# Sign Regulations in Puyallup, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Puyallup, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/puyallup
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-26
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/47723680)

## At a glance

Puyallup, Washington regulates 42 sign types across 26 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the CB Zone zoning district are capped at 8 ft min clear tall, 25 sq ft, and Not extend 2 ft curb wide, with a 2 ft curb setback (Sec. PMC § 20.60.055). Most commercial signs in Puyallup require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (26 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| RS Zones (RS-35, RS-10, RS-08, RS-06, RS-04) | 9 | 3.5 ft (freestanding/sandwich) | 40 square feet (combined with monument) | — |
| RM Zones (RM-10, RM-20, RM-Core) | 9 | 3.5 ft | 40 sq ft (combined monument) | — |
| ARO Zone (uses other than commercial) | 8 | Max 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| ARO Zone (commercial uses) | 9 | Min 8 ft clearance | 64 sq ft | — |
| PF Zone | 11 | 15 ft at setback +1 ft per ft additional setback, max 36 ft | 40 sq ft per wall | — |
| MED Zone | 8 | Max 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| OP Zone | 8 | Max 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| CL Zone | 8 | Max 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| CBD Zone | 7 | Min 8 ft clear; max 4 ft over ROW | 64 sq ft | — |
| CBD-Core Zone | 7 | Max 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| CB Zone | 12 | 15 ft at setback +1 per ft add, max 36 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| CG Zone | 12 | 15 ft at setback +1 per add, max 36 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| ML Zone | 12 | 15 ft +1 per add max 36 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| MR Zone | 12 | 15 ft +1 max 36 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| CCX Zone | 6 | Max 10 ft | 125 sq ft | — |
| CMX Zone | 6 | Max 10 ft | 125 sq ft | — |
| LMX Zone | 6 | Max 10 ft | 125 sq ft | — |
| RMX Zone | 6 | Max 10 ft | 125 sq ft | — |
| UCX Zone | 6 | Max 10 ft | 125 sq ft | — |
| MP Zone | 7 | 8 ft clear | 40 sq ft | — |
| FAIR Zone | 10 | 15 ft at setback +1 max 36 ft; 1 may exceed building ht | 400 sq ft | — |
| AGO Zone | 2 | As underlying | As underlying | — |
| Fair Parking Overlay Zones (RS-FPO, RM-FPO) | 2 | 3.5 ft above grade | As RS/RM | — |
| Shaw-East Pioneer Overlay Zones (CB-SPO, CG-SPO, ML-SPO) | 3 | As CBD | As CBD | — |
| Planned Development Zones (PDR, PDC) | 2 | As plan | As plan | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 26 zones)

### CB Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Identification Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Integral | — | PMC § 20.60.065(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Pole) | 15 ft at setback +1 per ft add, max 36 ft | 150 sq ft | — | Front 10 ft, arterial 25 ft, rear 10 ft, side 0 ft, street side 10 ft | 1 per frontage | Freestanding | — | PMC § 20.60.055; § 20.60.065(4) |
| Monument Sign | Max 10 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per frontage | Freestanding | — | PMC § 20.60.055; § 20.60.065(5) |
| Projecting Sign | 8 ft min clear | 25 sq ft | Not extend 2 ft curb | 2 ft curb | 1 per frontage | Perp wall | — | PMC § 20.60.055 |
| Full-Color Electronic Message Sign (Primary Arterial) | As monument | As monument | — | As monument | 1 per site +1 if 500 ft sep | Primary arterial frontage | — | PMC § 20.60.055(7); § 20.60.065(3) |
| Monochrome Electronic Message Sign (Arterial/Collector) | As monument | As monument | — | — | As full | Primary/sec/collector | — | PMC § 20.60.055(7); § 20.60.065(3) |
| Temporary Sign | 3.5 ft | As general | — | — | As general | Property/ROW | — | PMC § 20.60.070 |
| Under-Canopy Sign | 8 ft clear | — | Canopy, 2/3 sidew | 2 ft | 1 per frontage | Under | — | PMC § 20.60.055 |

### CG Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Identification Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Integral | — | PMC § 20.60.065(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Pole) | 15 ft at setback +1 per add, max 36 ft | 150 sq ft | — | Front 20 ft, arterial 25 ft, rear 0 ft, side 0 ft, street side 10 ft | 1 per frontage | Freestanding | — | PMC § 20.60.055; § 20.60.065(4) |
| Monument Sign | Max 10 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per frontage | Freestanding | — | PMC § 20.60.055; § 20.60.065(5) |
| Projecting Sign | 8 ft clear | 25 sq ft | 2 ft max to curb | 2 ft | 1 per frontage | Perp | — | PMC § 20.60.055 |
| Full-Color Electronic Message Sign (Primary) | As | As monument | — | — | 1 +1 | Primary | — | PMC § 20.60.055(7); § 20.60.065(3) |
| Monochrome Electronic Message Sign | As | As | — | — | As full | Arterial/collector | — | PMC § 20.60.055(7); § 20.60.065(3) |
| Temporary Sign | 3.5 ft | As general | — | — | As | Property | — | PMC § 20.60.070 |
| Under-Canopy Sign | 8 ft | — | Canopy | 2 ft | 1 | Under | — | PMC § 20.60.055 |

### ML Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Identification Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Integral | — | PMC § 20.60.065(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Pole) | 15 ft +1 per add max 36 ft | 150 sq ft | — | Front 20 ft, arterial 20 ft, rear 0, side 0, street 10 ft | 1 per frontage | Freestanding | — | PMC § 20.60.055; § 20.60.065(4) |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft max | 150 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per frontage | Freestanding | — | PMC § 20.60.055; § 20.60.065(5) |
| Projecting Sign | 8 ft clear | 25 sq ft | — | 2 ft | 1 per frontage | Perp | — | PMC § 20.60.055 |
| Full-Color Electronic Message Sign | As | As | — | — | 1 +1 | Primary | — | PMC § 20.60.055(7); § 20.60.065(3) |
| Monochrome Electronic Message Sign | As | As | — | — | As | Arterial | — | PMC § 20.60.055(7); § 20.60.065(3) |
| Temporary Sign | 3.5 ft | As general | — | — | As | Property | — | PMC § 20.60.070 |
| Under-Canopy Sign | 8 ft | — | — | 2 ft | 1 | Under | — | PMC § 20.60.055 |

## Prohibited signs in Puyallup

- Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device or obstruct or interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic
- Except as provided for in Table 20.60.050(5) and PMC § 20.60.067(1)(c) and § 20.60.070(1), signs encroaching upon or overhanging public rights-of-way
- Any sign attached to or placed on a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property (does not prohibit signs on vehicles operating during normal course of business or being taken home)
- Signs painted on, attached to, or placed on a roof
- Signs painted on, attached to, or placed on bus benches
- Any sign erected or placed in a public right-of-way, except for temporary off-premises signs as authorized herein, and except those required by a governmental agency under the provisions of this code
- Any sign affixed to a utility pole, whether located on private property or within the public right-of-way, pursuant to RCW 70.54.090
- Any sign affixed to a fire hydrant, light pole, traffic light, traffic sign, government sign, or any other public facility within the ROW except as authorized herein
- Any sign affixed to a tree
- No sign shall be used as a fence
- Portable or temporary signs except as allowed in PMC § 20.60.070
- Sail, feather, or paper signs
- Balloons except as allowed as temporary signs under PMC § 20.60.070(5)
- Inflatable signs over 10 feet in diameter
- Signs which are an imitation of or resemble official traffic or government signs
- Flashing signs or signs which sparkle or twinkle in sunlight
- Billboards in any zone
- Abandoned or dilapidated signs
- Rotating or motion signs
- Any sign with content or subject matter that constitutes obscenity as defined by law
- Any sign displaying video or animations

## Signs exempt from permit in Puyallup

- All signs not legible from a distance of more than eight feet from a property line abutting a public right-of-way
- Official notices required by a court, public body, or public safety official
- Directional, warning, identification or information signs authorized or required by federal, state or municipal governments, including traffic or pedestrian control/warning/direction signs
- Flags of any size (flags shall be no taller than the maximum height allowed in the applicable zone)
- Religious symbols and seasonal decorations
- Permanent signs on private property which are two square feet in area and smaller
- Street address identification signs
- Signs regulating the use or identification of publicly owned parks and recreation facilities, including trail signage, when authorized by the city of Puyallup parks and recreation department
- One electronic message sign per site that utilizes monochrome color technology, no more than six square feet in area, that alternates between messages no more frequently than once every two seconds

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In the MED zone, signs shall be allowed as specified in the approved master plan; for properties outside of an approved master plan, signs shall be provided as specified in Chapter 20.60 PMC
- In the PF zone, signs shall be allowed as allowed in Chapter 20.60 PMC or as otherwise established by a conditional use permit or master plan
- In the MP zone, a master signage plan pursuant to PMC § 20.60.037(1) shall be required of every business park development prior to the installation of any signs
- In the Shaw-East Pioneer Overlay Zone (CB-SPO and CG-SPO), if a master sign plan exists for a development, those regulations shall rule
- For planned developments, the sign regulations shall not be limited by the requirements of this chapter, but shall be allowed as proposed in a master sign plan; if a master sign plan has not been approved, sign regulations shall revert to the sign regulations for the zone of the subject parcel

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

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