# Sign Regulations in Woodland, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Woodland, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/woodland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WA/Woodland/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.52SIRE)

## At a glance

Woodland, Washington regulates 38 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Identification Sign - Public or Semipublic Uses in the Residential Districts (LDR, MDR, HDR) zoning district are capped at 16 ft tall and 60 sq ft per face, with a Minimum 10 ft behind all property lines setback (Sec. 17.52.060(A)(1), (5)). Most commercial signs in Woodland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |
| Residential Districts (LDR, MDR, HDR) | 7 | 16 ft | 60 sq ft per face | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3) | 18 | 30 ft (45 ft freeway oriented for complexes ≥1.5 acres within 500 ft of I-5) | 200 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2) | 10 | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District (C-1) | 1 | — | 8 sq ft (counts toward total sign area) | — |
| Highway Commercial District (C-2) | 2 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Identification Sign - Public or Semipublic Use | 16 ft | 60 sq ft per face | — | Minimum 10 ft behind all property lines | 1 double-faced sign per use | On premises of use; minimum 10 ft behind all property lines | — | 17.52.060(A)(1), (5) |
| Wall, Roof or Projecting Sign - Public or Semipublic Use | — | — | — | — | 2 (total of all types per use) | On premises of use | — | 17.52.060(A)(2), (5) |
| Subdivision/Housing Development Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft behind property lines | 2 double-faced signs per subdivision/development | On premises of development; minimum 10 ft behind property lines. | — | 17.52.060(B)(1) |
| Permanent Identification Sign (Wall/Freestanding) - Subdivision/Multifamily/Mobile Home | 10 ft (wall), 5 ft (freestanding) | 16 sq ft per face | — | Min 10 ft from all property lines | 1 per entrance, max 2 per subdivision/development | On premises; min 10 ft from property lines | — | 17.52.060(B)(2) |
| For Sale, Lease or Rent Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property for sale, lease or rent, inside property lines not to restrict site distance | — | 17.52.060(B)(3) |
| Directional Sign - Real Estate (Temporary) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per function per street frontage | On premises/near function | — | 17.52.060(B)(4) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from all property lines | 1 | Minimum 10 ft from all property lines | — | 17.52.060(B)(6) |

### Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (C-1, C-3) - Primary Frontage | 25 ft | 100 sq ft (or 32 sq ft for <32 ft frontage) | — | — | 1 per building (C-1, C-3) | Primary frontage. Must not obstruct vision/sign view. | — | 17.52.070(A)(1,3,4,6,7) |
| Freestanding Sign (C-1, C-3) - Secondary Frontage | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building (C-1, C-3); 2 for complex (1 primary, 1 secondary) | Secondary frontage | — | 17.52.070(A)(1,3,4) |
| Freestanding Sign (C-2) - Primary Frontage | 30 ft (45 ft freeway oriented for complexes ≥1.5 acres within 500 ft of I-5) | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building (C-2); for complex 2 (1 each frontage) | Primary frontage or within 500 ft of I-5 (for certain freeway oriented signs) | — | 17.52.070(A)(2,4) |
| Freestanding Sign (C-2) - Secondary Frontage | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building (C-2); 2 for complex | Secondary frontage | — | 17.52.070(A)(2,3,4) |
| On-premise Wall, Window, Roof, or Projecting Sign (C-1, C-3) - Primary Frontage | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 3 per primary frontage (wall/roof/projecting); 1 per secondary; max 4 per business | Primary frontage, attached to building | — | 17.52.070(C)(1,2,3,4) |
| Directory, Menu Board, ATM, Height Warning | 8 ft | 32 sq ft (directory); 16 sq ft (directional) | — | — | Max 2 directional per business | On-premises; must not be oriented to or legible from street/private property (directory/menu); directional: on site | — | 17.52.070(A)(10,11) |
| For Sale, Lease or Rent Sign (Temporary) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft (double-faced) | — | >10 ft from all property lines | 1 | Inside property lines, >10 ft from all property lines, not to restrict site distance | — | 17.52.070(F), 17.52.130(D) |
| Off-premise Sign (C-2 only) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 double-faced sign per property (either off- or on-premise type) | On property with written owner permission; not in public right-of-way or affixed to trees/poles/rocks. | — | 17.52.070(B) |

### Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Primary Frontage | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business (2 for complex: primary + secondary) | Primary frontage | — | 17.52.080(A)(1,3,4,5,6,7,8) |
| Freestanding Sign - Secondary Frontage | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business (2 for complex: primary + secondary) | Secondary frontage | — | 17.52.080(A)(2,3,4) |
| Directional, Entrance, Delivery, Warning Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | 17.52.080(A)(3) |
| Sandwich Board/A-frame Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 | On private property at front or public ROW immediately at front; 44 inch minimum ADA clearance. | — | 17.52.080(A)(9), 17.52.130(M) |
| Wall, Window, Roof, Projecting Sign - Primary Frontage | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per primary frontage | Primary frontage, on building | — | 17.52.080(B)(1,2,3) |
| Wall, Window, Roof, Projecting Sign - Secondary Frontage | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per secondary frontage | Secondary frontage, on building | — | 17.52.080(B)(2,3) |
| Painted Window Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On window | — | 17.52.080(B)(4) |
| For Sale, Lease, or Rent Sign (Temporary) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft (double-faced) | — | >10 ft from all property lines | 1 | On property for sale/lease/rent, inside property lines, not to restrict site distance, >10 ft from property lines | — | 17.52.080(E), 17.52.130(D) |

## Prohibited signs in Woodland

- Construction, display, or alteration of any sign without a sign permit issued by the city, unless exempted by this chapter.
- All signs must comply with the latest adopted building code, sign code, and applicable state, county, and city building and fire codes.
- All electrically illuminated signs must comply with all federal, state, and local electrical requirements.
- Signs must be maintained in good repair, and in a safe, neat, clean, and attractive manner.
- Signs that are excessively bright or produce glare affecting the safe vision of drivers or pedestrians are prohibited.
- The following types of signs are prohibited: off-premise signs (except as specifically allowed), flashing, animated, rotating, moving or audible signs, billboards, signs that obstruct vision or traffic signs/signals, signs with obscene content, window signs unrelated to merchandise or business on premises (with limited exceptions for public holidays/events), miscellaneous signs/posters tacked/pasted/painted to various structures unless official, signs imitating or resembling official traffic signs/signals, signs construed as traffic control devices or that obstruct visibility of traffic/aviation pathways, advertising on vehicles/trailers/carts primarily for signage purposes rather than business identification, any sign not conforming to all code provisions.
- Signs declared public nuisances (such as illegal signs, abandoned signs, graffiti, temporary signs after expiration, obscured signage) are subject to removal by order of the community development director.

## Signs exempt from permit in Woodland

- Residential nameplate signs not exceeding two square feet, bearing only the name and address of the occupant.
- A sign announcing a product is on sale at a reduced price for a limited period, located inside the building where the product is sold.
- Special event signs under certain conditions (annual permission, size, placement, time limits, and removal after event).
- Christmas tree farm signs under certain conditions (permission, size, placement, map, timing, and removal dates).
- Temporary signs indicating the premises are for sale or rent, not exceeding two square feet, with restricted content.
- Signs erected by public officials in the performance of their duty on property under their jurisdiction.
- Campaign political signs, limited in content to candidates/parties/issues in a current election, removed within five days after the election.
- Public service directional signs for public buildings within public rights-of-way.
- Signs of a public, noncommercial nature including safety, direction, danger, no trespassing, etc.
- Traffic signs, traffic control devices, signals, and markings installed by the city.
- "No hunting," "no trespassing," "no dumping," "no parking," "private" and informational warning signs not exceeding four square feet each.
- Plaques, tablets, or inscriptions (building name, date, commemorative info), integral or attached to the structure, non-illuminated, not exceeding three square feet.
- Product dispensers.
- Sandwich board or A frame signs.
- Reasonable seasonal decorations within the appropriate public holiday season, removed promptly after.
- One flag of a commercial institution per business, not exceeding twenty square feet and left loose to fly.
- Sculptures, fountains, mosaics, and design features not incorporating advertising or identification.
- Advertising on existing theater marquees.
- Repair, maintenance, or modification of existing (conforming or pre-existing nonconforming) signs, provided nonconformance is not increased.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permit applications require two site plans showing locations of proposed sign(s).
- Sign permit applications require two plans of the proposed sign including style, size, and a scaled design.
- All sign permit applications must be signed by the property owner as well as the applicant; the property owner is responsible for ensuring compliance and coordination in multi-tenant buildings regarding sign allocation.
- A sign permit is required for all signs unless expressly exempted by Section 17.52.130.
- For special event and christmas tree farm signs, a map showing locations of all proposed signs must be submitted with the special event or farm sign application.
- Building permits and inspections by the city building official are required for awnings, bulletin boards, canopies, display cases, and marquees.
- Off-premise signs in specified districts require written permission from the property owner where the sign is located, and are subject to building permit approval.

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

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