# Sign Regulations in Marysville, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Marysville, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/marysville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-04
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Marysville/#!/html/Marysville22C/Marysville22C160.html)

## At a glance

Marysville, Washington regulates 18 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Sign - Residential Subdivision/Multifamily Entrances in the Medium Density Single-Family (R-4.5), High Density Single-Family (R-6.5), High Density Single-Family, Small Lot (R-8), Whiskey Ridge, High Density Single-Family (WR-R-4-8), Low Density Multiple-Family (R-12), Medium Density Multiple-Family (R-18), High Density Multiple-Family (R-28), Whiskey Ridge, Medium Density Multiple-Family (WR-R-6-18), Residential Mobile Home Park (R-MHP) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft per face (or 2 × 16 sq ft single-faced), with a Outside public right-of-way; does not create obstruction setback (Sec. MMC 22C.160.150(7)). Most commercial signs in Marysville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Medium Density Single-Family (R-4.5), High Density Single-Family (R-6.5), High Density Single-Family, Small Lot (R-8), Whiskey Ridge, High Density Single-Family (WR-R-4-8), Low Density Multiple-Family (R-12), Medium Density Multiple-Family (R-18), High Density Multiple-Family (R-28), Whiskey Ridge, Medium Density Multiple-Family (WR-R-6-18), Residential Mobile Home Park (R-MHP) | 5 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per face (or 2 × 16 sq ft single-faced) | — |
| Neighborhood Business (NB), Community Business (CB), Community Business – Whiskey Ridge (CB-WR), General Commercial (GC), Downtown Commercial (DTC), Downtown Core (DC), Main Street (MS), Flex (F), Mixed Use (MU), Flex Residential (FR), Light Industrial (LI), Light Industrial with General Commercial Overlay (LI-GC), General Industrial (GI), Recreation (REC), Public/Institutional (P/I) | 8 | Per letter: 12 in | 200 sq ft per street frontage; 75 sq ft per face | — |
| Downtown Master Plan Area, East Sunnyside – Whiskey Ridge Subarea, Smokey Point Master Plan Area, Lakewood Neighborhood Master Plan Area, Mixed Use – Special District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Small Farms Overlay Zone (SF) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Adult Facilities Overlay Zone (-AF) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | Up to 8 sq ft for address/occupant; up to 2 sq ft for house #/apartment ID; others per type | — |

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

### Medium Density Single-Family (R-4.5), High Density Single-Family (R-6.5), High Density Single-Family, Small Lot (R-8), Whiskey Ridge, High Density Single-Family (WR-R-4-8), Low Density Multiple-Family (R-12), Medium Density Multiple-Family (R-18), High Density Multiple-Family (R-28), Whiskey Ridge, Medium Density Multiple-Family (WR-R-6-18), Residential Mobile Home Park (R-MHP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Residential Use | — | Individual sign: 8 sq ft (nonelectric, occupant/address) or 3 sq ft for home occupation, day care, or adult family home | — | Min 5 ft from all property lines unless attached to a fence; no extension above the fence height. | 1 per home occupation/day care/adult family home; no explicit limit for allowed address/occupant signage | On dwelling; wall sign, or mounted to a fence (if not exceeding fence height) | — | MMC 22C.160.080, 22C.160.150(3), (9) |
| Monument Sign - Residential Subdivision/Multifamily Entrance | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per face (or 2 × 16 sq ft single-faced) | — | Outside public right-of-way; does not create obstruction | 1 per entrance | At each entrance to subdivision or multifamily development | — | MMC 22C.160.150(7) |
| Monument Sign - Park, Community Center, Library, Church, School (existing, not reviewed via conditional use) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | Outside public ROW; must not cause obstruction | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | MMC 22C.160.150(8) |
| Wall Sign - Park, Community Center, Library, Church, School (existing, not reviewed via conditional use) | — | 32 sq ft permanent wall signage on primary and secondary frontages | — | — | Max wall sign area per frontage | Building wall | — | MMC 22C.160.150(8); 22C.160.160 |
| Temporary Signs (Residential Zone) | 6 ft (ground-mounted), 3 ft (stake-mounted/portable); up to 8 ft if >2 acres | 8 sq ft for window or yard signs; up to 32 sq ft (site > 2 acres or by permit) | — | — | Not specified; cumulative area limits apply | In window, yard; not in required parking/drives/sight distance triangles | — | MMC 22C.160.260(1)(g), (i), (j) |

### Neighborhood Business (NB), Community Business (CB), Community Business – Whiskey Ridge (CB-WR), General Commercial (GC), Downtown Commercial (DTC), Downtown Core (DC), Main Street (MS), Flex (F), Mixed Use (MU), Flex Residential (FR), Light Industrial (LI), Light Industrial with General Commercial Overlay (LI-GC), General Industrial (GI), Recreation (REC), Public/Institutional (P/I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Commercial, Industrial, Mixed-Use, Civic | — | No less than 32 sq ft per tenant, up to calculated maximum | — | — | Multiple allowed so long as total does not exceed zone allowance | Primary or secondary frontage; with director approval, on visible side/rear walls with nonilluminated individual letters | — | MMC 22C.160.160 and general design standards 22C.020.340 |
| Freestanding Sign - Commercial/Industrial/etc. | Per zone (Table 1): NB/REC 4 ft, CB/GC/LI/GI/LI-GC/P/I 25 ft, CB-WR/REC 12 ft, DTC 12 ft, DC/MS/F/Flex 6 ft, MU 12 ft | 200 sq ft per street frontage; 75 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft min, sight distance review at intersections/driveways | See formula (per frontage/access restrictions) | On private property, minimum setback 5 ft from property line, not in or over ROW | — | MMC 22C.160.170 Table 1, (11), (7)-(11), 22C.020.340(1) |
| Electronic Message/Changeable Copy Sign | Per maximum allowed for sign type/zoning | No more than 30% of sign face area | — | As per base sign standard | 1 per street frontage, 1 extra if multi-occupancy and >150 ft apart | Integral to permanent wall or freestanding sign construction | — | MMC 22C.160.180 |
| Temporary Signs (Commercial/Industrial/Nonresidential Zones) | 6 ft (ground mounted), 3 ft (stake/portable); up to 8 ft for >2 acres | Window: max 25% of window area; Freestanding/surface-mount: 8 sq ft max, 6 ft high (ground-mounted), 3 ft (stake/portable). On lots >2 acres or by permit: 32 sq ft, 8 ft max. | — | — | Not specified; cumulative limit by site area or window % | Not within required parking/drive/sight triangles; not in ROW (unless per ROW rules) | — | MMC 22C.160.260(1)(h)-(i)-(j) |
| Projecting Sign | 3 ft (horiz.), not above parapet/eave/roof (vert.) | — | 8 ft projection (horiz.); 3 ft (vert. or square) | — | — | Commercial uses facing a street; above sidewalk only (not extending past curb) | — | MMC 22C.160.210 |
| Marquee/Awning Sign | — | See formula: up to 200% of marquee height, not more than 2/3 marquee width/20 ft; awning sign max 80% of vertical edge, or 2 ft on sloping part, width not to exceed 2/3 of awning/20 ft | — | — | — | On/above awning, marquee/canopy | — | MMC 22C.160.220 |
| Under-Canopy Sign | 2 ft high | — | — | — | — | Perpendicular, under awning/canopy/arcade, min 1 ft setback from edge and facade, min 8 ft clearance | — | MMC 22C.160.230 |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | Per letter: 12 in | 25% window area | — | — | — | First floor windows of commercial uses with dedicated ground floor entrance | — | MMC 22C.160.200 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Instructional Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign (exempt under 8 sq ft, or per code) | — | — | — | On-site only | — | MMC 22C.160.080(4); 22C.160.190 |
| Exempt Signs - General List | — | Up to 8 sq ft for address/occupant; up to 2 sq ft for house #/apartment ID; others per type | — | — | — | Varies; most allowed on private property only | — | MMC 22C.160.080 |

## Prohibited signs in Marysville

- Billboards are prohibited and must be removed per the amortization schedule (22C.160.070(1), 22C.160.280).
- Animated, revolving, or rotating signs are prohibited (except clock hands, permitted electronic message signs, and barber poles) (22C.160.070(2)).
- Roof signs are prohibited (22C.160.070(3)).
- Internally illuminated cabinet or box signs (including changeable copy) are prohibited (22C.160.070(4)).
- Signs creating safety hazards for vehicles or pedestrians are prohibited (22C.160.070(5)).
- No signs located in or on the public right-of-way (22C.160.070(6)), unless allowed for projecting wall signs or permitted temporary signs.
- Temporary signs not meeting the requirements of 22C.160.260 are prohibited (22C.160.070(7)).
- Signs on utility poles, street lights, traffic standards, or trees are prohibited (except government/utility signs) (22C.160.070(8)).
- Signs not meeting this chapter’s requirements, nonconforming signs, signs installed without a permit, and abandoned signs are prohibited (22C.160.070(9)).
- Displays of banners, festoons, flags, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of lights, strobe/glare lights, flares, balloons, bubble machines, and similar devices are prohibited if visible off-site, except for temporary use as allowed (22C.160.070(10)).
- Signs which may be confused with traffic controls or obstruct the visibility of traffic or street signs/signals are prohibited (22C.160.070(11)).
- Obscene signs are prohibited (22C.160.070(12)).
- Signs in residential zones are limited: total nonexempt sign area per lot (except temporary signs) not to exceed nine square feet (with certain exceptions) and no roof or pole/pylon signs (22C.160.150).
- Flashing, blinking, fluttering, or moving lights in illuminated signs are prohibited (22C.160.130(2)).
- Temporary signs are prohibited in required sight distance triangles and may not obstruct sidewalks, driveways, or public access (22C.160.260).

## Signs exempt from permit in Marysville

- Change of face or advertising copy of an existing, legally permitted sign (22C.160.080(1)).
- Temporary signs meeting requirements of 22C.160.260 (22C.160.080(2)).
- Nonelectric signs up to eight square feet per face limited to occupant name and address in residential zones (22C.160.080(3)).
- Instructional signs on private property not exceeding eight square feet (foundation/electrical work still requires permit) (22C.160.080(4)).
- Menu signs on private property (foundation/electrical work still requires permit) (22C.160.080(5)).
- Non-advertising sculptures, fountains, benches, lighting, seasonal decorations, mosaics, murals, landscaping, and similar design features (22C.160.080(6)).
- Signs not visible from a public way, interior signs more than 3 feet from window/not facing a window, and point-of-purchase displays (22C.160.080(7)).
- Traffic or municipal signs, signs required by law/emergency services/railroad, and legal notices (22C.160.080(8)).
- Signs of public utility companies for safety, underground facility location, or public phones (22C.160.080(9)).
- Memorials, building names, stained glass, and dates of erection cut into or projecting up to 2" from building surface (22C.160.080(10)).
- Incidental signs (e.g., 'no trespassing,' 'no dumping,' etc.) up to three square feet (22C.160.080(11)).
- Flush-mounted wall signs showing occupant name/address for dwellings up to two square feet (22C.160.080(12)).
- Gateway entrance signs complying with city gateway master plan (22C.160.080(13)).
- Public wayfinding, directional, and interpretive signs (building permit required for structural/electrical) (22C.160.080(14)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permits are generally required to erect or display a sign unless the sign type is specifically exempted (22C.160.030, 22C.160.080).
- Applications for a sign permit must include scaled plans, site plans, and information on all existing signs (22C.160.040).
- A master or coordinated sign plan is required for planned developments, multi-tenant complexes, campuses, master planned senior communities, multi-building projects, and can be required by subarea master plans or overlay districts (see cross-reference in 22C.160.120; master plan requirements may supersede this chapter for sign regulations).
- Sign variances are available and are processed by the hearing examiner consistent with variance criteria (22C.160.300).
- For bonus allowance (exceptional sign design), a written request and site plan showing all signage must be submitted and is reviewed by the director; exceeding the bonus limits requires a variance (22C.160.290).
- Amortization and removal requirements apply for billboards and nonconforming signs (22C.160.270–.280).
- Signs within subarea master plans or special overlay districts must comply with stricter requirements if in conflict with general sign code (22C.160.120).

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

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