# Sign Regulations in Sultan, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sultan, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/sultan
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-30
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/46875076)

## At a glance

Sultan, Washington regulates 26 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Portable Signs in the Urban Center (UC) zoning district are capped at 3 feet tall and 6 square feet per face, with a 15-foot side yard setback setback (Sec. § 22.06.030C.2.g, § 22.06.035). Most commercial signs in Sultan require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (LDR, MDR, HDR) | 6 | 5 feet | 35 square feet per face | — |
| Urban Center (UC) | 6 | 20 feet | 150 square feet | — |
| Highway-Oriented Commercial (HOC) | 9 | 20 feet | 150 square feet per face | — |
| Manufacturing (M) | 5 | 20 feet | 100 square feet per side | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 3 feet | 6 square feet per face | — |

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

### Residential Districts (LDR, MDR, HDR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the property being advertised for sale, lease, or rent | — | § 22.06.030C.1.b |
| Identification Sign - Multifamily Dwelling, Manufactured Home Park, or Subdivision | 5 feet | 25 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per use | On the premises of the use | — | § 22.06.030C.1.c |
| Identification Sign - Public or Semi-Public Use | 5 feet | 35 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per use | On the premises of the use | — | § 22.06.030C.1.d |
| Wall Sign - Conditional Use | 5 feet | 25 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to building wall | — | § 22.06.030C.1.e |
| Ground Sign - Conditional Use | 5 feet | 25 square feet | — | — | 1 | On the ground, freestanding | — | § 22.06.030C.1.e |
| Nameplate Sign - Home Occupation or Commercial | — | 4 square feet (up to 8 square feet if site uniqueness proven due to topography or access) | — | — | 1 | On the premises | — | § 22.06.030C.1.f |

### Urban Center (UC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Minimum 60 square feet total per building | — | — | As allowed by total area | Attached to building wall or facade | — | § 22.06.030C.2.c, § 22.06.030C.2.e |
| Marquee Sign | — | Minimum 60 square feet total per building | — | — | As allowed by total area | Attached to marquee | — | § 22.06.030C.2.c, § 22.06.030C.2.d |
| Projecting Sign | — | 25 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Projecting from building, more than 15 inches | — | § 22.06.030C.2.b, § 22.06.030C.2.e, § 22.06.060B.6 |
| Freestanding Sign - Highway 2 Frontage | 20 feet | 150 square feet | — | — | 1 per business or complex | On properties with street frontage on Highway No. 2 | — | § 22.06.030C.2.f, § 22.06.060A |
| Portable Sign | 3 feet | 6 square feet per face | — | 15-foot side yard setback | 1 per 50 feet of continuous street frontage for multi-tenant; 1 per frontage for single-tenant | Off-premises allowed if no hazard to pedestrians or street use | — | § 22.06.030C.2.g, § 22.06.035 |
| Public Directory/Directional Sign | 8 feet | 25 square feet | — | — | — | In public right-of-way, established by city | — | § 22.06.030C.2.h |

### Highway-Oriented Commercial (HOC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign | 8 feet | 40 square feet per face | — | — | — | Off-premises | — | § 22.06.030C.3.a |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign | 20 feet | 100 square feet per face | — | — | — | Off-premises | — | § 22.06.030C.3.a |
| Freestanding Sign - Single Tenant | 20 feet | 100 square feet per face | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | § 22.06.030C.3.b.i, § 22.06.060A, § 22.06.060D.1 |
| Projecting Sign - Single Tenant In Lieu of Freestanding | — | 36 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per frontage | Projecting from building | — | § 22.06.030C.3.b.ii, § 22.06.060B.6 |
| Wall Sign - Single Tenant | — | — | — | — | As allowed by total area | Attached to building wall or marquee | — | § 22.06.030C.3.b.iii |
| Freestanding Sign - Multi-Building or Multitenant | 20 feet | 150 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage (up to 2 if >300 feet) | On premises | — | § 22.06.030C.3.c.i, § 22.06.030C.3.c.ii, § 22.06.060A, § 22.06.060D.1 |
| Projecting Sign - Multi-Building or Multitenant In Lieu of Freestanding | — | 36 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per frontage | Projecting from building | — | § 22.06.030C.3.c.iii, § 22.06.060B.6 |
| Portable Sign | 3 feet | 6 square feet per face | — | 15-foot side yard setback | 1 per 50 feet of continuous street frontage for multi-tenant; 1 per frontage for single-tenant | On business premises | — | § 22.06.030C.3.b.iv, § 22.06.030C.3.c.vi, § 22.06.035 |

## Prohibited signs in Sultan

- Abandoned signs.
- Signs which interfere with the view of traffic signs, signals or devices and approaching or merging traffic.
- Animated signs. No sign shall be animated, revolve or rotate either mechanically or by illumination, except the movement of the hands of a clock, electronic message displays, and barber poles.
- Signs which are significantly distracting to vehicle operators, such as those containing flashing, moving or intermittent lights, or signs with a concentrated light source or reflecting frames or surface(s) of such intensity or glare that it may create a safety hazard to motorists or pedestrians.
- Signs erected, maintained, or painted upon trees, rocks, or other natural features.
- Signs which are structurally unsafe, or improperly maintained or otherwise in violation of the Uniform Building Code, other city ordinances, and state codes.
- Private signs on utility poles as prohibited by RCW 70.54.100.
- Pinwheels, twirlers, propellers, and flashing or blinking lights; flares.
- Portable temporary signs of the following types: signs posted or displayed upon a movable chassis or support with or without wheels; posters outside of the business establishment; signs mounted upon vehicles of a commercial nature; searchlights; inflatable signs and balloons over 12 inches in diameter, and similar devices of a carnival nature; billboards; signs which by reason of their size, location, movement, content, shape, coloring or manner of illumination obscure, imitate, or may be confused with lawfully posted governmental signs such as traffic control signs, signals, or devices.
- Signs in dilapidated or hazardous condition.
- Roof signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sultan

- Political signs; provided, that such of these signs that relate to a particular election shall be removed no later than 10 days after the election to which the signs pertain and do not exceed 32 square feet in area.
- Flags, pennants or insignia of nations, or an organization of nations, states or cities, or fraternal, religious and civic organizations or any educational institutions except when such flags are used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Placards, banners, pennants, merchandise, pictures or models of products or services incorporated into a window display.
- Works of fine art and painted murals which in no way identify a product or business and which are not displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise, which enterprise may benefit or realize direct commercial gain from such display.
- One nameplate per public entrance per business of no more than two square feet per face which is suspended under a canopy or mounted on the face of the building.
- Temporary decorations or displays clearly incidental and customary and commonly associated with national, local or religious holiday celebrations if erected entirely on private property and not displayed for a period of more than 10 days (40 days for the Christmas/New Year holiday) coinciding with that holiday; provided, however, there shall be no flashing lights permitted in commercial areas.
- Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel upon which they are located or from any public thoroughfare or right-of-way.
- Traffic and other official signs of any public or governmental agency.
- Commemorative plaques and historical site or structure signs.
- Billboard signs located on the outfield fence of the Mariner's Field located at the Sultan High School.
- Special event signs; provided, that all of the following conditions are met: the promoter meets with the city for approval; no moving parts or flashing lights; no hazard; not erected more than 30 days before or 14 days after the event; removed within 14 days after.
- Temporary, nonilluminated real estate signs, limited to one in all residential zones, and not exceeding six feet in area per sign face.
- Temporary, nonilluminated construction signs, limited to one sign in residential areas, not exceeding 32 square feet in area per face; and two signs in commercial and industrial zoning district, not exceeding 32 square feet in area per face per street frontage.
- Real estate directional signs in all zoning districts not exceeding six square feet in area per face or four feet in height.
- Gateway signs; provided, that all of the following conditions are met: messages compliant with design standards; fees paid; no moving parts or flashing lights; no safety hazard.
- Any other signs expressing constitutionally protected forms of free speech.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign package review is a process by which building design, commercial development design, and signs are integrated into one architectural set of plans submitted for community development department review and/or building permits.
- For conditional uses in residential districts, signs may be allowed as part of the conditional use approval process (Chapter 21.04 SMC).
- Variance from sign provisions may be approved by the hearing examiner if special circumstances exist, such as unique topography or proximity to state highway, and it does not grant special privilege or harm public welfare; requires application and fee.
- For special event signs, the promoter shall meet with the city to obtain approval to ensure compliance with definition and conditions.

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

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