# Sign Regulations in Richland, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Richland, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/richland
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Richland/#!/Richland27/Richland2702.html)

## At a glance

Richland, Washington regulates 29 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Freeway Interchange Sign (General Measurements)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 80 ft tall and 240 sq ft (individual), with a Behind property line setback (Sec. RMC 27.08.030(E)(1)(a)-(b); RMC 27.10.020(B) Table (Freeway Interchange Signs)). Most commercial signs in Richland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 80 ft | 240 sq ft (individual) | — |
| Floodplain district (FP); Agricultural district (AG); Suburban agricultural district (SAG); Public reserve (PR); Suburban residential (R-1); Single-family residential district 12,000 (R-1-12); Single-family residential district 10,000 (R-1-10); Medium-density residential district (R-2); Medium-density residential – small lot use district (R-2S); R-1M; R-1L; PUD | 2 | 16 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Multiple-family residential district (R-3) | 5 | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Limited business district (C-LB); Commercial winery (CW); Waterfront (WF) | 3 | 80 ft | 240 sq ft (individual) | — |
| Neighborhood retail business district (C-1) | 4 | 30 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Retail business district (C-2); General business district (C-3); Commercial recreation (CR); Business and commerce use district (B-C) | 4 | 80 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Central business district (CBD) | 2 | 30 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Central business district (Uptown District); Uptown Overlay District | 5 | 24 inches (letter height) | Height of sign face ≤ 150% of awning fascia height | — |
| Parkway Overlay District | 1 | 5 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Limited manufacturing (I-1); Medium industrial (I-M); Heavy manufacturing district (M-2) | 2 | 30 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Waterfront (WF) (duplicate accounted under C-LB group) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial winery (CW) (duplicate accounted under C-LB group) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (General Standards) | Top of building wall (may extend to top of parapet) | Varies by zone; see zone-specific entries | — | — | Varies by zone; not counted with window signs | On building wall; may project over public property within limits | — | RMC 27.08.010(B)(2); RMC 27.10.020(B) Table (Wall Signs); RMC 27.08.010(A)(1)-(3) |
| Projecting Sign (General Standards) | Up to 1 foot above building wall | Varies by zone | — | — | Varies by zone | Projects from building wall; may project over public property within limits | — | RMC 27.08.010(B)(2); RMC 27.10.020(B) Table (Projecting Signs) |
| Marquee/Canopy Sign (General Standards) | Up to 1 foot above face attached to | Varies by zone | — | — | One underside sign per user | Mounted flat to face of marquee/canopy; underside sign allowed | — | RMC 27.08.010(B)(3); RMC 27.10.020(B) Table (Marquee/Canopy; Signs under Marquees and Canopies) |
| Freeway Interchange Sign (General Measurements) | 80 ft | 240 sq ft (individual) | — | Behind property line | Varies; tied to freestanding sign allowances in applicable zones | On freeway side of a line 350 ft from and parallel to interchange ROW; interchange ROW begins 1,500 ft from center of street passing over/under freeway | — | RMC 27.08.030(E)(1)(a)-(b); RMC 27.10.020(B) Table (Freeway Interchange Signs) |
| Portable Sign (A-frame/Sandwich Board) – General | 5 ft | 12 sq ft | — | As specified in location criteria above | 1 per business | Immediately in front of business; at least 4 ft from building, 2 ft from curb; at least 3 ft to right/left of entrance or 8 ft from building face; minimum 10 ft separation from any other portable sign | — | RMC 27.08.040(B)(2)(a)-(k) |
| Off-Premises Business Center Entrance Sign (Planning Commission Approval) | 15 ft | 45 sq ft | — | — | As approved; typically 1 per entrance | At entrance to a business center; not in residential zones | — | RMC 27.08.040(A)(1)(a)-(j) |
| Business Center Freestanding Sign (City Manager Approval) | Up to 25, 40, or 50 ft depending on business center size; up to 80 ft if proximate to interchange as specified | Up to 150, 240, or 350 sq ft depending on business center size; may double if proximate to interchange as specified | — | — | As determined by business center acreage (1 to 3 maximum) | Within 500 ft of entrance into business center or on property included within business center; must be in C-2, C-3, or B-C zones; >300 ft from single-family residential (R-1 or R-2) if increased height near interchange | — | RMC 27.08.040(B)(1)(a)-(l) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential – R-1-12, R-1-10, R-2, R-2S) | 5 ft (post-mounted); 3 ft (stake-mounted or portable) | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property or exterior of structure in residential zoning districts | — | RMC 27.08.020(C)(1); RMC 27.08.020(B)(1)-(2) |

### Multiple-family residential district (R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building-Mounted Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Building-mounted | — | RMC 27.08.030(B)(1)-(3); RMC 27.10.020(A) Table (R-3 – Building Mounted) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Building setback | 1 per street frontage | On site | — | RMC 27.10.020(A) Table (R-3 – Freestanding) |
| Residential Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | Not specified; subject to administrator approval | On site | — | RMC 27.10.020(A) Table (R-3 – Res. ID Sign) |
| Building-Mounted Sign (Nonresidential Use within R-3) | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On buildings with approved nonresidential uses | — | RMC 27.10.020(A) Table (R-3 – Signs for Nonresidential Uses) |
| Subdivision/Neighborhood Entrance Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Between building line and property line; right-of-way allowed if approved | 1 per entrance; max 4 per subdivision/neighborhood | Between building line and property line or within right-of-way if approved | — | RMC 27.08.030(B)(2); RMC 27.10.020(A) Table |

### Central business district (Uptown District); Uptown Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Roof Sign (Uptown District) | May extend up to 5 ft above intersection of sign and building wall/parapet; allowed above/attached to mansard roof with conditions | — | — | — | Varies; subject to general CBD allowances | On roof, parapet, or mansard; must appear as architectural blade/penthouse; no visible support structure | — | RMC 27.08.030(F)(2)(b),(e)(i)-(iv) |
| Blade Sign (Architectural blade – Uptown District) | — | — | — | — | Varies | Mounted on building wall projecting over sidewalk | — | RMC 27.08.030(F)(2)(f) |
| Awning Sign (Uptown District) | — | Height of sign face ≤ 150% of awning fascia height | — | — | Varies | On face of awning | — | RMC 27.08.030(F)(2)(a)-(b),(g)(i)-(iii) |
| Channel Letters (Uptown District – Size Restriction) | 24 inches (letter height) | — | 16 inches (letter width) | — | N/A (applies to sign components) | On any permitted sign within Uptown District | — | RMC 27.08.030(F)(2)(a),(c),(d) |
| Portable Sign (A-frame/Sandwich Board) – Overlay Exception | 5 ft | 12 sq ft | — | As specified in criteria | 1 per business | Allowed in city right-of-way or real property within Uptown Overlay District, subject to placement criteria | — | RMC 27.08.040(B)(2)(a)-(k) |

## Prohibited signs in Richland

- Erecting, altering, or relocating any sign without a city sign permit, unless exempt (RMC 27.04.010(A))
- Signs which imitate or resemble an official traffic sign or signal (RMC 27.08.010(C)(1))
- Any sign that moves or appears to move, including signs that flutter, undulate, swing, rotate, oscillate or otherwise move by natural or artificial means; includes pennants (excluding banners allowed elsewhere in the code) (RMC 27.08.010(C)(2))
- Signs that, by size, location, movement, coloring, or illumination, may be confused with or construed as a traffic control sign/signal/device, or the light of an emergency vehicle, or which obstruct the visibility of any traffic or street sign or signal device (RMC 27.08.010(C)(3))
- Signs or displays consisting of strings of lights, spinners, twirlers or propellers, flashing, rotating, or blinking lights, flares, balloons, bubble machines, and similar carnival devices, or containing elements creating sound or smell (RMC 27.08.010(C)(4))
- Abandoned signs, except as authorized by RMC 27.08.030(I) (RMC 27.08.010(C)(5))
- Signs on utility poles (RMC 27.08.010(C)(6))
- Search lights, banners, clusters of flags, posters, pennants, and streamers (except where otherwise allowed in special provisions) (RMC 27.08.010(C)(7))
- Billboards (RMC 27.08.010(C)(8))
- Any sign requiring a permit that is erected, altered, or relocated without, or in violation of, a current and valid permit (RMC 27.08.010(C)(9))
- Off-premises commercial signs, except as otherwise permitted (RMC 27.08.010(C)(10))
- Portable signs, except as otherwise permitted (RMC 27.08.010(C)(11))
- No sign may be located so as to physically obstruct any door, window, or exit; or be hazardous to motorists’ ingress/egress or pedestrians’ access to any way open to the public (RMC 27.08.010(A)(5))
- Projecting signs extending over public right-of-way may not extend beyond the curb line (RMC 27.08.010(D)(1))
- Signs near intersections must comply with intersection sight distance; placement that obstructs required sight distance is prohibited (RMC 27.08.010(E) and Chapter 12.11 RMC)
- Ancillary devices, displays, and attachments not originally part of a permitted sign shall not be added to an existing sign except as provided in the code and pursuant to another sign permit (RMC 27.04.030(D))

## Signs exempt from permit in Richland

- No new permit is required for normal maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure for which a permit was previously issued (RMC 27.04.010(A)(4))
- Permanent sign permit not required for: signs required by law (RMC 27.04.030(A)(1))
- Permanent sign permit not required for: exterior signs or displays not visible from streets or ways open to the public (RMC 27.04.030(A)(2))
- Permanent sign permit not required for: interior signs not visible from any public property or rights-of-way (RMC 27.04.030(A)(3))
- Permanent sign permit not required for: non-illuminated plaques, tablets, or inscriptions integral to or flat-mounted on a building, not exceeding 10 sq ft (RMC 27.04.030(A)(4))
- Permanent sign permit not required for: signs less than two square feet in surface area (RMC 27.04.030(A)(5))
- Permanent sign permit not required for: signs painted or mounted on operable commercial vehicles primarily used for transportation of commerce (RMC 27.04.030(A)(6))
- Permanent sign permit not required for: any sign, posting, or notice placed or installed by municipal, state, or federal agencies (transit authority is a municipal agency) (RMC 27.04.030(A)(7))
- Temporary sign permit not required for: signs required by law (RMC 27.04.030(B)(1))
- Temporary sign permit not required for: sandwich board signs worn by a person while walking public ways (RMC 27.04.030(B)(2))
- Temporary sign permit not required for: changing of a theater marquee or similar sign (RMC 27.04.030(B)(3))
- Temporary sign permit not required for: temporary window signs (RMC 27.04.030(B)(4))
- Temporary sign permit not required for: for-sale/for-rent signs meeting frontage, distance, and size limits in RMC 27.08.020 (RMC 27.04.030(B)(5))
- Temporary sign permit not required for: construction site signs meeting timing, frontage, and size limits in RMC 27.08.020 (RMC 27.04.030(B)(6))
- Temporary sign permit not required for: noncommercial signs made of nondurable material designed for short-term display that meet sight obstruction and traffic control device restrictions and are not larger than 32 sq ft (RMC 27.04.030(B)(7))
- Signs not requiring a permit and temporary signs are not counted toward the maximum number of signs (except as provided in RMC 27.08.020) (RMC 27.04.030(C))
- Window signs are not included when determining the number of primary signs or permissible sign area for each facade (RMC 27.08.010(B)(4))
- Signs, postings, or notices placed or installed by municipal, state, or federal agencies may be placed in the public right-of-way if they comply with intersection sight distance (transit authority is a municipal agency) (RMC 27.08.010(B)(6))
- A noncommercial message may be substituted for any message on any conforming sign without additional approval, permitting, registration, or notice; on-site commercial messages may be substituted for other on-site commercial messages (RMC 27.08.050)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Special sign permit (Type I) may be issued when literal application of the code will not allow reasonable opportunity for a sign; cannot result in more signs than otherwise allowed; cannot adversely affect adjacent users’ ability to comply; may not exceed dimensional provisions by more than 35%; and must be the minimum exception and not result in a prohibited sign; appeals go to the hearing examiner (RMC 27.04.010(B))
- Certain signs require planning commission approval: (1) freestanding off-premises signs at entrances to business centers (must meet criteria including permission from property owner, structural compliance, lighting limits, size/height caps, and location outside residential zones); (2) one additional freestanding campus sign for school or college (up to 64 sq ft and 20 ft height, setback/orientation limits, lighting off 10 pm–7 am, and site posting for public meeting) (RMC 27.08.040(A))
- City manager or designee approval may be required for business center freestanding signs within 500 feet of an entrance to a business center, subject to zoning/location limits, size/height caps based on center size, potential size increase near freeway interchanges, illumination limits (nonilluminated or internally illuminated only; no electronic readerboards or flashing), separation from other freestanding signs, limits on number of such signs by business center size, and restrictions on additional freestanding signs for users of the business center sign (RMC 27.08.040(B)(1))
- Applications for business center signs must identify all properties within the proposed business center and include a recorded agreement signed by all property owners agreeing to inclusion and boundaries, the name of the center, the number and locations of all proposed signs, and establishing an entity responsible for sign maintenance; the agreement binds current and future owners (RMC 27.08.040(B)(1)(l))
- Portable signs immediately in front of a business may be approved by the city manager or designee if criteria are met (e.g., limited to business hours, placement/clearance standards, size/height limits, durable materials, separation from other portable signs); generally prohibited in city right-of-way except permitted in parkway and uptown overlay districts (RMC 27.08.040(B)(2))
- Banners over city streets and streetside banners/signs require approval by the city manager or designee, are limited to preselected or designated locations, must meet clearance, duration, safety, and (for over-street banners) noncommercial-use criteria (RMC 27.08.040(B)(3)–(5))
- Fees indicate when higher-level approvals apply: permits requiring planning commission or city manager approval (per Chapter 27.08) have a distinct fee; appeals to the hearing examiner carry a separate fee (RMC 27.04.010(D))
- Development agreements for master planned communities may supersede or modify the provisions of the sign code, per RCW 36.70B.170–.210 (RMC 27.02.030)

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

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