# Sign Regulations in College Place, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** College Place, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/college-place
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WA/College_Place/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=TIT14UNDERE_CH14.60DEST_14.60.090SI)

## At a glance

College Place, Washington regulates 18 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 60 sq ft per side, with a At least 5 ft from property lines setback (Sec. 14.60.090(I)(3); 14.60.090(I)(3)(b)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Residential (SFR), Multi-Family Residential (MFR) | 4 | 7 ft (if placed on property); otherwise, must meet window or building mounting restrictions | 32 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) | 5 | 30 ft | 60 sq ft per side | — |
| General Commercial (GC), Light Industrial (LI) | 6 | 50 ft | 200 sq ft per side | — |
| University District (UD) | 3 | — | — | — |
| Public Uses (PU) | 2 | 6 ft for monument style | 32 sq ft (message board) | — |
| Mobile Home Park | 1 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 2 sq ft if building mounted occupant sign | — |

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

### Single-Family Residential (SFR), Multi-Family Residential (MFR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Subdivision Entrance) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | Along each road entering a residential subdivision (SFR) or at each entrance into a multi-family development from a road (MFR) | — | 14.60.090(H)(1)/(2); 14.60.090(E)(7) |
| Wall Sign (Business Use) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per city-licensed business | Permanently attached to the building that is the primary place of business | — | 14.60.090(C)(11); 14.60.090(H)(3); 14.60.090(B)(1)(a) |
| Temporary Sign (Developed Site For Sale/Lease) | 7 ft (if placed on property); otherwise, must meet window or building mounting restrictions | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Attached to the building, displayed in a window, or placed on the property | — | 14.60.090(F)(6)(a)(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Undeveloped Site For Sale/Lease) | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Placed on the property | — | 14.60.090(F)(6)(a)(2) |

### Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Mounted Sign (Wall/Window/Projecting/Awning/Canopy) | Cannot extend above parapet or eave; window signs: per window area | 25% of façade area | — | — | One set per building face/frontage; one projecting sign per frontage | Each face of building fronting a street or parking lot; window; awning/canopy; projecting sign perpendicular to face and mounted in accordance with code | — | 14.60.090(I)(2); 14.60.230(A)(1) |
| Monument Sign | 5 ft | 60 sq ft per side | — | At least 5 ft from property lines | One per site with 20 ft building setback | Site when buildings are setback at least 20 ft from ROW; sign must be set back at least 5 ft from property line | — | 14.60.090(I)(3); 14.60.090(I)(3)(b) |
| Pole Sign | 30 ft | 60 sq ft per side | — | — | One per site meeting criteria | Site when buildings are setback at least 20 ft from ROW | — | 14.60.090(I)(3)(a)(1) |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale/Lease/Business Promotion) | 7 ft if placed on property; otherwise building/window mounting | 35 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | See above | Attached to building, window, or placed on property | — | 14.60.090(F)(6)(b); 14.60.090(F)(7) |
| A-frame (Sandwich Board) Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | One per street frontage per licensed business | On private property at site of business, or in abutting right-of-way on sidewalk (not in roadway, parking, etc.) | — | 14.60.090(F)(5)(e); 14.60.090(F)(8) |

### General Commercial (GC), Light Industrial (LI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Mounted Sign (Wall/Window/Projecting/Awning/Canopy) | Cannot extend above parapet or eave; window signs: per window area | 25% of façade area | — | — | One set per building face/frontage; one projecting sign per frontage | Each face of building fronting a street or parking lot; window; awning/canopy; projecting sign perpendicular to face and mounted in accordance with code | — | 14.60.090(I)(2) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 200 sq ft per side | — | At least 5 ft from property lines | One per site with 20 ft building setback | Sites where buildings are setback at least 20 ft from ROW and sign setback at least 5 ft from property lines | — | 14.60.090(I)(3)(b)(3) |
| Pole Sign | 50 ft | 200 sq ft per side | — | — | One per site meeting criteria | Site where buildings are setback at least 20 ft from ROW | — | 14.60.090(I)(3)(a)(2) |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale/Lease/Business Promotion) | 7 ft if placed on property; else building/window mounted | 35 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | See above | Attached to building, window, or placed on property | — | 14.60.090(F)(6)(b), (F)(7) |
| A-frame (Sandwich Board) Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | One per street frontage per licensed business | On private property at site of business, or in abutting right-of-way on sidewalk (not in roadway, parking, etc.) | — | 14.60.090(F)(8) |
| Temporary Sign - Feather Pennant/Streamer/Balloons | — | — | — | — | — | On private property | — | 14.60.090(F)(9) |

## Prohibited signs in College Place

- No person shall erect, alter, maintain, or relocate any prohibited sign as detailed in Section 14.60.090 D in any zone in the city, unless specifically authorized.
- Signs determined by the city attorney to meet the judicial standards for obscenity are prohibited.
- Signs that create a safety hazard for pedestrian or vehicular traffic are prohibited.
- Signs specifically designed to move or with moving parts/mechanisms that cause a safety hazard due to wind or suspension are prohibited.
- Any sign, poster or other advertising matter placed upon utility poles, fences, trees, sidewalks, streets, traffic signs, traffic control devices, or other structures/places in streets, alleys, or public places or rights-of-way is prohibited.
- Off-premise signs are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Signs with flashing lights or reflective materials are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or placed on a vehicle or trailer parked for conspicuous display to attract public attention are prohibited, except for vehicles in active business use as specified.
- Mobile signs are prohibited.
- Permanent signs on vacant lots or parcels are prohibited; signs may only be established as an accessory use to a permitted primary use.
- Roof mounted signs are prohibited.
- Signs attached to towers or wireless communication support towers (except as required by law) are prohibited.
- No signs may be placed on private property without the permission of the owner.
- Signs may not be located in, or extend into or over the public right-of-way, unless specifically authorized.
- All signs must be permanently attached to the ground, a building, or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame or structure, unless otherwise specified.
- No sign may be erected or displayed in a manner that may present a threat to public safety and required clear sight distances must be maintained at all times.
- All signs must be made of durable, weather resistant materials intended for outdoor use.
- Signs must not be made with reflective material or moving parts.
- No signs shall have full motion digital images, video or film displays, or stream content in real time.
- Flashing signs or light sources are not permitted, except when used as a safety device during an approved construction project.
- Signs are not permitted for wireless communication facilities.
- No prohibited signs as listed in Section 14.60.090 D shall be permitted or displayed in any zoning district.

## Signs exempt from permit in College Place

- Changes to the face or copy of legal signs that do not change the material appearance, type, or size of the sign as originally permitted by the city.
- Normal repair and maintenance of conforming and legal nonconforming signs.
- The flag of any nation, state, city, governmental agency, nonprofit organization, or educational institution.
- Signs necessary to the expression of constitutionally protected forms of free speech as determined by the city attorney.
- Signs or decorations temporarily placed on private property in observance of religious, state, or national holidays.
- Legal notices, postings, or similar signs placed by or required by a governmental agency carrying out its responsibility to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.
- Noncommercial signs in the public interest erected by or on the order of a public official performing their duty (e.g., safety signs, danger signs, traffic signs, memorial plaques, historical interest signs, etc.).
- Signs owned and maintained by a federal, state, or local government agency, including street and highway signs, signs necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, directional and wayfinding signs, and/or public information signs.
- Privately maintained traffic control signs or directional signs for pedestrians on private roads or property.
- Building address numbers.
- One sign not exceeding two square feet in area, attached to a building, provided it is flush to the building, does not project above the eave or roof line, and only announces the name, address, and contact info of the occupant(s).
- Names of buildings, dates of erection, commemorative tablets, or the like, when carved into stone, concrete, similar material or made of bronze, aluminum, or permanent construction as an integral part of the structure.
- Approved interpretative signs and historic markers.
- Temporary signs located on fences of a construction site, provided there is an active building or development permit that includes external work or modifications of the site.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall erect, alter, or relocate any sign without first submitting the required application(s) and obtaining an approved sign permit from the city, unless the sign is exempt.
- Permanent signs in the university district with a commercial message may be installed on private property in accordance with the provisions of the downtown mixed-use district, which may require additional sign plan conformance.
- Monument and pole signs, as well as electronic message centers, may have operational conditions that should be verified during the sign permit review process.
- Any sign or component thereof must be maintained in good repair and in a safe, neat, clean, and attractive condition in accordance with the conditions of its approval.
- Legal, nonconforming signs may not be altered, replaced, or relocated except in full compliance with the provisions of this section, which may necessitate a new sign permit application and plan.
- Where building, site, or master plans are required for development (e.g., university campus master plans or planned developments), sign plans for signage throughout the site may also be required and are incorporated as part of the larger site or master plan approval.
- Exempt signs may still require a building permit depending on size or structure, and sponsors are encouraged to contact the city to confirm permit requirements before installing or displaying.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/college-place