# Sign Regulations in Lacey, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lacey, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/lacey
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-17
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://lacey.municipal.codes/LMC/16.75)

## At a glance

Lacey, Washington regulates 34 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Temporary Sign - Constructions in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 32 sq. ft., with a 10 ft from property line (all zones); 30 ft from abutting owner in non-single-family zones, 10 ft in single-family residential zones setback (Sec. LMC 16.75.100(A)). Most commercial signs in Lacey require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 18 | 13 ft | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Zones: McAllister Springs Geologically Sensitive Area Residential District, Low-Density Residential, Lacey Historical Neighborhood, Moderate-Density Residential, High-Density Residential - HD, LD, MD, SHORES | 6 | 5 ft | 18 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed Use Zones: Mixed Use Moderate Density Corridor, Mixed Use High Density Corridor - MHDC, MMDC | 8 | 5 ft | 15 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial and Office Zones: Hawks Prairie District (HPBD-BC, HPBD-C), Village Center - V(U)C, Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Community Commercial (CCD), General Commercial (GC), Central Business Districts 4-7 (CBD-4, CBD-5, CBD-6, CBD-7), Woodland District (WD), Community Office (CO) | 10 | 30 ft | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| Agricultural - AG | 8 | 5 ft | 15 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial Zones: Light Industrial/Commercial (LI-C), Light Industrial (LI), Industrial (I), Mineral Extraction (ME), Planned Industrial Park Development (overlay) - PIPD | 8 | 5 ft | 15 sq. ft. | — |
| Institutional Zones: Saint Martin’s University (SMU), Open Space/Institutional (OS-I), Cemetery | 4 | 5 ft | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Overlay Zones: Environmentally Sensitive Areas (overlay), Limited Zone (overlay) | 8 | 5 ft | 15 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Construction | 10 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from property line (all zones); 30 ft from abutting owner in non-single-family zones, 10 ft in single-family residential zones | 1 per public street frontage | On the construction site | — | LMC 16.75.100(A) |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event Public | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | As needed | Private property; not in ROW, on poles or utility facilities | — | LMC 16.75.100(C)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate Residential For Sale/Sold | 7 ft | 5 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Wholly on property for sale | — | LMC 16.75.100(D)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate Residential Open House Directional | — | 5 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 on site + 3 (or 4) off-site | 1 on premises + off-premises | — | LMC 16.75.100(D)(2) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate Undeveloped Commercial/Industrial For Sale/Rent | 7 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property | — | LMC 16.75.100(D)(3) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate Developed Commercial/Industrial For Sale/Rent | 7 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | Freestanding >15 ft from abutting property or ROW | 1 per street frontage | On building or window if face <10 ft from building line; freestanding otherwise | — | LMC 16.75.100(D)(4) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate Undeveloped Residential For Sale | 7 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | >30 ft from abutting owner | 1 per street frontage | On property | — | LMC 16.75.100(D)(5) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 9 sq. ft. per side | 3 ft | — | 1 per business | No further than 12 ft from business entrance; not in vision triangle or impeding traffic/sidewalks (5 ft clearance for pedestrians); for multi-tenant exception, in ROW with 5 ft clearance | — | LMC 16.75.100(H) |

### Mixed Use Zones: Mixed Use Moderate Density Corridor, Mixed Use High Density Corridor - MHDC, MMDC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | 5 ft from ROW | 1 per frontage + additional per separation | Private property | — | LMC 16.75.080(A) |
| Wall Sign | Not above parapet/roof | — | 2/3 storefront | — | 1 per facade + smaller | Attached to wall <=12 in projection | — | LMC 16.75.080(B) |
| Internal Wayfinding Sign | 5 ft | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | As needed | Internal walkways/landscape, no impede movement | — | LMC 16.75.080(F) |
| Marquee/Awning Sign | — | — | 2/3 awning width | — | 1 per facade + additional | On/above/below marquee or under awning | — | LMC 16.75.080(C) |
| Projecting Sign - Horizontal | 3 ft | — | — | — | 1 per facade; departures for additional smaller | Attached projecting >12 in, facing street | — | LMC 16.75.080(D) |
| Projecting Sign - Vertical Single-Story | Not above roofline | — | — | — | 1 per facade; multiple banners if aligned | Attached projecting >12 in, facing street | — | LMC 16.75.080(D) |
| Projecting Sign - Vertical Multi-Story | Not above roofline (except theaters/hotels/large retail/public assembly) | — | — | — | 1 per facade | Attached projecting >12 in, facing street | — | LMC 16.75.080(D) |
| Under-Canopy Sign | 2 ft | — | — | — | 1 per facade or entrance | Under awning/marquee/canopy, perpendicular to storefront | — | LMC 16.75.080(E) |

### Commercial and Office Zones: Hawks Prairie District (HPBD-BC, HPBD-C), Village Center - V(U)C, Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Community Commercial (CCD), General Commercial (GC), Central Business Districts 4-7 (CBD-4, CBD-5, CBD-6, CBD-7), Woodland District (WD), Community Office (CO)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | 5 ft from ROW | 1 per frontage + additional per separation | Private property | — | LMC 16.75.080(A) |
| Freestanding Sign - Large Shopping Center | 30 ft | 300 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft from lines/ROW | 1 | On site | — | LMC 16.75.080(A)(9) |
| Freestanding Sign - Freeway-Oriented | 30 ft | 300 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft from lines/ROW | 1 per 1100 ft, max 3 | Visible from freeway | — | LMC 16.75.080(A)(10) |
| Wall Sign | Not above parapet/roof | — | 2/3 storefront | — | 1 per facade + smaller | Attached to wall <=12 in projection | — | LMC 16.75.080(B) |
| Marquee/Awning Sign | — | — | 2/3 awning width | — | 1 per facade + additional | On/above/below marquee or under awning | — | LMC 16.75.080(C) |
| Projecting Sign - Horizontal | 3 ft | — | — | — | 1 per facade; departures for additional smaller | Attached projecting >12 in, facing street | — | LMC 16.75.080(D) |
| Projecting Sign - Vertical Single-Story | Not above roofline | — | — | — | 1 per facade; multiple banners if aligned | Attached projecting >12 in, facing street | — | LMC 16.75.080(D) |
| Internal Wayfinding Sign | 5 ft | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | As needed | Internal walkways/landscape, no impede movement | — | LMC 16.75.080(F) |

## Prohibited signs in Lacey

- Any temporary or permanent freestanding sign located within or projecting over a city right-of-way or within five feet of a city right-of-way (except sandwich board signs and feather signs meeting specific provisions)
- Any sign attached to any public utility pole, structure or street light, tree, fence, fire hydrant, bridge, curb, sidewalk, park bench, statue, memorial, or other location on public property (except approved special event signs or city-permitted banner signs on light poles)
- Any sign which, by reason of its location, will obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal, or other traffic control device or which by reason of shape, color, or position interferes with or could be confused with any authorized traffic signal or device
- Any sign that interferes with safe sight distance at an intersection
- Any sign which is placed so as to prevent or inhibit free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or any exit way required by the Building and/or Fire Code
- Any commercial, advertising, or business sign that is not located on the premises of the business to which it refers
- Signs located on roofs (except where placed in an architectural space incorporated into the roof design via departure and not projecting higher than the roof peak)
- Any sign mounted, attached, or painted on a trailer, boat, or motor vehicle when parked, stored, or displayed conspicuously on private premises in a manner intended to attract attention for advertising (excludes permanently affixed business vehicle signs that are operable and lawfully parked)
- Any digital sign except those integrated into freestanding signs per specific standards
- Any sign or lighting device visible from public right-of-way with intermittent, flashing, rotating, blinking or strobe light illumination
- Any sign with an exposed light source (except neon incorporated into the sign design)
- Any sign which emits sound, odor, smoke, laser or hologram lights, or other visible matter, including motion picture projection
- Any animated sign, including fixed aerial displays, balloons, pennants, spinners, strings of flags, streamers, tubes, or devices affected by air or mechanical means (except for grand opening displays or special event signage)
- Any sign where the sign body or portion rotates, moves up and down, or changes position mechanically (except for grand opening displays or special event signage)
- Changeable copy signs (except exempt signs or those in freestanding signs per specific integration standards)
- Mannequins holding a sign or displaying advertising, whether stationary or animated
- Mobile signs
- Strings of banners, pennants, and other graffiti-like material
- Freestanding signs except where specifically permitted
- Billboards

## Signs exempt from permit in Lacey

- Flags, emblems or insignias of a nation, governmental unit, or nonprofit organization (subject to their guidelines; flag poles require building permit and height limits)
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, stained glass windows, and dates of erection when cut into the building surface or facade or projecting not more than two inches
- Traffic or other municipal signs, signs required by law or emergency, railroad crossing signs, legal notices, and temporary or nonadvertising signs authorized by city council policy
- Signs of public utility companies indicating danger, aiding public safety, showing underground facilities, or public telephones
- Flush mounted wall signs identifying name and address of dwelling occupants, not exceeding two square feet
- Signs located in the interior of buildings or enclosed lobbies/courts, designed and located to be viewed exclusively by patrons
- Decorations or signs incidental and customary to national, local, or religious holidays
- Painting, repainting, or cleaning of advertising structures or changing copy/message without structural change
- Sculptures, fountains, mosaics, and design features without advertising or identification
- 'No trespassing,' 'no dumping,' 'no parking,' 'private' signs, and informational warning signs (e.g., restrooms, entrance, exit, telephone) not exceeding three square feet
- Directional signs erected by the city on arterial streets to public, civic, or nonprofit facilities (subject to director of public works discretion and city design guidelines; may include commercial areas or tourist sites per wayfinding program)
- Kiosks and informational signs along internal walkways designed for pedestrian viewing, not functioning as advertising to motorists

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For freestanding signs associated with multi-tenant commercial centers or individual nonresidential uses over 5,000 square feet, a photo simulation from at least two prominent public viewpoints is required
- Departures to sign design standards (e.g., larger freestanding signs up to 50% greater area/height, roof-mounted signs in architectural spaces, additional projecting signs, larger wall signs without internal lighting) require voluntary application, administrative review per Development Guidelines Section 1C (may be referred to hearing examiner), demonstration of meeting specific approval criteria, and written decision with findings
- For digital signage integration in freestanding signs, applicants must submit a program describing how it meets standards (e.g., dwell time, brightness limits, light trespass)
- For freeway-oriented business signs or large shopping center signs over 30 acres and 350,000 sq ft, departures to size/height require demonstration of distinctive design, dark background with light lettering, and visibility needs from I-5
- For multi-tenant centers, feather signs or sandwich board signs in public ROW require permit and meet spacing/clearance standards
- Visualizations using photos, Google Earth, or street view are required for certain freestanding signs to determine compliance

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

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