# Sign Regulations in Long Beach, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Long Beach, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/long-beach
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Long Beach, Washington regulates 13 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the OT, OTW - each single business property zoning district are capped at No higher than roof line; see 12-14A-10 tall and Included in total sign allowance, with a Min 8' vertical clearance setback (Sec. 12-14-5; 12-14A-10). Most commercial signs in Long Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R1, R1R, S1 | 3 | 6 feet | 4 sq. ft. per side (residential lot) | — |
| R2, R2R, R3, R3R, S2 | 3 | 6 feet | 4 sq. ft. per side (residential lot) | — |
| S3, S3R, S3M, AC | 3 | 6 feet | For commercial: part of 100 sq. ft. per property; group sign: 24 sq. ft. max per street frontage | — |
| S4 | 1 | — | 4 sq. ft. | — |
| OT, OTW - each single business property | 7 | 48 inches per letter | 15 sq. ft. | — |
| OT, OTW - each multiple-tenant building | 7 | 48 inches per letter | 35 sq. ft. | — |
| OT, OTW - each multiple-building complex | 2 | 8 ft (OT), 12 ft (OTW) | Up to 75 sq. ft. (complex); 1 sq. ft. per foot of wall for each business | — |
| C1, C2, LI, RC - each single business property | 8 | 48 inches per letter | 100 sq. ft. (includes all sign types except where noted) | — |
| C1, C2, LI, RC - each multiple-tenant building | 2 | 16 ft | 175 sq. ft. | — |
| C1, C2, LI, RC - each multiple-building complex | 2 | 16 ft | 100 sq. ft.; individual business: 1 sq. ft. per linear foot of wall | — |
| P, PR | 4 | 16 ft | 100 sq. ft. per street frontage | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 42" within the vision triangle | 8 sq. ft. | — |
| L1 | 4 | 16 ft | 100 sq. ft. (includes all sign types except where separately identified) | — |
| RC | 5 | 16 ft | 100 sq. ft. (single business); see C1/C2 for multi-tenant/complex | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### OT, OTW - each single business property

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | as above (part of overall allocation) | — | — | — | Per street frontage | — | 12-14-5 Sign Matrix |
| Projecting Sign | No higher than roof line; see 12-14A-10 | Included in total sign allowance | — | Min 8' vertical clearance | 1 per occupancy along street frontage | Per street frontage with public entrance | — | 12-14-5; 12-14A-10 |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft (OT), 12 ft (OTW) | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On private property | — | 12-14-5 Sign Matrix; 12-14A-18 |
| Off Premises Sign | As allowed by allocation | As allowed by allocation | — | — | 1 per business | Placed on private property only, per 12-14A-8 | — | 12-14-5; 12-14A-8 |
| Wayfinding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Location per council approval | — | 12-14-5 Note 2; 12-14A-17 |
| Temporary Sign | — | Aggregate not to exceed total allocation | — | — | 1 per property | On property of event | — | 12-14-5; 12-14-10; 12-14A-12 |
| Individual Letter Sign | 48 inches per letter | 1/3 of facade; see formula in 12-14A-13 | — | — | One signable area per building frontage | Affixed to building | — | 12-14-5; 12-14A-13 |

### OT, OTW - each multiple-tenant building

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. per linear foot up to 150 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Per street frontage | — | 12-14-5 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | One per public entrance | — | — | 12-14-5; 12-14A-10 |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft (OT), 12 ft (OTW) | 35 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On site | — | 12-14-5; 12-14A-18 |
| Off Premises Sign | Subject to above | Subject to total sign allocation and freestanding sign limits | — | — | 1 per business | On private property | — | 12-14-5; 12-14A-8 |
| Wayfinding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12-14-5 Note 2; 12-14A-17 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. aggregate | — | — | 1 per property | On property of event | — | 12-14-10; 12-14A-12 |
| Individual Letter Sign | 48 inches per letter | 1/3 of facade; calculated as per 12-14A-13 | — | — | One per building frontage | Affixed to building | — | 12-14-5; 12-14A-13 |

### C1, C2, LI, RC - each single business property

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq. ft. (includes all sign types except where noted) | — | — | — | On building/parcel | — | 12-14-5 |
| Projecting Sign | Not above roof/facade | — | — | — | 1 per public entrance | On property building facade, per entrance | — | 12-14-5; 12-14A-10 |
| Freestanding Sign | 16 ft | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On property | — | 12-14-5; 12-14A-18 |
| Internally Illuminated Sign | — | Each sq. ft. counted as 2 sq. ft. towards total allocation | — | — | — | Facing Pacific Ave | — | 12-14-5 Note 1; 12-14A-6 |
| Off Premises Sign | — | As allowed by allocation | — | — | 1 per business | On private property | — | 12-14-5; 12-14A-8 |
| Wayfinding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12-14-5 Note 2; 12-14A-17 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. aggregate for temporary | — | — | 1 per property | On property | — | 12-14-5; 12-14-10; 12-14A-12 |
| Individual Letter Sign | 48 inches per letter | 1/3 of facade | — | — | One signable per building frontage | Affixed to building | — | 12-14A-13; 12-14-5 |

## Prohibited signs in Long Beach

- Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal, or device, or which obstruct or interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic.
- Signs encroaching upon or overhanging any street or public right of way, except as specifically provided in designated sections.
- No sign shall be attached to any utility pole, light standard, street tree, or any other public facility located within the public right of way.
- Signs that blink, flash or are animated by lighting in any fashion.
- Portable signs, except for temporary signs as specifically permitted.
- Advertising vehicles or any sign attached to, or placed on, a vehicle or trailer parked on any public or private property, unless the vehicle is primarily used for purposes other than advertising and meets certain additional conditions.
- Balloons, streamers, pennants, or pinwheels, except temporarily as part of a special sale, promotion or community event, not exceeding sixty days in any calendar year.
- Any sign constructed upon or attached to the roof of a building or structure, except as permitted for mansard roofs or fascias.
- Billboards.
- Inflatable signs.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Electrically activated changeable signs are prohibited.
- No sign other than an official traffic sign or similar sign shall be erected within two feet of the lines of any street, or within any public way, except as authorized in specific sections.
- No sign shall be illuminated except during the hours of operation of the business or until 10:00 P.M., whichever is later (with some exceptions).
- Off premises signs for home occupations are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Long Beach

- Official notices authorized by a court, public body, or public safety official.
- Directional, warning, or information signs authorized or required by federal, state, or municipal governments.
- Memorial plaques, building identification signs, and building cornerstones when cut or carved into a masonry surface or when made of noncombustible material and made an integral part of the building or structure.
- Flags of a government or noncommercial institution, such as a school.
- Religious symbols and seasonal decorations within the appropriate public holiday season.
- Nonelectrical street address signs, or combination nameplate and street address signs attached to a building, which contain no advertising copy and do not exceed six square feet in area.
- Historical markers.
- Signs visible through a window in the C1, C2, RC, OT, and OTW zones, provided the sign(s) do not occupy more than forty percent of the total window space facing any street.
- Kites and similar objects that do not include any advertising and are displayed in a fashion that complies with all other provisions of the chapter are not considered signs and are therefore exempt.
- Sponsorship signs placed on ball field fences during the season, subject to administrator approval as to size and design.
- Advertising of area activities or events sponsored by not-for-profit groups or organizations on changeable signs.
- One real estate sign per lot or frontage while the property is for sale, for up to thirty days following sale.
- Decorative features on buildings in place on January 1, 1975, if they are consistent with the community theme and maintained.
- Existing unique decorative features, declared exempt by city council, in place prior to January 1, 2000, and determined to be unique to city history.
- One property management sign (not to exceed two square feet per property) containing only the name and phone of a property management company for vacation rentals in specified residential zones, exempt from signage area requirement and with allowed mounting.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All single owner controlled multiple-occupancy nonresidential or mixed use development complexes on parcels exceeding two acres in size must submit a master sign plan to the planning commission for review and recommendation to the city council, prior to issuance of new sign permits and concurrently with the site plan/design review application.
- Applications for sign permits within a multiple-occupancy development complex must comply with the approved master sign plan.
- City council may modify or waive sign regulations related to a master sign plan if a superior design is achieved.
- A special permit (city council approval via planning commission recommendation) is required for master sign plans.
- A special permit from the planning commission is required for signs projecting over public walkways, except for those allowed as projecting/under canopy signs in designated sections.

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

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