# Sign Regulations in Lynden, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lynden, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/lynden
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-05
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WA/Lynden/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT19ZO_CH19.33SI)

## At a glance

Lynden, Washington regulates 25 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Monument - Directory in Complex)s in the Historic business, commercial business and public use districts (HBD, CSL, PU zones) zoning district are capped at 5 ft + 1 ft for each business (max 17 ft) tall, 80 sq ft, and 10 ft wide, with a 1 ft per ft of sign height >5 ft setback (Sec. 19.33.060(G)(2), (B)(4)). Most commercial signs in Lynden require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |
| Residential districts (RS, RM zones) | 6 | 5 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Historic business district (HBD) | 6 | 7 ft (but must not extend higher than nearby roof or cornice line) | 16 sq ft | — |
| Historic business, commercial business and public use districts (HBD, CSL, PU zones) | 11 | Directory monument: 5 ft + 1 ft per business, max 17 ft. | 150 sq ft per wall | — |
| Commercial business districts (RCS, CS-3 zones) | 12 | 25 ft standard; 35 ft allowed if 100–300 ft from state highway right-of-way | 150 sq ft (any one sign) | — |
| Industrial districts (ID, IBZ zones) | 8 | 5 ft for monument + 1 ft/business (max 10 ft for multi-complex); 17 ft for other freestanding signs | 150 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential districts (RS, RM zones)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Identification) | 5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One wall-mounted identification sign per street frontage | — | 19.33.050(A)(1), (3), (E) |
| Temporary Yard Sign | 5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Yard | — | 19.33.050(A)(1), (C)(3) |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Wall of home occupation | — | 19.33.050(A)(3), (E) |
| Wall Sign (Multifamily Complex/Subdivision) | 5 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 19.33.050(A)(2), (B) |
| Identification Sign (Government/School/Church) | 5 ft (unless increased by conditional use permit, then CSL standards apply) | 24 sq ft (ID sign) + 16 sq ft (reader board, must be incorporated in main sign structure) | — | — | 1 ID sign + 1 reader board | — | — | 19.33.050(A)(4), (B) |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent) | 5 ft | — | — | 5 ft inside property lines | — | Monument or pole sign mounted on two poles placed at the outermost sides of sign face | — | 19.33.050(C)(1)-(4), (E) |

### Historic business, commercial business and public use districts (HBD, CSL, PU zones)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directory Sign (Multiple-Business Complex) | Directory monument: 5 ft + 1 ft per business, max 17 ft. | 80 sq ft | 10 ft | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | 19.33.060(A)(2), (B)(4), (G)(2) |
| Directory Sign (Multiple-Tenant Building) | — | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On building | — | 19.33.060(A)(3) |
| Outdoor Business Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | For businesses operating outdoors w/o building | — | 19.33.060(A)(4) |
| Identification Sign (Government/School/Church) | — | 36 sq ft (ID sign) + 24 sq ft (reader board) | — | — | 1 ID + 1 reader board | — | — | 19.33.060(A)(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument, Single/Multi-Tenant) | Single/Multi-tenant monument: 5 ft; Directory monument: 5 ft + 1 ft per business (max 17 ft). | 80 sq ft | — | Setback 1 ft per ft height in excess of 5 ft. All signs min 5 ft from property line. | 1 per building | CSL/PU zones: one per building; HBD: see separate standards. | — | 19.33.060(G)(1)-(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument - Directory in Complex) | 5 ft + 1 ft for each business (max 17 ft) | 80 sq ft | 10 ft | 1 ft per ft of sign height >5 ft | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | 19.33.060(G)(2), (B)(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 32 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per main entry | May project max 4 ft; clear min 8 ft above sidewalk; min 6 in from wall. | — | 19.33.060(E) |
| Reader Board Sign | — | 75% of sign area, or 30 sq ft (whichever is less) | — | — | — | Incorporated into main sign | — | 19.33.060(I) |

### Commercial business districts (RCS, CS-3 zones)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Sign (Wall or Freestanding) | — | 150 sq ft (any one sign) | — | — | — | — | — | 19.33.063(A)(1), (6) |
| Directory Sign (Multiple-Business Complex) | — | 80 sq ft | 10 ft | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | 19.33.063(A)(2) |
| Directory Sign (Multiple-Tenant Building) | — | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | 19.33.063(A)(3) |
| Identification Sign (Government/School/Church) | — | 36 sq ft (ID sign) + 24 sq ft (reader board) | — | — | 1 ID + 1 reader board | — | — | 19.33.063(A)(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Single/Multi-Tenant) | 25 ft standard; 35 ft allowed if 100–300 ft from state highway right-of-way | 150 sq ft (if only one sign); 100 sq ft (if more than one sign, each must be of equal size and shape) | — | Setback: 1 ft per ft height excess of 5 ft; all at least 5 ft from property line. | 1 per 60 ft frontage | 1 per 60 ft of frontage | — | 19.33.063(F)(1)-(6), (B)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Directory Monument for Multiple-Business Complex) | — | 80 sq ft | 10 ft | Setback: 1 ft per ft of height excess of 5 ft; min 5 ft from property line. | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | 19.33.063(F)(2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 32 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per main entry | May project no more than 4 ft; minimum 8 ft clearance above sidewalk; 6 in from wall. | — | 19.33.063(D) |
| Reader Board Sign | — | 75% of sign area, or 30 sq ft (whichever is less) | — | — | — | Part of overall signage | — | 19.33.063(G) |

## Prohibited signs in Lynden

- No sign shall be erected, caused to be erected, or allowed to remain erected except in compliance with all regulations established in this chapter.
- No owner or lessee shall knowingly allow any sign to be erected on their property in violation of this chapter.
- No person shall take any action intending to, or having the effect of, circumventing the purpose and intent of this chapter.
- All signs must be designed and constructed to meet Uniform Building Code and Lynden Municipal Code requirements. Electrified signs must comply with the National Electrical Code.
- Signs may not create a safety hazard for pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- No sign shall obstruct rights-of-way or be placed within the clear vision triangle at intersections.
- No sign shall cause hazardous glare to motorists or pedestrians.
- Prohibited signs include: abandoned signs; bench signs on or within thirty feet of the public right-of-way; new billboards; flashing, revolving, or any other moving signs (except clocks or permitted devices); off-premises signs (unless specifically exempted); off-premises real estate signs in the historic business district; portable reader board signs (with exceptions, never in historic business district); roof-mounted signs or signs painted directly on a roof; signs resembling or conflicting with traffic-control signs or devices; signs larger than two square feet attached to or placed on a vehicle or trailer (with exceptions); signs attached to utility poles or traffic signs; signs within the public right-of-way (except specific community/kiosk/overhang as authorized); signs in city-designated buffer zones or greenbelts (except park/trail/informational signs); streamers or inflatable objects (except for special events, must be removed within 24 hours, outside historic business district); laser lights.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lynden

- Fundraising signs for public construction projects/nonprofit/religious campaigns (specific size/time limits, max 6/year).
- Real estate signs (one per parcel, size limits, timely removal after sale).
- On-premises or on-vehicle incidental signs not exceeding two square feet each.
- On-premises directional signs not exceeding six square feet with no advertising.
- Political signs on private property (size/time limits).
- Temporary construction signs (max 32 sq ft, max one year, remove after completion).
- Traffic, directional, or informational signs lawfully installed or required by a government entity.
- Signs not intended to be viewed/readable from a public right-of-way.
- Window merchandise displays.
- Flags of US, state, city, county, foreign nation, or sanctioned flags (subject to size/pole height/protocol).
- Decorative banners (max five per premises, consistency/theme requirements, displayed at least six months).
- Legal notices required by law.
- Barber poles.
- Grave markers.
- Incidental, nonilluminated signs on small community service structures (phone booths, transit shelters, recycle/used goods containers).
- Incidental, nonilluminated signs (max three per storefront).
- Nonilluminated informational signs affixed to motor fuel pumps (max two sq ft, no advertising).
- Temporary signs (max 30 days, max two up at once per business, includes banners/hanging/freestanding/temporary window lettering/searchlights with duration limits).
- Lettering or symbols painted or magnetically mounted on operable vehicles in normal business use (none above vehicle roof, except vehicles for hire).
- Signs attached to buses/taxis for hire.
- One nonilluminated bulletin board (max 12 sq ft) for each public/charitable/religious institution on premises.
- Grand opening/going out of business signs (no sign permit; area/height/type/placement limits suspended up to 90 days, subject to time/occasion restrictions, one event per 12 months; other regulations remain).
- Mural signs within the historic business district in existence at the ordinance's effective date.
- Nonilluminated religious symbols mounted on church premises.
- On-premises, directional signs for churches, schools, and government offices (max 8 sq ft, sandwich board, portable, not in public right-of-way).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All permanent signs subject to design review must obtain approval from the Design Review Board (DRB) before a sign permit may be issued. This includes all replacement signs.
- Permit applications must include a site plan showing location of lot, buildings, and signs (existing and proposed), and a scale drawing of each proposed sign or revision, among other documentation.
- The Design Review Board must approve freestanding signs in residential districts and sandwich board signs in the historic business district.
- Monument sign placement alternatives may be approved by the city planner as part of a streetscape improvement plan and planned unit development.
- Approval of plans by building official and, where required, the Design Review Board is required before a permit is issued.
- Mural signs require prior recommendation of the Design Review Board and approval of the city council.
- Variances from requirements require application, Design Review Board review (public notice, written findings), and may be appealed to city council.

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

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