# Sign Regulations in Cosmopolis, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cosmopolis, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/cosmopolis
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WA/Cosmopolis/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT15EN_CH15.08SHMA_15.08.130SIRE)

## At a glance

Cosmopolis, Washington regulates 32 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Portable Signs in the Multiple-Use Zones, Manufacturing Zones, MU, M zoning district are capped at 60 in tall, 40 sq ft (all surfaces), and 48 in wide, with a 6 ft from improved street unless on sidewalk; sidewalk width rules apply setback (Sec. 18.52.140(7)(A)-(E)). Most commercial signs in Cosmopolis require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones, Residential Districts, R-100, R-57, Public Reserve Zones | 21 | 8 ft min (except home occupation) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Public Service Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| Multiple-Use Zones, Manufacturing Zones, MU, M | 7 | 60 in | See formula (max per sign: 300 sq ft, parcel total varies) | — |
| GC | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### Residential Zones, Residential Districts, R-100, R-57, Public Reserve Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Identification Number | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per address | — | — | 18.52.140(3)(D) |
| Dweller/Tenant Name Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 per residence | — | — | 18.52.140(3)(E) |
| Temporary/Special Event Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property only | — | 18.52.140(3)(L) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 (1 per frontage) | On premises for sale, lease, or rent | — | 18.52.140(3)(N) |
| Temporary Construction Sign (R-100 & R-57) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | On site under construction | — | 18.52.140(3)(O) |
| Subdivision Sale Sign (Developer) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per approach | At each major approach to subdivision | — | 18.52.140(5)(B) |
| Permanent Neighborhood/Area Identification Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per area | Not more than 2 major entrances to area | — | 18.52.140(5)(C) |
| Use/Bulletin Board Sign (Public/Semipublic buildings & uses) | — | 30 sq ft | — | ≥10 feet from any right-of-way line | — | On same lot as use | — | 18.52.140(5)(E) |

### Multiple-Use Zones, Manufacturing Zones, MU, M

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All signs allowed in subsections (3) and (5) of 18.52.140 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.52.140(6)(A) |
| Freestanding/General Sign (Total Advertising Area Limit) | — | See formula (max per sign: 300 sq ft, parcel total varies) | — | — | — | — | — | 18.52.140(6)(B) |
| Freestanding/General Sign (Height Limit) | 30 ft | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.52.140(6)(C) |
| Projecting Sign (Over Right-of-Way) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Over public right-of-way | — | 18.52.140(6)(D) |
| Illuminated Signs—General (Lighting Group Limits) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.52.140(6)(E) |
| Portable Sign | 60 in | 40 sq ft (all surfaces) | 48 in | 6 ft from improved street unless on sidewalk; sidewalk width rules apply | 1 per business (more with conditional use) | Private property or public right-of-way with permit | — | 18.52.140(7)(A)-(E) |
| All Exempt/Residential/Public Reserve Signs Allowed | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.52.140(6)(A) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permitted Sign Types - General | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.52.140(2)(A) |
| Legal Nonconforming Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.52.140(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Cosmopolis

- Off-premises business signs, except as specified, are not permitted.
- No sign may be secured to a fire hydrant, utility pole, light pole, city or state sign pole, tree, transit authority benches or other similar public or semipublic structures without the consent of the public agency owning the structure.
- No sign shall be located within three feet of any fire hydrant, fire department connection or fire-protection control valve.
- All signs which no longer serve an ongoing business or use must be removed or altered within one year after the business or use has ceased operation.
- No sign shall be maintained which is determined by the city engineer to be confusing or distracting to traffic.
- No portable or temporary sign shall be maintained which is determined by the city engineer to be a hazard to vehicular traffic for vision clearance or other reasons...

## Signs exempt from permit in Cosmopolis

- Official traffic signs, directional signs and maps, signals, business directory maps, kiosks, and public notices erected by public authorities and all signs erected by a public officer in the performance of public duty.
- Public service signs as defined above.
- Informational warning signs, such as 'No Trespassing,' 'No Dumping,' 'No Parking,' not to exceed six square feet.
- Building address identification number, not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Signs which contain no more than the name and address of the dweller or tenant of a residence. Only two such signs, each not over two square feet, allowed per residence.
- Permanent building identification, including building plaques, cornerstones, nameplates and similar devices.
- Temporary political signs, provided they are removed within seven days after the election.
- Temporary decorations customarily displayed at special holidays, such as Christmas and Independence Day.
- Any sign located within a building not visible from the street or sidewalk.
- Flags of government and commercial institutions.
- Painting, repainting or cleaning of a lawfully erected sign structure or the changing of the advertised copy or message is not considered an erection or alteration requiring a permit unless a structural or electrical change is made.
- Temporary and special event signs, such as garage sale and open house signs, placed only on private property and not exceeding ten square feet. Such signs may be displayed twenty-one days prior to an event and must be removed within seven days after the event.
- Grand opening displays, such as temporary signs, banners, strings of light, flags, balloons or searchlights for a period of ten days only to announce the opening of a completely new enterprise or the opening of an enterprise under new management, with removal required immediately after expiration.
- One temporary real estate sign for each street frontage located on the premises for sale, lease or rent, not to exceed six square feet or two in number. Must be removed within seven days after the sale, lease, rent of the premises, or expiration of the listing.
- One temporary sign for each street frontage denoting the architect, engineer or contractor, placed on site under construction, not to exceed ten square feet in residential zones. Must be removed within seven days after completion of construction or within sixty days of abandonment of construction.
- Signs visible from outside a building which are not confusing or distracting to traffic.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit required for the erection, re-erection, construction, alteration or maintenance of any sign unless specifically exempted.
- A separate permit is required for a sign or group of signs for each business entity and each group of signs on a single supporting structure.
- Electrical permits are required for electric signs.
- Right-of-way sign permits are required for portable signs to be placed on a public right-of-way.
- The city engineer may require filing of plans or other pertinent information if necessary to ensure compliance with the code.

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

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