# Sign Regulations in Black Diamond, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Black Diamond, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/black-diamond
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-05
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WA/Black_Diamond/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT18ZO_CH18.82SI)

## At a glance

Black Diamond, Washington regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the All non-residential zone districts, All other non-residential zone districts, Non-residential zones zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 50 sq ft per side, 100 sq ft total both sides, with a 5 ft from front lot line setback (Sec. 18.82.050(B)(3)-(7)). Most commercial signs in Black Diamond require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Community Commercial District | 5 | 12 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Town Center District | 5 | 36 inches | 50 sq ft per side; 100 sq ft total both sides | — |
| All non-residential zone districts, All other non-residential zone districts, Non-residential zones | 6 | 36 inches | 50 sq ft | — |
| Residential zones | 5 | 36 inches | 50 sq ft (for non-residential uses) | — |
| All zones, General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 8 ft | 18 sq ft per face; max height 6 ft | — |

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

### All non-residential zone districts, All other non-residential zone districts, Non-residential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall | — | 18.82.050(C)(1)(c), (2) |
| Window Sign | — | Max as per wall sign; 1 ID sign up to 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Window | — | 18.82.050(D) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 18 sq ft total both sides | — | — | — | 8 ft above walkways, 15 ft above vehicular ways, projects ≤3 ft or 1/3 sidewalk width | — | 18.82.050(E)(1)(b)-(4) |
| Ground Sign | 12 ft | 50 sq ft per side, 100 sq ft total both sides | — | 5 ft from front lot line | 1 per frontage; +1 if >300 ft | 5 ft min from front property line | — | 18.82.050(B)(3)-(7) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 36 inches | 6 sq ft per side | — | 2 ft from curb/6 ft from pavement edge (if no curb) | 1 per premises | Private property or adjacent public right of way (restrictions apply) | — | 18.82.050(H) |
| Special Sale/Promotional/Business Opening Sign (Temporary) | — | ≤50% of permitted wall/facade sign area | — | — | — | Affixed to facade, wall, or window; until 12/31/2010 may be on fences/poles/etc. | — | 18.82.060(A) |

### Residential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft (for non-residential uses) | — | — | — | On wall | — | 18.82.050(C)(1)(c), (2) |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | — | — | 5 ft from front property line | 1 per street frontage | Minimum 5 ft from front property line | — | 18.82.050(B)(3), (5)-(7) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 36 inches | 6 sq ft per side | — | 2 ft from curb/6 ft from pavement (no curb) | 3 per premises | Private property or adjacent right-of-way; restrictions apply. | — | 18.82.050(H) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per contractor per site | On site under construction | — | 18.82.060(C) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property or in right-of-way | — | 18.82.060(D) |

### All zones, General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-Premises Directional Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises, for giving directions e.g. to entrances, parking. | — | 18.82.080(D) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | 18.82.080(E) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property or in right-of-way | — | 18.82.060(D), 18.82.080(F) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential For Sale/Sold) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per frontage | On property for sale or in nearby right-of-way (see above) | — | 18.82.060(B)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Open House Sandwich Board) | — | 5 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per frontage for on-premises; 3 off-premises | On property for sale and off-premises within right-of-way | — | 18.82.060(B)(2) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft (residential); 32 sq ft (non-residential) | — | — | 1 per contractor per site | At site being constructed/remodeled. | — | 18.82.060(C) |
| Institutional Identification Sign (Exempt) | 6 ft | 18 sq ft per face; max height 6 ft | — | — | 1 per institution | On premises of institution | — | 18.82.080(H) |

## Prohibited signs in Black Diamond

- No sign or any part of a sign shall be designed or constructed to be moving by any means, and shall not contain items such as banners, ribbons, streamers and spinners, except as authorized for temporary signs.
- Exposed braces and angle irons are prohibited. Guywires are prohibited unless there are no other practical means of supporting the sign.
- No sign shall have blinking, flashing, fluttering or moving lights or other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity or color; provided, however, temperature and/or time signs that conform in all other respects to this chapter are allowed.
- Portable signs shall not exceed twelve square feet in sign area and no more than one such sign may be displayed per business. Portable signs must be located on the premise to which they relate, except real estate directional signs.
- Abandoned signs shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located within ninety days after the business or service advertised is no longer conducted on the premises.
- Signs which by coloring, shape, wording or location resemble or conflict with traffic control signs or devices are prohibited.
- Signs which the director of public works determines to be a safety hazard for pedestrian or vehicular traffic are prohibited.
- Flashing signs or lights are prohibited.
- Signs or parts of signs which revolve are prohibited.
- Portable signs exceeding six square feet each side are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or placed on a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property are prohibited, except for identification of a firm or its products on a vehicle operating during the normal course of business. Franchised buses and taxis are exempt.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited, except as specifically allowed for real estate directional signs, political signs, public service civic event signs, garage sale signs, as allowed under Section 18.82.060.
- Any sign affixed to or painted on trees, rocks or other natural features or utility poles is prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- All signs, together with all of their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be maintained in good repair and in a safe, neat, clean and attractive condition.
- The light directed on, or internal to, any sign shall be so shaded, shielded and/or directed so that the intensity or brightness shall not adversely affect safe vision of operators of vehicles moving on private or public property or pedestrians on a public right-of-way.
- Electric signs shall not use incandescent bulbs for internal illumination.
- Lighted signs visible from nearby residences shall have low or soft illumination or be shielded in a manner to not adversely affect such residents.

## Signs exempt from permit in Black Diamond

- The following do not require a permit, but must comply with the provisions of the chapter and other laws: the changing of the advertising copy or message on a lawfully erected, painted or printed sign, reader-board or similar sign specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.
- Painting, repainting or cleaning of a lawfully erected sign or the changing of the advertising copy, thereof and other normal maintenance unless a structural or electrical change is made.
- Temporary decorations customary for special holidays erected entirely on private property.
- On-premises directional signs when not exceeding sixteen square feet in area and the distance from the ground level at the base of the sign to the top of the sign is not greater than eight feet.
- Incidental signs.
- Political signs.
- One nonelectric on-premises bulletin board not exceeding twelve square feet in area for each charitable or religious organization.
- Institutional identification signs not exceeding eighteen square feet on all faces. The top of the sign shall not be higher than six feet from the ground level.
- One emblem of organization sign per city entrance and the total area of the sign on all of its faces shall not exceed twenty-four square feet.
- One lot identification sign with total area not to exceed two square feet per residential dwelling unit, not to exceed a maximum of eighteen square feet for multifamily projects; and eighteen square feet for nonresidential uses.
- One neighborhood identification sign not exceeding twelve square feet on all faces and the height from the base of the sign to the top not exceeding six feet.
- One non-electric portable sign not exceeding four square feet located on-premises.
- Traffic and directional signs installed by a governmental entity; signs not readable from nor intended to be viewed from a public right-of-way; merchandise displays; point of purchase advertising displays, such as product dispensers; national flags; flags of a political subdivision; symbolic flags of an institution; legal notices required by law; barber poles; historic site plaques; gravestones; structures intended for a separate use, such as phone booths, bus shelters, donation containers and recycling containers; or lettering or symbols painted directly onto or flush-mounted magnetically onto a motor vehicle operating in the normal course of business.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application for a sign must include two site plans showing location of lot, buildings, and signs (existing and proposed).
- A permit application must include two copies of a scale drawing of the proposed sign or revision, with considerable detail including size, height, material, method of attachment, etc.
- All shopping or business centers with eight or more tenants may be permitted one center identification sign, but all existing signs must be brought into conformance with current city sign standards prior to issuance of a center identification sign permit.
- Required landscaping at the base of ground signs must be installed or a bond for 150% of landscaping cost be provided before permit is granted, but the requirement may be waived if the sign is in an area that is part of an approved overall site landscape plan.
- A variance from sign requirements requires a public hearing before the hearing examiner and written findings of fact.
- A sign permit is required for any sign that is not exempt; no sign shall be installed, constructed, structurally altered, posted or applied without first obtaining a sign permit unless exempted by this chapter.

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

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