# Sign Regulations in Coupeville, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Coupeville, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/coupeville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-05
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WA/Coupeville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT16DERE_CH16.28SI)

## At a glance

Coupeville, Washington regulates 16 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Town Commercial (TC), General Commercial (GC), Historic/Limited Commercial (HLC), Public/Quasi-Public (P), Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Area E zoning district are capped at 10 ft or height to the peak of the associated building, whichever is less tall, 60 sq. ft. per sign face, and 5 ft wide (Sec. CTC 16.28.070.D). Most commercial signs in Coupeville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Town Commercial (TC), General Commercial (GC), Historic/Limited Commercial (HLC), Public/Quasi-Public (P), Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Area E | 7 | 10 ft or height to the peak of the associated building, whichever is less | No individual sign face may exceed 60 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Reserve (RR), Low Density Residential (LDR), Medium Density Residential (RM 9600), High Density Residential (RH), Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Areas A, B, C, D, F, G | 2 | 42 inches | 16 sq. ft. cumulatively for all sign faces | — |
| Residential zone | 5 | — | 10 sq. ft. | — |
| Non-residential zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| Public/Quasi-Public zone | 2 | — | 30 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Town Commercial (TC), General Commercial (GC), Historic/Limited Commercial (HLC), Public/Quasi-Public (P), Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Area E

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flush-mounted) | — | No individual sign face may exceed 60 sq. ft. | — | — | Unlimited, subject to sign area limits and not exceeding 5% of any facade | Wall of building, flush-mounted; must be within flat wall areas, not covering architectural details. | — | CTC 16.28.070.A-C, 16.28.100 |
| Projecting Sign (Facade-mounted) | — | 5 sq. ft. per face | Shall not extend more than 4 ft from the facade. | — | One projecting sign per ground-floor tenant space | Attached to facade. May extend above pedestrian facilities in public ROW (with permit). | — | CTC 16.28.070.C.3 |
| Projecting Sign (Canopy/Awning-mounted) | — | 3 sq. ft. per sign | Shall not extend past the perimeter of the canopy or awning. | — | — | Attached to canopy/awning. | — | CTC 16.28.070.C.3 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Vertical faces of fabric awnings. | — | CTC 16.28.070.C.4 |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 25% of the area of a single window | — | — | No more than one per single window | Window, visible from exterior. | — | CTC 16.28.070.C.5 |
| Rotating Content Sign | — | 10% of cumulative sign area allowance (see formula above) | — | — | One per building or tenant space | Flush-mounted to building. | — | CTC 16.28.070.C.6 |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft or height to the peak of the associated building, whichever is less | 60 sq. ft. per sign face | 5 ft | — | One per street frontage (must be separated by at least 60 ft if more than one) | On ground, per street frontage of lot or parcel. | — | CTC 16.28.070.D |

### Residential Reserve (RR), Low Density Residential (LDR), Medium Density Residential (RM 9600), High Density Residential (RH), Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Areas A, B, C, D, F, G

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flush-mounted) | — | 4 sq. ft. per building | — | — | Not specified but limited by sign area | Flush-mounted on building. | — | CTC 16.28.080.A-B |
| Freestanding Sign (Lots/parcels/subdivisions >1 acre) | 42 inches | 16 sq. ft. cumulatively for all sign faces | — | — | One permanent freestanding sign per qualifying site | On site. | — | CTC 16.28.080.C |

### Residential zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | One per property | On property. | — | CTC 16.28.050.A |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | No limit | On property. | — | CTC 16.28.050.B |
| Temporary Sign (Real Estate) | — | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | One per lot/parcel listed for sale/lease | On property being offered for sale or lease. | — | CTC 16.28.050.E |
| Temporary Sign (Seasonal/Holiday) | — | No limit | — | — | No limit in the seasonal window | On property. | — | CTC 16.28.050.F |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On or in window. | — | CTC 16.28.050.H |

## Prohibited signs in Coupeville

- Any sign that emits smoke, visible particles, odors, or sounds.
- Any sign that is internally illuminated or contains bare bulb, neon, light emitting diode, or electronic changing message components, or that includes an intermittent or flashing light source, the illusion of an intermittent or flashing light by means of animation, or an externally mounted intermittent light source, except for certain traffic control devices, exempt decorative displays, and specified temporary signs.
- Any sign that is dangerous or confusing to motorists on the public right-of-way, including those resembling or conflicting with official traffic control devices or that impede the safe and efficient flow of traffic.
- Any sign within the right-of-way except as provided in this chapter, such as signs required by law and governmental signs intended for public safety.
- Signs with a slick white or light-colored finish intended to be written on with non-permanent markers.
- Any rotating or revolving sign, or sign where all or a portion moves or appears to move, including animated signs such as fixed aerial displays, balloons, pennants, spinners, propellers, whirling devices, streamers, tubes, sails or similar devices designed to flutter, rotate, or move (except verified historic signs/replicas producing the same motion in the same location).
- Portable signs, including A-frame signs, except as specifically allowed in this chapter.
- Signs located on or over a pitched roof or above a flat roof, except signs on a false front or below the top of a parapet.
- Murals.
- Any other type or kind of sign that does not comply with the terms, conditions, provisions, and intent of these regulations.
- Signs are prohibited in all zoning districts and in all Town rights-of-way unless authorized under this code and constructed or installed pursuant to a valid permit, where required.
- Halo signs are prohibited.
- Use of fluorescent colors on signs is prohibited.
- Signs that appear to be synthetic are not permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Coupeville

- Repair or maintenance of conforming or nonconforming signs that does not change the approved dimensions, design, materials, orientation, or location. Changing the text on a reader board is not considered a change to the sign.
- Address and building identification numbers as required by Title 12 CTC, provided numerals and/or letters do not exceed twelve inches in height unless a larger size is required by law.
- Governmental signs installed by or required to be installed by the Town, County, or a Federal or State governmental agency for public health, safety, and general welfare. This includes emergency and warning signs, traffic and wayfinding signs, signs showing public facilities, signs required by law, and any sign or notice placed or required by a governmental agency in carrying out public health, safety, and general welfare responsibilities.
- Flags adopted by a governmental entity and displayed in accordance with applicable law.
- A sign or display designed and located to be viewed exclusively by patrons or visitors to the site and not visible from any public right-of-way or other off-site location.
- A sign painted, mounted, or located on an operational, legally licensed, and legally parked motor vehicle or on a trailer connected to an operational and legally licensed motor vehicle.
- A sign on a permanently affixed outdoor bench or table, with total sign area on the fixture not exceeding 1.5 square feet.
- Privately maintained traffic and parking control signs on private roads or in parking lots where the sign face is less than two square feet.
- Signs of public utility companies indicating danger, aiding public safety, or showing the location of underground facilities or public telephones.
- "No trespassing," "no dumping," "no parking," "private," and other informational warning signs and essential public need signs such as restrooms, entrance, exit, etc., not exceeding two square feet.
- Structures or improvements intended for a separate use, such as phone booths, donation containers, and recycling boxes.
- Point of purchase advertising displays such as product dispensers, provided no portion of the display is internally illuminated.
- Temporary decorative displays that do not identify any place, subject, person, firm, business, product, article, merchandise, or other characteristic that would represent signage. Within rights-of-way, a right-of-way permit is required. Decorative displays under this exemption are limited to thirty-day durations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall erect, alter, or relocate any sign requiring a permit under this chapter without first submitting a sign permit application and receiving approval of the sign permit from the Town.
- For sites or buildings housing multiple tenants, the town planner may require a master sign plan to allocate sign area by tenant space and for common sign elements.
- Sign permit applications shall be reviewed by the town planner or designee for consistency with the standards in this chapter, according to sign type and other applicable regulations. A sign permit shall not be issued unless the town planner makes written findings and conclusions that applicable criteria and general standards are satisfied.
- Where modifications are necessary to establish compliance with applicable standards, approval of a permit may be subject to conditions.
- Signs for which building permits are not required shall still comply with all applicable Code provisions.
- To apply for a variance from sign regulations, an application must be submitted to the town planner; the process includes preliminary administrative approval, potential conditions, and public notice.

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

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