# Sign Regulations in Tigard, Oregon

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tigard, Oregon (OR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oregon/tigard
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-22
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43706662#43706662)

## At a glance

Tigard, Oregon regulates 28 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the COM zone, IND zone zoning district are capped at Base: 20 ft; Max w/setback: 22 ft tall and Base: 70 sq ft/face, 140 sq ft total; Max w/setback: 90 sq ft/face, 180 sq ft total, with a Landscaped area required; clearance if not feasible setback (Sec. § 18.435.130.B.1; § 18.435.130.E). Most commercial signs in Tigard require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zones, RES-A, RES-B, RES-C, RES-D, RES-E | 12 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — |
| COM zone, IND zone | 12 | 35 ft | 160 sq ft per face; 320 sq ft total | — |
| MUE zone | 8 | Base: 8 ft; Max w/setback: 10 ft | Base: 32 sq ft/face, 64 sq ft total; Max w/setback: 52 sq ft/face, 104 sq ft total | — |
| Industrial zones | 11 | 35 ft | 160 sq ft per face; 320 sq ft total | — |
| MUC zone, TMU zone, MU-CBD zone, MUR zone | 12 | 35 ft | 160 sq ft/face; 320 sq ft total | — |
| Bridgeport Village Plan District | 2 | 10 ft for all except wall signs; wall signs may not extend above roof line | Per residential zone | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | Residential: 15 sq ft per site; Nonresidential: 40 sq ft per flag, max 120 sq ft per site | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Residential zones, RES-A, RES-B, RES-C, RES-D, RES-E

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 4 sq ft or 1 sq ft/dwelling unit (whichever is larger) | — | — | Combined total | On building wall | — | § 18.435.130.A.1 |
| Freestanding Sign (Housing Complex Entry) | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | One per entry | At entry point to housing complex from public right-of-way, properly landscaped | — | § 18.435.130.A.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Platted Subdivision Entry) | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | One per entry | At entry point to subdivision from public right-of-way, properly landscaped | — | § 18.435.130.A.3 |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | One | — | — | § 18.435.130.A.4 |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | One per driveway | On private property, at driveway entrances/exits for motorists | — | § 18.435.130.A.5 |
| Temporary Sign | — | As per 18.435.100: 12 sq ft per face, 24 sq ft total; except lawn/A-frame as below | — | — | One temporary sign at a time per owner/occupant | On private property; not in right-of-way or vision clearance area | — | § 18.435.130.A.6; § 18.435.100 |
| Lawn Sign | — | RES-A/B/C: 12 sq ft/face; 24 sq ft for all faces/premises. Others: 24 sq ft for all faces/premises. | — | — | Multiple per premises | On private property, not in right-of-way or clear vision area | — | § 18.435.060.A.1 |
| A-frame Sign | — | 6 sq ft per face; 12 sq ft all faces | — | — | Multiple per premises | On private property, not in right-of-way or clear vision area | — | § 18.435.060.A.1 |

### COM zone, IND zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | Base: 20 ft; Max w/setback: 22 ft | Base: 70 sq ft/face, 140 sq ft total; Max w/setback: 90 sq ft/face, 180 sq ft total | — | Landscaped area required; clearance if not feasible | One per premises; Option for two signs on corner/shopping centers | Not over property line or in right-of-way | — | § 18.435.130.B.1; § 18.435.130.E |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft/face | — | — | One per driveway | Per driveway, private property | — | § 18.435.130.B.3 |
| Electronic Information Sign | Up to wall/freestanding sign allowances | Up to wall/freestanding sign allowances | — | — | One per premises | On wall or as freestanding | — | § 18.435.090.C, § 18.435.130.B.4 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 24 sq ft for all faces, 12 sq ft per face (banners 24 sq ft/face) | — | — | One at a time | Private property only | — | § 18.435.130.B.5; § 18.435.100 |
| Awning Sign | — | Counts toward wall sign area max | — | If in right-of-way: Max extension 6.5 ft/2/3 to roadway; not within 2 ft of travel lane | — | On awning, may extend above awning but not above roof; can extend into R-O-W (if encroachment permit granted) | — | § 18.435.090.E; § 18.435.130.B.8 |
| Flush Pitched Roof Sign | May extend no more than 6 inches above roof line | Counts toward wall sign max | — | — | — | On near-vertical pitched roof | — | § 18.435.090.F; § 18.435.130.B.8 |
| Freeway-Oriented Sign (Freestanding) | 35 ft | 160 sq ft per face; 320 sq ft total | — | — | One per premises | Within 200 ft of Hwy 217/Interstate 5 R-O-W, oriented to be viewed from freeway | — | § 18.435.090.D; § 18.435.130.B.8 |
| Bench Sign | — | 14 sq ft | — | — | One per transit stop | At designated transit stop without bus shelter | — | § 18.435.090.B |

### MUC zone, TMU zone, MU-CBD zone, MUR zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 3.5 ft; 8 ft for public trail | 32 sq ft/face; 64 sq ft total | — | — | One per frontage | In min. building setback, not in R-O-W/vision area | — | § 18.435.130.F.2 |
| Wall Sign | May not extend above building face | 15% gross building face | — | — | — | On wall or parapet | — | § 18.435.130.F.3 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 32 sq ft/face, 64 sq ft all faces; Option 2: 50 sq ft/face, 100 sq ft all faces | — | — | One per bldg per frontage; additional under certain conditions | May project into min. setback and R-O-W (max 6' or sidewalk width) | — | § 18.435.130.F.4 |
| Pedestrian-Oriented Roof Sign | 2 ft above roofline; not below roofline | 45 sq ft | — | — | One per first-story tenant space | On roof | — | § 18.435.130.F.5 |
| A-frame Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft/face, 12 sq ft total | 3 ft | — | One per tenant/30 linear ft | Private property or in R-O-W with minimum 4 ft clear sidewalk, behind curb or 10 ft from edge of travel lane | — | § 18.435.130.F.6 |
| Bench Sign | — | 14 sq ft | — | — | One per transit stop | At designated transit stop without bus shelter | — | § 18.435.090.B |
| Cultural Institution Auxiliary Sign | — | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | One | Within freestanding sign or on cultural institution wall | — | § 18.435.090.I |
| Freestanding Freeway-Oriented Sign | 35 ft | 160 sq ft/face; 320 sq ft total | — | — | One per premises | Within 200 ft of Hwy 217/I-5 R-O-W, oriented to be viewed from freeway | — | § 18.435.090.D; § 18.435.130.F.8 |

## Prohibited signs in Tigard

- Signs must be constructed, erected, and maintained to withstand wind, seismic, and other requirements of the state building code or this title. Unsafe or improperly maintained signs are prohibited.
- Signs that interfere with, obstruct the view of, or could be confused with authorized traffic signs/signals/devices by position, shape, or color are prohibited.
- Signs that use words like 'stop', 'look', 'danger', or similar words, phrases, symbols, or characters that can mislead or confuse motorists are prohibited.
- Signs containing obscene statements, words, or pictures (appealing to the prurient interest in sex or patently offensive) are prohibited.
- Signs or sign structures may not obstruct access to fire escapes, ingress/egress routes, exit corridors/hallways/doorways, or wholly/partially cover windows or doorways to the extent they substantially limit access in an emergency.
- Signs or sign structures at street intersections must comply with vision clearance standards.
- Roof signs are prohibited, except as allowed for temporary balloon signs, flush-pitched roof signs, and pedestrian-oriented roof signs as specifically described elsewhere.
- Revolving, rotating, or moving signs are prohibited, except for temporary banners or balloons as specifically allowed.
- Flashing signs of any kind are prohibited, including strobe lights.
- Signs in the public right-of-way (wholly or partially) are prohibited, except for signs legally erected for informational purposes by/on behalf of a government agency, certain permitted bench or awning signs, certain temporary banners in the MU-CBD zone, and specific exceptions in designated zones. All such signs require approval by the City Engineer and may not be in ODOT right-of-way.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- No exposed lamps that exceed the equivalent of a 25 watt incandescent lamp are allowed on the exterior surface of any sign in a manner that exposes the face to any public street or right-of-way, except allowed electronic information signs.
- Direct lighting is prohibited, except for electronic information signs and signs with neon tubes or comparable lighting tubes.
- Signs in violation of the code are declared to be a public nuisance.
- Placement of a sign in the right-of-way is prohibited unless authorized elsewhere in municipal code or state law.
- Destruction or defacement of official notice or sign posted in conformity with law is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tigard

- Lawn and A-frame signs in residential zones that meet specific area, spacing, and placement provisions do not require a sign permit.
- Signs not oriented or intended to be legible from a right-of-way, other property, or the air do not require a permit.
- Signs inside a building are exempt from permit requirements, except for flashing signs visible from right-of-way, other property, or the air.
- Painted wall decorations and painted wall highlights do not require a sign permit.
- Window signs do not require a permit.
- Directional signs on private property or those in the right-of-way erected by or on behalf of a government agency or road authority are exempt from permit requirements.
- Flags in nonresidential zones up to 40 sq ft per flag, 120 sq ft per site, from permanent flagpoles; and flags in residential zones up to 15 sq ft per site from temporary flagpoles are permit-exempt.
- Sign repair, maintenance, or change of copy/message that does not involve a change of sign size, height, type, or location is permit-exempt.
- Signs affected by stipulated judgments entered by courts (to which the city is party) are exempt from permit.
- Banner signs in the right-of-way in the MU-CBD zone, up to 140 sq ft per face, 60 days maximum, do not require a permit.
- All exempt signs must be placed on private property with owner consent, except as expressly allowed on utility poles or in the public right-of-way.
- Legally required signs (by law or ordinance) on private property or by a public agency/utility do not require a permit or fee.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For each freestanding sign in the COM, MUE, and IND zones, the required site plan must show the size and shape of the landscaped area set aside for the sign. The plan is subject to review by the approval authority.
- Up to an additional 50% of sign area (or height) may be allowed for shopping centers or industrial parks through the site development review process, when it's judged necessary for legibility. A single signing format must be established.
- When a premises contains more than a single tenant but is not a shopping center, the building owner must provide a common support for all tenant signage; increases in sign copy area (up to 50%) may be allowed through the site development review process.
- A sign permit is required for each freestanding sign before erection when shopping plazas on corner lots are allowed one sign per street frontage.
- Optional standards for shopping centers in COM zone allow up to two freestanding signs per frontage, provided sign area and height requirements are met; a sign permit is required prior to erection of any such freestanding sign.
- Shopping centers and industrial parks must establish a single signing format, as referenced in the code, implying sign plan requirements.
- Additional sign area or special sign arrangements (such as for multiple tenants or shopping centers) require review and approval during the site development review process.
- No direct reference in these sections to a 'Master Sign Plan,' but several requirements for plans, formats, and reviews effectively function as sign plan provisions.

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

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