# Sign Regulations in Duvall, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Duvall, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/duvall
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-05
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WA/Duvall/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CO_TIT14UNDERE_CH14.50SI)

## At a glance

Duvall, Washington regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Commercial District (CO), Mixed Use District (MU), Light Industrial District (LI), Utility District 1 (UT1), Manufactured/Mobile Home District (MT), Public Facilities District (PF) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 48 sq ft, with a 5 ft from public right-of-way setback (Sec. DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1(a); DMC 14.50.130(F)(1)). Most commercial signs in Duvall require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Old Town District (OT), Riverview District (RIV) | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 300 sq ft per building (no single sign over 150 sq ft); up to 100 sq ft per sign without Design Review Board approval | — |
| Commercial District (CO), Mixed Use District (MU), Light Industrial District (LI), Utility District 1 (UT1), Manufactured/Mobile Home District (MT), Public Facilities District (PF) | 9 | 10 ft | Up to 300 sq ft per building (no single sign over 150 sq ft); up to 100 sq ft per sign without Design Review Board approval | — |
| Residential District | 2 | 6 ft | Up to 300 sq ft per building (no single sign over 150 sq ft); up to 100 sq ft per sign without Design Review Board approval | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 10 ft | 150 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Old Town District (OT), Riverview District (RIV)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Blade Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One primary sign and one blade sign per building elevation/modulation. | Attached to building canopy or overhang; may be attached to wall if overhead attachment not available; must provide a minimum clearance of 8 ft | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1; DMC 14.50.130(A) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance to site | Within 10 ft of intersection of two or more pedestrian sidewalks or paths | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1; DMC 14.50.130(G) |
| Wall Sign | — | Up to 300 sq ft per building (no single sign over 150 sq ft); up to 100 sq ft per sign without Design Review Board approval | Max width of 2/3 of building/tenant façade | — | — | On business's building façade, same floor as business (unless multi-floor). Shall not block windows/ornamentation or conflict with other signage. | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1(g); DMC 14.50.090; DMC 14.50.130(C) |
| Projecting Sign | 6 ft | 25 sq ft | 4 in (depth); projects no more than 5 ft from building | — | — | On building facade, minimum clearance 10 ft, outward projection max 5 ft, inner edge no more than 6 inches from wall | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1; DMC 14.50.130(B) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Within 3 feet of interior window surface, visible from outside | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1; DMC 14.50.130(E) |
| Community Banner | — | — | — | — | — | Assigned banner locations/areas per City's policy | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1; DMC 14.50.150(G) |

### Commercial District (CO), Mixed Use District (MU), Light Industrial District (LI), Utility District 1 (UT1), Manufactured/Mobile Home District (MT), Public Facilities District (PF)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Blade Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One primary sign and one blade sign per building elevation/modulation. | Attached to building canopy/overhang or wall; minimum clearance 8 ft | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1; DMC 14.50.130(A) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per site entrance | Within 10 ft of intersection of walkways | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1; DMC 14.50.130(G) |
| Wall Sign | — | Up to 300 sq ft per building (no single sign over 150 sq ft); up to 100 sq ft per sign without Design Review Board approval | 2/3 of lineal width of building/tenant facade | — | — | On same floor as business on building facade | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1(g); DMC 14.50.090; DMC 14.50.130(C) |
| Projecting Sign | 6 ft | 25 sq ft | 4 in (depth); projects max 5 ft from building | — | — | On building facade; minimum clearance 10 ft | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1; DMC 14.50.130(B) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed inside window, visible outside | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1; DMC 14.50.130(E) |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 5 ft from public right-of-way | One per 300 ft of frontage, max two per parcel, separated by 150 ft on same frontage | On private property, min 5 ft from ROW, in Type III landscaping within 5 ft of sign | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1(a); DMC 14.50.130(F)(1) |
| Twin Post Sign | 8 ft | 25 sq ft | — | 5 ft from public right-of-way | One per parcel | Placed min 5 ft from ROW; in Type III landscaping within 5 ft | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1(a); DMC 14.50.130(F)(2) |
| Changeable Message Center (Manual) | — | — | — | See monument/twin post wherever mounted | See monument/twin post sign limits | Freestanding (as monument or part of sign) | — | DMC 14.50.080 Table 14.50.1(a)(e); 14.50.130(F)(1) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Board (Temporary/Commercial) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | 2 ft | — | One per tenant entry | Within property lines or on public sidewalk; not impeding 4 ft sidewalk minimum | — | DMC 14.50.150(A) |
| A-Board (Community Event) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 3 per event | On private property with consent or in public ROW where allowed | — | DMC 14.50.150(F) |
| Banner (Temporary Commercial Events) | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per business at one time | Attached to building facade of sponsoring business | — | DMC 14.50.150(B) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft min from property line; 30 ft from adjacent property | One per street frontage | On subject property, min 5 ft from property line, not closer than 30 ft from adjacent property line | — | DMC 14.50.150(C) |
| Political Sign | 8 ft (private property); 3 ft (in ROW) | 32 sq ft (private property); 4 sq ft (in ROW) | — | — | — | On private property with owner consent; or in public right-of-way | — | DMC 14.50.150(D) |
| Real Estate Sign (On-site Residential Unit) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage/road intersection | One per street frontage/road intersection on site | — | DMC 14.50.150(E) |
| Real Estate Sign (A-Board) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | 2 ft | — | One per turning movement or road intersection | On site or off-site in improved right-of-way | — | DMC 14.50.150(E) |
| Real Estate Sign (On-site Commercial/Industrial/Multifamily/Neighborhood) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage/intersection | On site, one per street frontage/intersection | — | DMC 14.50.150(E) |

## Prohibited signs in Duvall

- Any sign that does not comply with the provisions of this chapter.
- Signs attached to a fence unless otherwise approved by the planning director for community events.
- Signs which, by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination may be confused with traffic control signs or signals.
- Temporary signs except as specifically allowed in DMC Section 14.50.150.
- Signs located in the public right-of-way, or within travel lanes or sidewalks, or attached to traffic control signs, utility, signal poles or snipe signs, except as otherwise allowed by City Code.
- Billboards.
- Electronic changeable message signs or signs containing moving graphics, text, or video, or that are flashing, moving, rotating, or animated.
- Advertising vehicle.
- Portable and mobile readerboard signs.
- Visible ballast boxes, exposed electrical conduits, or other sign equipment.
- Wall mounted box/cabinet signs.
- Pole mounted freestanding signs, except those described in DMC Section 14.50.130.
- Roof mounted signs unless no other feasible alternative location exists as determined by the planning director.
- Off-site signage except as allowed under this chapter.
- Signs located on canopies made of fabric or other non-rigid material.
- Signs in the public right-of-way which impede pedestrian or vehicular circulation or use.
- Signs in the public right-of-way which negatively impact or have the potential to negatively impact utilities or vegetation such as planter strips or roadway medians.
- Signs that obstruct sight distances or sight distance triangle as defined in Chapter 14.06 DMC, Definitions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Duvall

- Signs required by law, including official or legal notices issued and posted by any public agency or court, or traffic directional or warning signs.
- Plaques, tablets, or inscriptions indicating the name of a building, date of erection, or other commemorative information, which are integral to the building structure or attached flat to the face of the building, are non-illuminated, and do not exceed four square feet in surface area.
- Incidental signs not exceeding four square feet in surface area, provided that this size limitation does not apply to signs providing directions, warnings, or information when established and maintained by a public agency.
- Religious symbols.
- Signs not visible from the public right-of-way, neighboring properties or tenant spaces.
- Sponsors of and vendors at community events provided the signage is located within the event area and removed at the end of each day.
- Signs required by State or Federal agencies.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Plan (MSP) is required for multi-tenant commercial developments and must contain a site plan, details of proposed/existing signage, and a design theme narrative. Approval is by the Planning Director. Any changes to a previously approved MSP require Planning Director approval.
- If a Master Sign Plan was previously approved and a proposed sign conforms to that plan, the applicant need not submit a site plan or other information already included in the MSP.
- Applicants for new signs requiring a permit must submit an application that includes an accurate plan with dimensions, location, size, color, shape, materials, type of illumination, lettering style, and installation method; all existing signage must be noted.
- Sign permits are reviewed administratively or by the Design Review Board as indicated by table footnotes; certain large or specific sign types require Design Review Board review at a Planning Commission meeting.
- All signs in excess of 100 square feet require review and approval from the Design Review Board.
- Departures from chapter standards require written requests and may be considered by the planning director and/or Design Review Board but may not include departures from number of signs, illumination standards, types of signs, dimensional requirements, or inconsistencies with code purposes.
- Community event signage requires submission of an Event Signage Plan depicting the location of each sign.
- Development agreements and unified site development plans can establish sign design standards for sites; permit applications consistent with such approved plans do not require additional design review.

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

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