# Sign Regulations in Longview, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Longview, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/longview
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-11
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Longview/#!/Longview16/Longview1613.html#16.13)

## At a glance

Longview, Washington regulates 52 sign types across 16 zoning districts. Electronic Message Center Sign (EMC)s in the Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), Traditional Neighborhood Residential (TNR) zoning district are capped at Monument: 8 ft; Fascia: 10 ft; Pole: 16 ft tall and 30 sq ft, with a 10 ft from lot line, 70 ft from any residential building; pole signs not within 30 ft of pavement edge setback (Sec. LMC 19.22.040(3)). Most commercial signs in Longview require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (16 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), Traditional Neighborhood Residential (TNR) | 11 | 42 in | 30 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Commerce (D-C) | 9 | 18 ft above grade | 75 sq ft per side, max 150 sq ft total | — |
| Country Club District (C-D) | 4 | — | 40 sq ft | — |
| County Event Center District (CEC) | 2 | — | — | — |
| Civic Center District (C-C) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Central Business District (CBD), Regional Commercial District (RC), General Commercial District (GC), Office/Commercial District (O/C) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (NC) | 4 | 16 ft | 100 sq ft total (no individual sign >75 sq ft); up to 2 per principal business | — |
| Riverfront District (RF-1) | 5 | 16 ft above grade | 75 sq ft per sign, max 2 per building | — |
| Light Industrial District (LI-A, LI-B), Heavy Industrial District (HI), Commercial/Industrial District (C/I) | 3 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft per sign | — |
| Manufacturing District (M-1-A, M-1, M-2) | 1 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft per sign | — |
| Recreational Vehicle Parks | 2 | — | — | — |
| Planned Unit Development | 6 | 42 in | 32 sq ft (temp), 10 ft high | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 36 in | 64 sq ft per street frontage (total); 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| General Commercial District (GC), Regional Commercial District (RC), Central Business District (CBD), Office/Commercial District (O/C) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Light Industrial District (LI-A, LI-B), Heavy Industrial District (HI), Commercial/Industrial District (C/I), Manufacturing District (M-1-A, M-1, M-2) | 3 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft per sign | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones (continued) | 5 | 36 in | 64 sq ft per street frontage (total), max 32 sq ft per sign, 2 per frontage | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 16 zones)

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), Traditional Neighborhood Residential (TNR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation | Attached to dwelling | — | LMC 19.22.030(1)(l) |
| Electronic Message Center Sign (EMC) | Monument: 8 ft; Fascia: 10 ft; Pole: 16 ft | 30 sq ft | — | 10 ft from lot line, 70 ft from any residential building; pole signs not within 30 ft of pavement edge | 1 per use | As attached/freestanding per type | — | LMC 19.22.040(3) |
| School/Church Wall Sign | — | Unlimited in size, if attached to principal building | — | — | Up to 2 attached | Principal building | — | LMC 19.22.040(5) |
| School/Church Freestanding Sign | — | 30 sq ft (school campus: 80 sq ft) | — | 10 ft from lot line | — | On premises | — | LMC 19.22.040(5) |
| Duplex/Triplex/Fourplex/Townhouse Freestanding Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development/entrance | Development/entrance | — | LMC 19.22.040(6) |
| Multifamily Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development | Development site | — | LMC 19.22.040(7) |
| Multifamily Directional/Informational Sign | 42 in | 5 sq ft | — | — | 2 per project | On premises | — | LMC 19.22.040(7) |
| Nonresidential Use Freestanding Sign (R-3, R-4 only) | 8 ft | 30 sq ft or 2 @ 20 sq ft (if corner site) | — | — | 1 or 2 (corner lots) | On premises, not over ROW | — | LMC 19.22.040(8)(b) |

### Downtown Commerce (D-C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Signs (Aggregate) | — | See formula | — | — | — | Building frontage/occupancy | — | LMC 19.46.060(1) |
| Wall Sign | 18 ft above grade | — | — | — | Limited by sign area aggregate | Any elevation | — | LMC 19.46.060(2)(j) |
| Projecting Sign | 18 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face (except bracket: 6 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per entrance | Projecting over sidewalk | — | LMC 19.46.060(2)(g) |
| Freestanding Sign | 18 ft | 75 sq ft per side, max 150 sq ft total | — | — | 1 per business frontage (limits apply) | On premises (not over ROW) | — | LMC 19.46.060(2)(d) |
| Awning, Canopy, Marquee Sign | 18 ft | Subject to aggregate | — | — | No stated limit (subject to aggregate area) | On awning/canopy/marquee, must meet max height | — | LMC 19.46.060(2)(a) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 6.5 ft (when set at angle), min 30 in | 6 sq ft | 30 in | — | 1 per street frontage per business | Sidewalk in front of or within 15 ft of entrance | — | LMC 19.46.060(2)(i) |
| Directional Sign | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance/exit | Entrance/exit driveways | — | LMC 19.46.060(2)(b) |
| Temporary Promotional Sign | 18 ft | Aggregate: 20% of building frontage elevation, total max 150 sq ft | — | — | — | On building/temporary structures | — | LMC 19.46.060(4)(a) |

### Planned Unit Development

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Model Home Sign | 42 in | 12 sq ft, height 42 in | — | — | 2 per model home | At each model home | — | LMC 19.80.130(11)(f) |
| Subdivision Entry Sign (20+ lots) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft (temp), 10 ft high | — | Not within 50 ft of existing residence property line | 1 per subdivision | Vacant lot at/near entrance | — | LMC 19.80.130(11)(k) |
| Subdivision Entry Sign (4-19 lots) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft (temp), 10 ft high | — | Not within 50 ft of existing residence property line | 1 per subdivision | Vacant lot at/near entrance | — | LMC 19.80.130(12) |
| Temporary Construction/Service Sign | 36 in | 8 sq ft, 36 in high | — | Not within 50 ft of residence | 1 per professional service/lot | On lot in subdivision under construction | — | LMC 19.80.130(11)(k), (12) |
| Subdivision Entry Sign (4–19 lots) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft (temp); 10 ft high | — | Not within 50 ft of residence property line | 1 per subdivision | Vacant lot at/near entrance | — | LMC 19.80.130(12) |
| Temporary Construction/Service Sign | 36 in | 8 sq ft; 36 in high | — | 50 ft from residence | 1 per lot | Lot under construction | — | LMC 19.80.130(11)(k),(12) |

## Prohibited signs in Longview

- No person shall erect, maintain, alter, repair, remove, use, or continue to use any sign not permitted by Chapter 16.13, Chapter 16.40, or exempt under section 1503.
- The following signs are prohibited throughout the city: (1) Signs which bear or contain statements, words, or pictures appealing to prurient interest in sex or are patently offensive; (2) Signs resembling any regulatory sign used by governmental entities; (3) Signs or advertising devices located on pedestrian benches containing off-premises advertising or copy; (4) Signs attached to, painted on, or otherwise a part of any vehicle parked or left standing on private property for over 48 hours that advertise a business not on that property (except Temporary Political Signs); (6) Signs utilizing search lights, laser lights, revolving or rotating beams of light, or stroboscopes; (7) Signs using flames or open fire as an illumination source; (8) Signs designed or used for emitting sound or dispersing smells; (9) Awning signs projecting over or under the face/valance of the awning; (10) Signs affixed to trees, shrubs, rocks, or any other natural object.
- All signs and sign structural members shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, except as specifically allowed by exceptions.
- Signs identifying or directing attention to a closed, abandoned, or relocated business, service, or profession which has not been removed or obliterated within 30 days are considered a public nuisance.
- No person shall erect, maintain, alter, remove, or allow the continued use of any sign not permitted, or not exempt, or not in compliance with the relevant codes.
- Any sign (except certain exceptions) which does not conform to the chapter, and is not a legal nonconforming sign, is subject to removal or brought into conformance under specific conditions.
- Prohibited for all signs: use of sound devices or dispersal of smell, flames, open fires, or features that create a traffic safety hazard or confusion with official signage.
- No billboards or outdoor advertising structures shall be constructed outside the specified manufacturing districts; maximum size is 300 sq ft; no electronic, moving, or flashing faces on billboards.

## Signs exempt from permit in Longview

- Informational signs placed by the City of Longview or by the State of Washington in the publicly owned right-of-way.
- Memorial tablets, cornerstones, or similar plaques.
- Official national, state, or local government flags.
- Religious symbols not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area.
- Historical and landmark signs (subject to review and issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness by Historic Preservation Commission for signs up to 30 sq ft area and less than six feet above grade).
- Window displays of merchandise not affixed to the window surface, located inside the business, not involving search lights, laser lights, revolving/rotating beams of light or stroboscopes.
- Building or street address numbers, not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Affiliation signs for auto-related uses, motels, and hotels (notices of service or trade affiliation, credit cards, etc.), attached to otherwise approved freestanding sign/structure, not exceeding 1/2 sq ft each (max six per business).
- Names of structures or buildings, commemorative plaques, tablets, or dates of construction, carved in or made of permanent material and mounted on a structure (maximum four sq ft area and six feet height, unless exempt as existing building name signs of historic nature).
- Billboards as provided in LMC Chapter 16.40.
- Temporary Political Signs, subject to provisions of section 1403.
- Temporary Neighborhood Signs, subject to provisions of section 1404.
- Temporary Construction Signs, subject to provisions of section 1405.
- Temporary Real Estate Signs, subject to provisions of section 1406.
- Historically significant signs declared exempt by Resolution of the City Council.
- Wayfinding signs as approved by the Appeal Board of Adjustment.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For installation, erection, re-erection, construction, alteration or maintenance of a sign, a permit and associated plan review are required; the plan review fee for sign installation, erection, re-erection, construction, or alteration is 70% of the permit fee (Sec. 304).
- Applications for Master/Sign plans, plot plans, or similar (such as for outdoor advertising structures/billboards) must be accompanied by a drawing to scale of the proposed sign and a plot plan showing proposed location and nearby features (16.40.060).
- Submittal and approval of a sign plot plan required for billboards and advertising structures; approval includes review of location, scale drawing, and plot plan showing existing adjacent buildings, street intersections, and adjacent sign structures within a 600 foot radius.
- A plan review is required for sign permits as specified in 16.13.015 and 16.13.020.
- Nonconforming signs which are structurally altered, relocated, or replaced shall be brought into conformance, and sign face changes that do not increase nonconformity may require review except for cases specifically excluded.
- The Appeal Board of Adjustment has authority to review and approve wayfinding signs via Special Property Use permits, which may involve a form of sign plan or design review process.
- Approval of a sign permit, associated plot plan, or detailed location drawing is a prerequisite for installation of most permanent and many temporary signs.
- Subdivision, short subdivision, or binding site plan applications that propose signage typically require submission of a signage plan in the associated application package (cross-references: LMC 19.80.110, 19.80.140, 19.90.040).
- Temporary sign plans for farmers’ markets in residential districts require annual submission and approval as part of the market's operating standards (19.42.040).

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/longview