# Sign Regulations in Port Angeles, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Port Angeles, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/port-angeles
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-05
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WA/Port_Angeles/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT2ADPE_CH2.80COFASIIMPR)

## At a glance

Port Angeles, Washington regulates 28 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (15+ ft setback, single street)s in the Central Business District (CBD) Zone zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 25 square feet per side, with a More than 15 ft from ROW setback (Sec. 14.36.070(A)(4)). Most commercial signs in Port Angeles require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Central Business District (CBD) Zone | 13 | 30 feet | 300 square feet per façade | — |
| Commercial Arterial (CA) Zone | 7 | 35 feet | 300 square feet total sign area | — |
| Community Shopping District (CSD) Zone | 7 | 30 feet | 300 square feet per façade | — |
| Commercial Neighborhood (CN) Zone | 1 | 20 feet | 100 square feet total sign area per site | — |
| Commercial Office (CO) Zone | 1 | Freestanding signs: 5 feet; Building-mounted signs: 20 feet | 50 square feet total sign area per site; if site area is 14,000 sq ft or more, max 100 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Park (IP) Zone, Industrial Light (IL) Zone | 4 | 35 feet | 300 square feet per elevation facing street | — |
| Industrial Heavy (IH) Zone | 3 | 35 feet | 400 square feet per elevation facing street | — |
| Public Buildings and Parks (PBP) Zone | 2 | 20 feet | 100 square feet per building | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 44 inches | 100 square feet per business | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Central Business District (CBD) Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet per business façade (or 20% of façade, whichever is less) | — | — | — | Parallel to building façade. On main street, alley, or side walls as applicable. | — | 14.36.070(A), (A)(1), (A)(8), (A)(9) |
| Marquee or Awning Sign | Not to exceed 2 feet above front outer top edge of the marquee/awning | — | — | — | — | May be mounted on front, side, or top of marquee/awning. If projecting below marquee/awning, must meet pedestrian sign requirements. | — | 14.36.070(A)(2) |
| Pedestrian Sign | — | 6 square feet per side | — | — | — | Attached to underside of marquee or awning, at right angle to façade; does not extend beyond outer edge | — | 14.36.070(A)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (15+ ft setback, single street) | 20 feet | 25 square feet per side | — | More than 15 ft from ROW | 1 per qualifying building | Where all portions of the building are more than 15 ft from right-of-way. | — | 14.36.070(A)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign (40+ ft setback, multiple streets) | 30 feet | 100 square feet per side or 200 sq ft total (whichever is less) | — | More than 40 ft | 1 per qualifying building | Where building has frontage on 2 or more streets and is more than 40 ft from those streets. | — | 14.36.070(A)(4) |
| Wall Sign (Upper floor business) | — | 200 square feet | — | — | 1 ground-level sign for upstairs business (max 6 sq ft) | On building façade with street frontage | — | 14.36.070(A)(6) |
| Shopping Mall Sign (Freestanding) | 20 feet | 100 square feet per side (200 sq ft total), max 2 per site | — | More than 15 ft | 1 per street frontage, max 2 per mall site | Where all portions of shopping mall >15 ft from right-of-way; one per street frontage | — | 14.36.070(A)(10) |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-building business) | 20 feet | 32 square feet per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On non-building business property, 1 per street frontage | — | 14.36.070(A)(11) |

### Commercial Arterial (CA) Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building-mounted Sign (Single Business) | — | 250 square feet per elevation facing public street | — | No closer than 100 ft to residential zone if sign is over 10 sq ft | — | Placed on any wall not facing an adjacent residential zone; not above eaves/parapet, not on roof. | — | 14.36.070(B)(1) |
| Building-mounted Sign (Multiple Businesses) | — | 250 square feet per elevation for each business | — | No closer than 100 ft to residential zone if sign is over 10 sq ft | — | Same as above | — | 14.36.070(B)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 feet | Varies by site size (see sign size restrictions). Max overall visible sign area: <0.5 acre = 100 sq ft; 0.5-0.99 acre = 200 sq ft; 1-1.99 acres = 300 sq ft; 2-2.99 acres = 400 sq ft; 3+ acres = 500 sq ft. | — | No closer than 100 ft to residential zone if over 10 sq ft | — | — | — | 14.36.070(B)(2) |
| Off-premise Sign (Billboard or Outdoor Advertising) | 35 feet | 300 square feet total sign area | — | — | 1 per qualifying site | On sites with no onsite business signage | — | 14.36.070(B)(3) |
| Shopping Mall Sign (Wall) | — | 300 square feet per façade | — | — | — | Any façade; must be part of master sign permit | — | 14.36.070(B)(4) |
| Shopping Mall Sign (Freestanding) | 20 feet | 100 square feet per side (200 sq ft max); max 2 per site | — | More than 15 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage, max 2/site | All portions of mall >15 ft from ROW; 1 per street frontage | — | 14.36.070(B)(4) |
| Fluttering Devices (Auto Dealerships/RV/Boat/etc) | — | — | — | — | — | Outdoor sales lots of new and used auto, truck, trailer, motorcycle, RV, tractor, and boat dealerships | — | 14.36.070(B)(5) |

### Community Shopping District (CSD) Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building-mounted Sign (Single Business) | — | 175 square feet per elevation facing public street | — | No sign over 10 sq ft within 100 ft of a residential zone | — | On any wall not facing adjacent residential zone | — | 14.36.070(C)(1)(a) |
| Building-mounted Sign (Multiple Businesses) | — | 175 square feet per elevation per business | — | No sign over 10 sq ft within 100 ft of residential zone | — | On any wall not facing adjacent residential zone. | — | 14.36.070(C)(1)(b) |
| Alley Sign | — | 175 square feet | — | — | — | On alley-facing building wall | — | 14.36.070(C)(1)(c) |
| Side Wall Sign (No Street Frontage) | — | 175 square feet | — | — | — | Exposed side walls visible from public street (not street frontage walls) | — | 14.36.070(C)(1)(d) |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 feet | ≤0.5ac: 50 sq ft; 0.5–0.99ac: 75 sq ft; 1–1.99ac: 100 sq ft; 2–2.99ac: 125 sq ft; ≥3ac: 150 sq ft. | — | No sign over 10 sq ft within 100 ft of residential zone | — | — | — | 14.36.070(C)(2) |
| Shopping Mall Sign (Wall) | — | 300 square feet per façade | — | — | — | Any façade, part of master sign permit | — | 14.36.070(B)(4)/C |
| Shopping Mall Sign (Freestanding) | 20 feet | 100 sq ft per side (200 sq ft max), max two signs per site | — | More than 15 ft | 1 per street frontage, max 2 per site | All portions of mall greater than 15 ft from street right-of-way; one per street frontage | — | 14.36.070(B)(4)/C |

## Prohibited signs in Port Angeles

- No person shall erect, relocate, or otherwise construct or alter any sign in the City without complying with this chapter and, when required, obtaining a sign permit from the Building Division of the City of Port Angeles.
- All signs illuminated by, or containing, blinking, flashing, intermittent, or moving lights and all flashing, rotating, or intermediate lights in, on, or around windows, rooflines, or building exteriors are prohibited, except electronically changing message/digital time/temperature signs which do not change the message more than once per 30 seconds, and the moving hands of a clock.
- All roof-mounted signs, including any signs painted directly on the roof surface, are prohibited.
- Fluttering devices are prohibited, except for specific exceptions noted for certain zones and openings of new businesses.
- Billboards and other off-premise outdoor advertising signs are prohibited except as specifically permitted in certain zones (with conditional use permits and spacing requirements).
- Temporary signs located on or resting against a motor vehicle, trailer, bicycle, planter, or decorator card for the purpose of advertisement or directing people to a business are prohibited.
- All signs which purport to call attention to a business or building with words such as 'look', 'stop', 'slow down', or other words similar to traffic signals or signs are prohibited.
- All moving, rotating, or animated signs are prohibited, except barber poles.
- All signs which no longer serve an ongoing business are prohibited and must be removed upon closure of the business or cessation of product sale.
- All signs which have no permanent attachment to a building or the ground are prohibited, except A-frame signs and sandwich boards exempted or specifically permitted.
- Projecting signs that project further than four and one-half feet from the building façade are prohibited.
- Banner signs are prohibited in the Central Business District (CBD) Zone.
- All signs not specifically addressed and contrary to the provisions of this chapter are prohibited.
- Illumination from or upon any sign shall be shaded, shielded, directed, or reduced to avoid undue brightness, glare, or reflection of light on property in the surrounding area and unreasonably distracting pedestrians and motorists.
- Signs must comply with all other ordinances of the City; non-commercial sign content shall not be regulated.
- Signs shall be maintained to protect public safety, present a well kept appearance, and prevent deterioration.
- Failure to remove signs that are prohibited or not properly maintained is a violation subject to abatement and penalties.
- Any sign erected, constructed, moved, or altered in violation of this chapter is declared a public nuisance, subject to enforcement and injunction.

## Signs exempt from permit in Port Angeles

- Official traffic signs, directional signs, banners, signals, business directory maps, kiosks, and public notices erected by public authorities are exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Informational service signs such as 'customer parking', 'driveway entrance', and 'exit', not exceeding six square feet, are exempt from sign permit requirements, though an electrical permit may be required.
- Signs identifying public conveniences (restrooms, telephones, bus stops, taxicab stands), not exceeding three square feet, are exempt.
- Informational warning signs such as 'no trespassing', 'no dumping', 'no parking', not exceeding eight square feet, are exempt.
- Building address identification numbers of specified size are exempt.
- Permanent building identification (plaques, cornerstones, name plates) is exempt.
- Temporary political signs, provided such signs are not located in public rights-of-way and are removed within 14 days after the election, are exempt.
- Temporary decorations customarily displayed at special holidays, provided removal occurs within 14 days, are exempt.
- Seasonal decorations, festive banners, and other noncommercial displays affixed to poles or standards by the City or nonprofits are exempt.
- One temporary real estate sign per street frontage not exceeding eight square feet, and two A-frame open house signs not exceeding eight square feet each, if properly located and timely removed, are exempt.
- One temporary sign denoting architect, engineer, or contractor for work under construction, not exceeding eight square feet and timely removed, is exempt.
- Any sign within a building not visible from the street or sidewalk is exempt, though an electrical permit may be required.
- Sculptures, fountains, mosaics, murals not incorporating advertising or business identification are exempt.
- Sandwich board signs worn by a person walking the public ways are exempt.
- Signs painted directly on windows, and inside window signs, except as may be specifically prohibited elsewhere (e.g., by PAMC 14.36.080), are exempt.
- Traditional theater marquees not exceeding 260 square feet are exempt, though a building and electrical permit may be required.
- Barber poles are exempt, though an electrical permit is required for installation.
- Temporary community service signs erected by community organizations to announce events or record community goals, under certain size, permit, and time restrictions, are exempt (but not signs otherwise specifically prohibited).
- Signs mounted on public transit vehicles and facilities are exempt.
- The changing of advertising copy or message on a lawfully erected painted or printed sign, marquee, or similar sign designed for changeable copy is exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Maintenance or cleaning of a sign, and repainting existing copy of a permitted or legal nonconforming sign (within allowable period), are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign permit is required for shopping mall façades in the Central Business District (CBD) and Commercial Arterial (CA) Zones, identifying all signs for the shopping mall and issued in the name of the mall manager.
- Variance applications may be requested when strict enforcement imposes hardship; requires a formal application and a public hearing before the Board of Adjustment.
- A sign permit from the Building Division is required for the erection, relocation, construction, or alteration of most signs, unless specifically exempt.
- Temporary community service signs require installation pursuant to a building permit to be exempt.
- A right-of-way use permit and specific mention in the sign owner’s insurance policy are required for A-frame signs located within public rights-of-way.

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

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