# Sign Regulations in Washougal, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Washougal, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/washougal
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-05
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Washougal/#!/Washougal18/Washougal1860.html#18.60)

## At a glance

Washougal, Washington regulates 22 sign types across 7 zoning districts. A-board or Freestanding Sidewalk Signs in the Woodburn Hill Subarea Commercial Nodes, Community Commercial (CC), Convenience Commercial (CV), Highway Commercial (CH) zoning district are capped at 36 inches tall and 9 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) (Sec. WMC 18.60.058; 18.60.090 Table). Most commercial signs in Washougal require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R1-5, R1-7.5, R1-10, R1-15, AR-16, AR-22 | 7 | 42 inches | 32 sq ft per face | — |
| Woodburn Hill Subarea Commercial Nodes, Community Commercial (CC), Convenience Commercial (CV), Highway Commercial (CH) | 13 | 42 inches | 200 sq ft (or 64 sq ft if <43 ft frontage) | — |
| Light Industrial (LI), Heavy Industrial (HI) | 14 | 42 inches | 200 sq ft (or 32 if <32 ft length) | — |
| Town Center Core (TC-C), Town Center East Village (TC-EV) | 11 | 42 inches | 200 sq ft (or 64 sq ft if <43 ft frontage) | — |
| Town Center West Village (TC-WV) | 9 | 42 inches | 200 sq ft (or 32 sq ft for buildings <32 ft) | — |
| Institutional and Public (IP) | 11 | 42 inches | 200 sq ft (or 64 sq ft if <43 ft frontage) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 32 sq ft each (max 2 signs) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Woodburn Hill Subarea Commercial Nodes, Community Commercial (CC), Convenience Commercial (CV), Highway Commercial (CH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-board or Freestanding Sidewalk Sign | 36 inches | 9 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Front or side street business frontage; not in roadway, island, median, circle, within sight triangle, or within 5 ft of wheelchair ramp | — | WMC 18.60.058; 18.60.090 Table |
| Business Complex Sign (Monument Style) | 20 ft | 200 sq ft (or 64 sq ft if <43 ft frontage) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | WMC 18.60.056 |
| Electronic Message Center | — | 30% of total sign area | — | — | — | As part of monument, business complex, or projecting sign. Not as standalone. | — | WMC 18.60.062(2)(e); 18.60.090 Table |
| Fascia Sign | — | 200 sq ft (or 32 sq ft if <32 ft length) | — | — | — | On building elevation | — | WMC 18.60.052; 18.60.090 Table |
| Monument Sign (On-site) | 20 ft | 200 sq ft (or 32 sq ft if <32 ft frontage) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage, on-site only | — | WMC 18.60.050; 18.60.090 Table |
| Projecting Sign (Blade/Bracket) | Bracket signs max 2 ft high; must not extend above building parapet/soffit/eave/roof (except theaters) | Varies (e.g., 20 sq ft per 100 ft of frontage) | — | — | — | Perpendicular to wall; bracket signs below awning/canopy | — | WMC 18.60.054; 18.60.090 Table |
| Other Temporary Signs | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On site only | — | WMC 18.60.060; 18.60.090 Table |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft (general); 2 if >400 ft frontage | — | — | 1 per lot, or 2 if >400 ft frontage | On property for sale/lease only | — | WMC 18.60.040(11); 18.60.090 Table |

### Light Industrial (LI), Heavy Industrial (HI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fascia Sign | — | 200 sq ft (or 32 if <32 ft length) | — | — | — | On building elevation | — | WMC 18.60.052; 18.60.090 Table |
| Monument Sign (On-site) | 20 ft | 200 sq ft (or 32 sq ft if <32 ft street frontage) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | WMC 18.60.050; 18.60.090 Table |
| Business Complex Sign (Monument Style) | 20 ft | 200 sq ft (or 64 sq ft if <43 ft frontage) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | WMC 18.60.056; 18.60.090 Table |
| Electronic Message Center | — | 30% of sign | — | — | — | As part of another sign type only | — | WMC 18.60.062(2)(e); 18.60.090 Table |
| Projecting Sign (Blade/Bracket) | Bracket signs max 2 ft high; must not extend above building parapet/soffit/eave/roof (except theaters) | Varies; bracket signs max 2 ft high | — | — | — | — | — | WMC 18.60.054; 18.60.090 Table |
| A-board or Freestanding Sidewalk Sign | 36 inches | 9 sq ft per face (2 faces max) | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Along business frontage as allowed | — | WMC 18.60.058; 18.60.090 Table |
| Other Temporary Signs | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On site only | — | WMC 18.60.060; 18.60.090 Table |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft (general); 2 if >400 ft frontage | — | — | 1 per lot, or 2 if >400 ft frontage | On property for sale/lease only | — | WMC 18.60.040(11); 18.60.090 Table |

### Town Center Core (TC-C), Town Center East Village (TC-EV)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Complex Sign (Monument Style) | 20 ft | 200 sq ft (or 64 sq ft if <43 ft frontage) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | WMC 18.60.056 |
| Electronic Message Center | — | 30% of sign area | — | — | — | As part of allowed sign types only | — | WMC 18.60.062(2)(e); 18.60.090 Table |
| Fascia Sign | — | 200 sq ft (or 32 sq ft for buildings less than 32 ft) | — | — | — | On building elevation | — | WMC 18.60.052; 18.60.090 Table |
| Monument Sign (On-site) | 20 ft | 200 sq ft (32 sq ft if <32 ft frontage) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage, on-site only | — | WMC 18.60.050; 18.60.090 Table |
| Projecting Sign (Blade/Bracket) | Bracket sign max 2 ft; signs must not extend above parapet/eave/soffit/roof (except theaters) | Varies; bracket max 2 ft high | — | — | — | Perpendicular to wall / below awning/canopy/marquee as bracket sign | — | WMC 18.60.054; 18.60.090 Table |
| Directional Sign (P2 / TC-C, TC-EV) | 42 inches | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | WMC 18.60.090 Table Note 2 |
| Other Temporary Signs | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-site | — | WMC 18.60.060; 18.60.090 Table |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft (general); 2 allowed if >400 ft frontage | — | — | 1 per lot, or 2 if >400 ft frontage | On property for sale/lease only | — | WMC 18.60.040(11); 18.60.090 Table |

## Prohibited signs in Washougal

- Abandoned signs, as defined in this chapter.
- Animated signs, as defined in this chapter.
- Any sign which does not bear the names of the owner or person responsible for its maintenance.
- Signs artificially illuminated that interfere with or impair the vision of drivers or otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
- A-board and freestanding sidewalk signs, except as provided in commercial zones.
- Signs which attempt or appear to attempt to direct the movement of traffic by interfering with, imitating, or resembling any official traffic sign, signal, or device.
- Signs which prevent the driver of a vehicle from having a clear and unobstructed view of official signs and approaching or merging traffic as defined under the engineering standards.
- Rooftop and rotating signs, as defined in this chapter.
- Portable signs, as defined in this chapter.
- Temporary signs unless a temporary sign permit has been approved by the community development director.
- Signs containing strobe lights.
- Any sign not specifically permitted by this chapter.
- Flashing lights.
- Billboards, except in specifically described area.
- Off-site signs, except as specified.
- Signs that do not comply with maintenance, appearance, and safety requirements as described.
- Signs interfering with the safe and efficient use of off-street parking and loading areas, aisle ways, access driveways, and sight distances on public or private streets.
- Signs that create a public health or safety hazard as determined by the community development director.

## Signs exempt from permit in Washougal

- Signs not exceeding one and one-half square feet in area that are customarily associated with residential use and that are not of a commercial nature, such as property identification, mailbox, newspaper tube, private parking, traffic direction, or warning signs.
- Signs erected by or on behalf of or authorized by a governmental body, including legal notices, identification, and informational signs, and traffic, directional, or regulatory signs.
- Official signs of noncommercial nature erected by public utilities.
- Flags, pennants, or insignias of any governmental or nonprofit organization when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings or works of art, as long as they do not contain letters, trademarks, moving parts, or lights.
- Church bulletin boards, identification signs, and directional signs meeting size and illumination limitations.
- Signs painted on or otherwise permanently attached to currently licensed motor vehicles that are not primarily used as signs.
- Signs proclaiming religious, political, or other noncommercial messages that do not exceed six square feet in area, five feet in height, and are not internally illuminated (political signs must also be removed within 10 days after the election).
- Public service signs not exceeding two square feet in area, placed in the interior of an establishment’s window or glass door, such as "open/closed," "vacancy," etc., so long as collectively they do not cover more than 75% of the transparent area.
- Signs that are an integral part of a vending machine, telephone booth, or similar facility.
- One unlighted real estate sign per property, not exceeding four square feet; properties with more than 400 feet of frontage may have two, to be removed within 14 days after sale.
- One construction sign per lot, not exceeding 32 square feet, to be removed within 14 days after issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
- Temporary subdivision advertising signs at each entrance, not exceeding 32 square feet, removed upon construction of the last lot or installation of a permanent sign. Permanent signs must be monument style, a maximum of 32 square feet and five feet high.
- One sign per lot (or combination of signs) identifying the architect, engineer, or contractor of work under construction, not exceeding 32 square feet, removed within 14 days after completion.
- Holiday lights, displays, and decorations.
- Signs indicating a special event (fair, carnival, festival, etc.) to take place on the lot, displayed no sooner than two weeks before the event and removed within three days after.
- On-site garage sale signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All sign permits require Type I site plan review approval through the community development department prior to issuing a building permit.
- A site plan must be submitted as part of the sign permit application showing boundaries, locations of all buildings and drives, locations of existing and proposed signs, and distances to property lines and streets.
- Front elevation and side elevation drawings may be required, especially for projecting or building-mounted signs.
- A building permit is required subsequent to site plan review approval for all non-exempt signs.
- The erection or remodeling of billboards requires site plan review approval and a building permit.
- As part of sign permit or site plan review, the community development director may require additional information or impose conditions such as shielding, relocation, or adjustment of sign illumination.
- A-board and freestanding sidewalk signs are exempt from permit and fee requirements.
- Certain limited access highway signs require consideration and approval of the community development director as part of the permit process.

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

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