# Sign Regulations in Moses Lake, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Moses Lake, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/moses-lake
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-11
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://moseslake.municipal.codes/Code/15.735)

## At a glance

Moses Lake, Washington regulates 34 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Permanent Freestanding Signs in the Commercial or Mixed Use (C1, C1A, C-2) zoning district are capped at 25 feet tall and 150 square feet, with a Comply with zone setbacks per 15.735.060 D setback (Sec. 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.160). Most commercial signs in Moses Lake require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | Maximum structure height of the underlying zoning district | 3 square feet | — |
| Commercial or Mixed Use (C1, C1A, C-2) | 11 | 45 feet | 350 square feet per site | — |
| Industrial (L-I, H-I) | 11 | 45 feet | 350 square feet per site | — |
| Public/Parks and Open Space (P, OS) | 11 | 45 feet | 350 square feet per site | — |
| Residential (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 8 | 8 feet | 25 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Commercial or Mixed Use (C1, C1A, C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top of wall | — | — | N/A (attached to building) | No limit within maximum sign face area | Attached to building wall or façade | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.110, 15.735.160 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks per 15.735.060 D | 1 per street frontage | Ground mounted | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.160 |
| Projecting Sign | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | 1 per street frontage | Attached to building, may project over sidewalk in ROW | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.100 |
| Freeway Sign | 45 feet | 350 square feet per site | — | Comply with zone setbacks | No limit within maximum sign face area (1 per site overall) | Within 250 feet of freeway right-of-way | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.170 |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign | 25 feet | 32 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | 1 per business | Permanently installed on private property | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.140 |
| Off-Premises Sign | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | 1 sign | — | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1 |
| On-Premises Directional Sign | 6 feet | 8 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | No limit | Readable from public right-of-way | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.140 |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet | — | 3 feet | Not in clear view triangle per 15.725.010(C) | 2 per business | <=10 ft from primary building or driveway entrance; not on ROW without permit; not in clear view triangle | — | 15.735.080, 15.735.180 |

### Industrial (L-I, H-I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top of wall | — | — | N/A (attached to building) | No limit within maximum sign face area | Attached to building wall or façade | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.110 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks per 15.735.060 D | 1 per street frontage | Ground mounted | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1 |
| Projecting Sign | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | 1 per street frontage | Attached to building | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1 |
| Freeway Sign | 45 feet | 350 square feet per site | — | Comply with zone setbacks | No limit within maximum sign face area (1 per site overall) | Within 250 feet of freeway right-of-way | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.170 |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign | 25 feet | 32 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | 1 per business | Permanently installed on private property | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.140 |
| Off-Premises Sign | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | 1 sign | — | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1 |
| On-Premises Directional Sign | 6 feet | 8 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | No limit | Readable from public right-of-way | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.140 |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet | — | 3 feet | Not in clear view triangle | 2 per business | <=10 ft from primary building or driveway entrance; not on ROW without permit | — | 15.735.080, 15.735.180 |

### Public/Parks and Open Space (P, OS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top of wall | — | — | N/A (attached to building) | No limit within maximum sign face area | Attached to building wall or façade | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.110 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks per 15.735.060 D | 1 per street frontage | Ground mounted | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1 |
| Projecting Sign | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | 1 per street frontage | Attached to building | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1 |
| Freeway Sign | 45 feet | 350 square feet per site | — | Comply with zone setbacks | No limit within maximum sign face area (1 per site overall) | Within 250 feet of freeway right-of-way | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.170 |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign | 25 feet | 32 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | 1 per business | Permanently installed on private property | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.140 |
| Off-Premises Sign | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | 1 sign | — | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1 |
| On-Premises Directional Sign | 6 feet | 8 square feet | — | Comply with zone setbacks | No limit | Readable from public right-of-way | — | 15.735.080 Table 15.735.080-1, 15.735.140 |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet | — | 3 feet | Not in clear view triangle | 2 per business | <=10 ft from primary building or driveway entrance; not on ROW without permit | — | 15.735.080, 15.735.180 |

## Prohibited signs in Moses Lake

- Signs on any vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property and visible from a public right-of-way for the purpose of circumventing the provisions of this Chapter (excluding signs painted on or magnetically attached to vehicles operating in the normal course of business).
- Signs purporting to be, imitating, or resembling an official traffic sign or signal by its color, design, location, or illumination which could cause confusion with any official sign, or which obstruct the visibility of any traffic, street sign, signal, or pedestrian by glare or method of illumination.
- Signs attached to utility, streetlight, and traffic-control poles or facilities, signs attached to fences owned by the City, or signs placed on trees.
- Billboards.
- Flashing signs.
- Swinging projecting signs.
- Signs in a dilapidated (i.e., having peeling paint, major cracks or holes, and/or loose or dangling materials) or hazardous condition.
- Abandoned signs.
- Signs on doors, windows or fire escapes that restrict free ingress or egress.
- Roof signs.
- Any other sign not meeting the provisions of this Chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Moses Lake

- Flags, subject to maximum flagpole height equal to the maximum structure height of the underlying zoning district and meeting setback standards for accessory structures.
- Building identification numbers as required pursuant to the Moses Lake Municipal Code or any other City or state regulation.
- Certain informational signs: Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, stained glass windows, and dates of erection when cut into the surface or facade of the building or projecting not more than two inches.
- Governmental signs installed by the City, County, or a federal or State governmental agency for the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare, including emergency and warning signs, traffic or wayfinding signs, signs required by law, signs showing public facilities, and any sign placed by or required by a governmental agency.
- Utility signs of public utility companies indicating danger, aiding public safety, or showing underground facilities.
- Certain identification wall signs: Flush-mounted wall signs identifying the name and address of the occupant for each dwelling, not exceeding two square feet.
- Nonvisible signs: Signs not visible beyond the lot boundaries or from any public right-of-way (freestanding signs may require a building permit for structural review).
- Alterations to sign face or copy: Changes to changeable copy signs, digital signs, or electronic messaging signs that do not alter the material or appearance of the originally permitted sign.
- Repair and maintenance: Normal repair and maintenance (painting, repainting, cleaning) of conforming or legal nonconforming signs without structural alteration.
- Public art and design features: Sculptures, fountains, mosaics, murals, public art, and design features that do not constitute a sign.
- Certain informational warning signs: 'No trespassing,' 'no dumping,' 'no parking,' 'private' signs, and other informational warning signs identifying essential public needs, not exceeding three square feet.
- Illuminated wall highlights that do not contain words, logos, or corporate images.
- Interior signs: Signs or displays entirely inside a building and at least three feet from transparent doors and windows.
- Temporary signs on private or public property meeting the requirements of MLUDC 15.735.120.
- Vehicle signs: Any sign on a vehicle, unless parked or stationed primarily to attract attention or regularly parked visibly for that purpose.
- Temporary window signs: Signs taped or affixed inside a window, easily removable, not exceeding allowed area for window and temporary signs.

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

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