem/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TITVIIPESTPUWA_CH85DISI)

## At a glance

Salem, Oregon regulates 53 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Permanent Sign - Freestanding Sign (non-residential use)s in the Retail Commercial (CR), General Commercial (CG), Mixed Use (MU-III), Employment Center (EC), Industrial Commercial (IC), Industrial Business Campus (IBC), Industrial Park (IP), General Industrial (IG) zoning district are capped at 20 ft. for first 100 ft. of frontage, +1 ft./20 ft. additional, max 30 ft. tall and 1 sq. ft. per linear foot of street front property line for first 100 sq. ft., then 0.25 sq. ft./ft. additional frontage, max 150 sq. ft., with a See 900.110 for setbacks setback (Sec. 900.175(c)(1)(A)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Agriculture (RA), Single Family Residential (RS), Multiple Family Residential (RMI, RMII, RMIII), Neighborhood Hub (NH), Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) | 13 | 30 inches | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Office (CO), Fairview Mixed-Use (FMU) | 13 | 30 inches | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Retail Commercial (CR), General Commercial (CG), Mixed Use (MU-III), Employment Center (EC), Industrial Commercial (IC), Industrial Business Campus (IBC), Industrial Park (IP), General Industrial (IG) | 18 | Freestanding: up to 35 ft. (see formula); Additional sign: 20 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| Central Business District (CB), West Salem Central Business District (WSCB), South Waterfront Mixed-Use (SWMU), Mixed Use (MU-I, MU-II), Mixed Use-Riverfront (MU-R), Edgewater/Second Street Mixed-Use Corridor (ESMU) | 16 | 30 in. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Public Amusement (PA), Public and Private Cemeteries (PC), Capitol Mall (PM), Public Service (PS) | 5 | 35 ft. | 800 sq. ft. | — |
| Public and Private Educational Services (PE) | 3 | 5 ft., but one may be 16 ft. | 800 sq. ft. | — |
| Public and Private Health Services (PH) | 4 | 20 ft. | 800 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | Varies (up to 6 ft. above roof) | 6 sq. ft. | — |
| Market Street Interchange | 1 | 50 ft. | 250 sq. ft. | — |
| Chemawa/I-5 Northeast Quadrant Gateway Overlay Zone | 2 | 10 ft. (may be on landscaped berm max 4 ft.) | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Portland/Fairgrounds Road Overlay Zone | 6 | 5 ft. (≤100 ft. frontage) or 10 ft. (>100 ft. frontage) | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Willamette Greenway Overlay Zone | 1 | — | — | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### Commercial Office (CO), Fairview Mixed-Use (FMU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign - Wall Sign (Household Living 1-4 family) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On dwelling unit wall | — | 900.165(a) |
| Permanent Sign - Freestanding Sign (Household Living 1-4 family) | 30 inches | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Yard or entrance | — | 900.165(a) |
| Permanent Sign - Wall Sign (Household Living multi-family & group living) | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 | On building wall | — | 900.165(b) |
| Permanent Sign - Freestanding Sign (multi-family/group living) | 5 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | 900.165(b) |
| Permanent Sign - Wall Sign (individual dwelling - multi-family/group living) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On dwelling unit wall | — | 900.165(b) |
| Permanent Sign - Freestanding Sign (residential subdivision/PUD/Mfd park) | 5 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Principal entrance | — | 900.165(c) |
| Permanent Sign - Freestanding Sign (non-residential use) | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Yard or entrance | — | 900.165(d)(2) |
| Permanent Sign - Complex (freestanding or wall sign) | 5 ft. (freestanding) | As above | — | — | 1 | Primary wall or principal entrance | — | 900.165(e) |

### Retail Commercial (CR), General Commercial (CG), Mixed Use (MU-III), Employment Center (EC), Industrial Commercial (IC), Industrial Business Campus (IBC), Industrial Park (IP), General Industrial (IG)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign - Wall Sign (Household Living 1-4 family) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On dwelling wall | — | 900.175(a) |
| Permanent Sign - Freestanding Sign (Household Living 1-4 family) | 30 inches | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Yard/entrance | — | 900.175(a) |
| Permanent Sign - Wall Sign (Household Living multi-family & group living) | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 | On building wall | — | 900.175(b)(1)(A) |
| Permanent Sign - Freestanding Sign (multi-family/group living) | 5 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | 900.175(b)(1)(B) |
| Permanent Sign - Freestanding Sign (non-residential use) | 20 ft. for first 100 ft. of frontage, +1 ft./20 ft. additional, max 30 ft. | 1 sq. ft. per linear foot of street front property line for first 100 sq. ft., then 0.25 sq. ft./ft. additional frontage, max 150 sq. ft. | — | See 900.110 for setbacks | 1 | On property in conformance with setbacks | — | 900.175(c)(1)(A) |
| Permanent Sign - Hanging Sign (non-residential) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | 7'6" vertical clearance | 1 per primary entrance | Under canopy/marquee | — | 900.175(c)(3), 900.115 |
| Permanent Sign - Complex (freestanding or wall sign) | Freestanding: up to 35 ft. (see formula); Additional sign: 20 ft. | Freestanding: up to 250 sq. ft. (special additional sign 50 sq. ft.), Wall: 125 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per frontage; 2 if frontage > 300 ft. | Street frontage | — | 900.175(d) |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign | 14 ft. display surface; 35 ft. to top of sign; 40 ft. for I-5 signs | 300 sq. ft. | — | 100 ft. from listed zones, 200 ft. from dwelling, 100 ft. min spacing from other outdoor signs | See spacing restrictions | — | — | 900.175(e), 900.135 |

### Central Business District (CB), West Salem Central Business District (WSCB), South Waterfront Mixed-Use (SWMU), Mixed Use (MU-I, MU-II), Mixed Use-Riverfront (MU-R), Edgewater/Second Street Mixed-Use Corridor (ESMU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign - Wall Sign (Household living 1-4 family) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On dwelling wall | — | 900.170(a) |
| Permanent Sign - Freestanding Sign (Household living 1-4 family) | 30 in. | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Yard/entrance | — | 900.170(a) |
| Permanent Sign - Wall Sign (Household living multi-family + group living) | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 | On bldg wall | — | 900.170(b) |
| Permanent Sign - Freestanding Sign (Household living multi-family + group living) | 5 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | 900.170(b) |
| Permanent Sign - Wall Sign (individual unit in multi-family/group) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per unit | On dwelling wall | — | 900.170(b) |
| Permanent Sign - Wall Sign (non-residential) | — | Varies: see description | — | — | Multiple (see description) | Street frontage, wall abutting park/river/alley | — | 900.170(c) |
| Permanent Sign - Hanging Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | 7'6" vertical clearance | 1 per entrance | Under canopy/marquee | — | 900.170(c) |
| Permanent Sign - Complex (freestanding/wall sign, one per frontage) | 5 ft. (freestanding) | Freestanding: 32 sq. ft.; Wall: greater of 32 sq. ft. or 2% gross face area, subject to max 100 sq. ft. facing Riverfront Park, 32 sq. ft. facing Willamette River | — | — | 1 per frontage | Street frontage | — | 900.170(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Salem

- No person shall construct, erect, enlarge, alter, or relocate any sign, or install electrical parts, wiring, or illumination in or upon a sign, until all required permits have been obtained, including, but not limited to, sign permits, building permits, electrical permits, and any other permit required under federal, state, or local law.
- No person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, convert, equip, use, or maintain any sign, or cause or permit the same to be done, in violation of any provision of this chapter or a permit issued hereunder.
- Nothing in this chapter is intended, nor shall be construed, to permit the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, or maintenance of any sign at any place or in any manner unlawful under any other federal, state, or local law.
- Any sign which creates a public nuisance due to statements, words, or pictures of an obscene or pornographic character is prohibited.
- Any sign which violates ORS Chapter 377 is prohibited.
- Any sign which is placed on, affixed to, or painted on a motor vehicle, vehicle, or trailer and placed on public or private property with the primary purpose of providing a sign not otherwise permitted by this chapter is prohibited. Illuminated signs are not permitted on parked motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, trailers, or other vehicles.
- Any sign located in a manner which could impede traffic on any street, alley, bikeway, or other vehicular way is prohibited.
- Any sign 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 that will cover wholly or partially any window or doorway in a manner that will substantially limit access to the building in case of fire, is prohibited.
- Any sign constructed or maintained which, by reason of its size, location, movement, coloring, or manner of illumination may be confused with or construed as an official traffic control device or which hides any official traffic control device from view is prohibited.
- Any sign, other than an official traffic control device, located within a vision clearance area is prohibited.
- Any sign that employs a structure, material, illumination, size, or placement not specifically allowed under this chapter, unless the sign is a lawfully established nonconforming sign, is prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected over or within the public right-of-way unless placement is first approved by the governmental unit having jurisdiction.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained which, by reason of its size, location, or construction constitutes a hazard to the public.
- No sign shall obstruct any building opening such that light or ventilation is reduced below required minimums.
- No sign shall be erected within five feet of an exterior wall in which there are openings that lie directly behind the display surface unless it conforms with code and noncombustible materials/approved plastics are used.
- No sign shall be placed within a sidewalk intersection.
- Signs shall be located not less than ten feet horizontally and ten feet vertically from all overhead electrical conductors energized in excess of 750 volts.
- No sign shall use lights or illumination that creates an unduly distracting or hazardous condition to motorists, pedestrians, or the general public, or that may be confused with or construed as an official traffic control device.
- Devices which use light to project an image onto a surface such as a wall or sidewalk are prohibited.
- No reflective bulb, par spot, or incandescent lamp that exceeds 25 watts shall be exposed to direct view from a public street.
- Temporary signs shall not be attached to fences, trees, shrubbery, utility poles, or like items and shall not obstruct or obscure permanent signs on adjacent premises.
- Temporary signs shall not be externally or internally illuminated.
- Temporary signs shall not contain rotating or animated parts.
- No temporary sign shall be installed in or project over public right-of-way, except as otherwise provided by SRC 900.080.
- No temporary sign shall be erected or maintained which, by reason of its size, location, or construction constitutes a hazard to the public.

## Signs exempt from permit in Salem

- Official traffic control devices.
- Signs erected entirely within the public right-of-way or on property owned by a governmental unit for the purpose of identifying points of scenic, historic, cultural, geographic, and educational interest when authorized by the governmental unit having jurisdiction.
- Signs required to be erected by public officers pursuant to law or by order of the court.
- Temporary signs located in Wallace Marine Park's Sports Field Complex allowed and regulated pursuant to a park use permit issued by the City.
- Temporary banners allowed and regulated pursuant to a permit issued by the City for use of the Liberty Parkade and for the banner poles across Liberty Street SE.
- Public murals, public art, and street painting, as defined by SRC 15.010, and regulated under the provisions of SRC chapter 15, and any rules adopted thereunder.
- Graffiti resistant coverings, containing only graphics or images, installed on equipment enclosures owned by the public or a public utility, or other temporary structures serving the public.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for the construction, erection, enlargement, alteration, relocation, or repair of any permanent or temporary sign, unless specifically exempted.
- An application for a sign permit must include plans for the sign, in a graphic form, detailed and clear enough to show compliance with this chapter. At a minimum, the plans shall include a detailed drawing of the sign to scale, a site plan with location of all existing signs, elevations of the building or structure with signs, identification of materials and type of sign, and a statement on property ownership or lease.
- A sign permit is not required for certain exempt activities and exempt signs as described in the ordinance, but other regulations may still apply.
- If a proposed sign does not meet the requirements of this chapter, a permit cannot be granted unless a variance or other relief is obtained under relevant code procedures.
- No specific requirement for a 'master sign plan' or 'sign plan' is noted in the general provisions. (Any requirements may be located elsewhere in zone-specific or project-specific code sections not included here.)
- Permit applications follow a Type I procedure under SRC chapter 300.

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

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