# Sign Regulations in Yakima, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Yakima, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/yakima
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-05
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Yakima/html/Yakima15/Yakima1508.html#15.08.110)

## At a glance

Yakima, Washington regulates 34 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Portable Signs in the SCC zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 4 ft × 3 ft; up to 2 signs, total ≤ 24 sq ft if two, and 3 ft wide, with a Not in clear view triangle setback (Sec. YMC 15.08.155). Most commercial signs in Yakima require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | Up to 70 ft (where permitted) | Up to 300 sq ft (where permitted) | — |
| SR, R-1, R-2, R-3 | 3 | 5 ft (≤15 ft setback); 10 ft (>15 ft setback) | Up to 32 sq ft | — |
| B-1, HB | 11 | Up to 70 ft | Up to 300 sq ft | — |
| B-2 | 12 | Up to 70 ft | Up to 300 sq ft | — |
| SCC | 13 | Up to 70 ft | Up to 300 sq ft | — |
| LCC | 13 | Up to 70 ft | Up to 300 sq ft | — |
| CBD | 11 | Up to 70 ft | Up to 300 sq ft | — |
| GC, AS, RD | 15 | Up to 70 ft | Up to 300 sq ft | — |
| M-1, M-2 | 13 | Up to 70 ft | Up to 300 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### SCC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding/Projecting Sign (≤15 ft setback) (Frontage < 400 ft) | 30 ft | Up to 100 sq ft per face (max per sign = 2 × per face) | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 per street frontage; multi-building options per 15.08.140 | On private property; within 15 ft of ROW | — | YMC 15.08.060 Table 8-2 (SCC <400 ft, ≤15 ft setback); Table 8-3 (Heights) |
| Permanent Freestanding/Projecting Sign (>15 ft setback) (Frontage < 400 ft) | 35 ft | Up to 150 sq ft per face (max per sign = 2 × per face) | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 per street frontage | Set back more than 15 ft from required ROW | — | YMC 15.08.060 Table 8-2 (SCC <400 ft, >15 ft setback); Table 8-3 |
| Permanent Freestanding/Projecting Sign (≤15 ft setback) (Frontage ≥ 400 ft) | 30 ft | Up to 150 sq ft per face (max per sign = 2 × per face) | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 per street frontage; multi-building options per 15.08.140 | Within 15 ft of ROW | — | YMC 15.08.060 Table 8-2 (SCC ≥400 ft, ≤15 ft setback); Table 8-3 |
| Permanent Freestanding/Projecting Sign (>15 ft setback) (Frontage ≥ 400 ft) | 35 ft | Up to 200 sq ft per face (max per sign = 2 × per face) | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 per street frontage | Set back more than 15 ft from required ROW | — | YMC 15.08.060 Table 8-2 (SCC ≥400 ft, >15 ft setback); Table 8-3 |
| Fascia Sign | Within fascia board | Not to exceed fascia board area | Within fascia board | — | Not limited by count | Fascia board | — | YMC 15.08.105 |
| Freeway Sign | Up to 70 ft | Up to 300 sq ft | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 | Per 15.08.150(B) | — | YMC 15.08.150; Table 8-2, 8-3 |
| Digital Sign | Per host sign/Table 8-3 | ≤ 50 sq ft | — | Per host sign | 1 per 100 ft frontage | Nonres zones only | — | YMC 15.08.135 |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft | 4 ft × 3 ft; up to 2 signs, total ≤ 24 sq ft if two | 3 ft | Not in clear view triangle | Up to 2 per business/tenant | Within 10 ft of building or driveway; not in ROW without permit | — | YMC 15.08.155 |

### GC, AS, RD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding/Projecting Sign (≤15 ft setback) (Frontage < 400 ft) | 30 ft | Up to 150 sq ft per face (max per sign = 2 × per face) | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 per street frontage | Within 15 ft of ROW | — | YMC 15.08.060 Table 8-2 (GC/AS/RD <400 ft, ≤15 ft setback); Table 8-3 |
| Permanent Freestanding/Projecting Sign (>15 ft setback) (Frontage < 400 ft) | 30 ft (GC); 40 ft (AS, RD per Table 8-3 group ≥15 ft setback shows AS/RD/M-1/M-2 = 40 ft) | Up to 200 sq ft per face (max per sign = 2 × per face) | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 per street frontage | Set back more than 15 ft | — | YMC 15.08.060 Table 8-2 (GC/AS/RD <400 ft, >15 ft setback); Table 8-3 (Heights) |
| Permanent Freestanding/Projecting Sign (≤15 ft setback) (Frontage ≥ 400 ft) | 30 ft | Up to 200 sq ft per face (max per sign = 2 × per face) | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 per street frontage | Within 15 ft of ROW | — | YMC 15.08.060 Table 8-2 (GC/AS/RD ≥400 ft, ≤15 ft setback); Table 8-3 |
| Permanent Freestanding/Projecting Sign (>15 ft setback) (Frontage ≥ 400 ft) | 30 ft (GC); 40 ft (AS, RD per Table 8-3 group) | Up to 250 sq ft per face (max per sign = 2 × per face) | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 per street frontage | Set back more than 15 ft | — | YMC 15.08.060 Table 8-2 (GC/AS/RD ≥400 ft, >15 ft setback); Table 8-3 |
| Fascia Sign | Within fascia board | Not to exceed fascia board area | Within fascia board | — | Not limited by count | Fascia board | — | YMC 15.08.105 |
| Freeway Sign | Up to 70 ft | Up to 300 sq ft | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 | Per 15.08.150(B) | — | YMC 15.08.150; Tables 8-2, 8-3 |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign (GC and RD only; AS not allowed) | ≤ 25 ft | ≤ 32 sq ft | — | Front yard setbacks required | 1 per eligible use; 1 per parcel | Permanently installed on private property (GC/RD) | — | YMC 15.08.120(B)(1)-(4); 15.08.130(C) |
| Billboard (GC and RD only; AS not allowed) | Per Table 8-3 (freestanding limits for the zone) | Up to 300 sq ft per face (160 sq ft if within 150–300 ft of residential district) | — | Front yard setbacks required | 1 per parcel | On private property; not within 150 ft of a residential district; spacing/spacing/setbacks apply | — | YMC 15.08.130(A)-(B); Table 8-1 Billboards row |

### M-1, M-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding/Projecting Sign (≤15 ft setback) | 30 ft | Up to 100 sq ft per face (max per sign = 2 × per face) | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 per street frontage | Within 15 ft of ROW | — | YMC 15.08.060 Table 8-2 (M-1, M-2 ≤15 ft); Table 8-3 (Heights) |
| Permanent Freestanding/Projecting Sign (>15 ft setback) | 40 ft | Up to 150 sq ft per face (max per sign = 2 × per face) | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 per street frontage | Set back more than 15 ft | — | YMC 15.08.060 Table 8-2 (M-1, M-2 >15 ft); Table 8-3 |
| Fascia Sign | Within fascia board | Not to exceed fascia board area | Within fascia board | — | Not limited by count | Fascia board | — | YMC 15.08.105 |
| Freeway Sign | Up to 70 ft | Up to 300 sq ft | — | Front: edge of ROW | 1 | Per 15.08.150(B) | — | YMC 15.08.150; Tables 8-2, 8-3 |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign | ≤ 25 ft | ≤ 32 sq ft | — | Front yard setbacks required | 1 per eligible use; 1 per parcel | Permanently installed on private property | — | YMC 15.08.120(B)(1)-(4); 15.08.130(C)(1) |
| Billboard | Per Table 8-3 (freestanding sign limits) | Up to 300 sq ft per face (160 sq ft if within 150–300 ft of residential district) | — | Front yard setbacks required | 1 per parcel | On private property; not within 150 ft of residential; spacing and setbacks apply | — | YMC 15.08.130(A)-(B); Table 8-1 (Billboards) |
| Digital Sign | Per host sign/Table 8-3 | ≤ 50 sq ft | — | Per host sign | 1 per 100 ft frontage | Nonres zones only | — | YMC 15.08.135 |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft | 4 ft × 3 ft; up to 2 signs, total ≤ 24 sq ft if two | 3 ft | — | Up to 2 per business/tenant | Within 10 ft of building or driveway; not in ROW without permit | — | YMC 15.08.155 |

## Prohibited signs in Yakima

- Signs on vehicles or trailers parked on public or private property and visible from a public right-of-way for the primary purpose of attracting attention or circumventing the sign code are prohibited (except signs painted on or magnetically attached to vehicles operating in the normal course of business).
- Signs that imitate, resemble, or could be confused with official traffic signs or signals, or that obstruct the visibility of any traffic/street sign or signal or pedestrians by glare or method of illumination, are prohibited.
- Signs attached to utility, streetlight, or traffic-control poles or facilities; signs attached to city-owned fences; and signs placed on trees are prohibited.
- Swinging projecting signs are prohibited.
- Signs in a dilapidated or hazardous condition are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Signs on doors, windows, or fire escapes that restrict free ingress or egress are prohibited.
- Any sign not meeting the provisions of Chapter 15.08 is prohibited.
- Paper-faced signs, including vinyl-coated paper and those applied with adhesives, are not allowed.
- Pliable sign faces (canvas, fabric, vinyl or similar) attached to permanent sign structures may not have exposed edges and must be mounted behind a perimeter frame or trim cap (flags made of 100% spun polyester are exempt from this mounting requirement).
- Signs attached to a building shall not exceed the height of the building, except as allowed by YMC 15.08.080(1) and 15.08.090.
- Signs may not be placed within the clear view triangle of roadways, driveways, or curb cuts (YMC 15.05.040).
- No sign may be affixed, connected, taped, zip-tied, tied, or otherwise attached to any city property, including utility poles, utility boxes, fences, or street signs.
- No sign may be placed within the roadway portion of the city right-of-way except as otherwise permitted with a right-of-way use or special event permit.
- External or internal sign lighting that adversely affects neighboring property or motor vehicle safety is prohibited; any exterior lighting must be shielded and directed away from adjoining streets or residential uses.
- The area of sign supports, framing, and decorative features that contain no copy may not exceed the area of the sign cabinet (maximum 1:1 ratio).
- Temporary or portable signs may not be illuminated.

## Signs exempt from permit in Yakima

- On-premises signs not readable from the public right-of-way (e.g., menu boards, interior signs) are exempt from permitting.
- On-premises directional signs meeting the other requirements of the chapter (including size limits) are exempt from permitting.
- Barber poles, gravestones, or structures intended for a separate use (e.g., Goodwill containers) are exempt from permitting.
- Building identification numbers required by the Yakima Municipal Code or other city/state regulation are exempt from permitting.
- Temporary signs on private or public property that meet YMC 15.08.110 are exempt from permitting.
- Governmental signs installed by the city, county, or a federal or state agency for public health, safety, and general welfare (including emergency/warning signs, traffic/wayfinding signs, signs required by law, and signs showing the location of public facilities) are exempt from permitting.
- Flags are exempt from permitting subject to standards (in residential districts: one flagpole per street frontage; no more than two flags per pole; pole height limited to the zone’s maximum structure height; setbacks per accessory structures; maximum flag sizes by pole height; larger flags may be allowed by modification under YMC Chapter 15.17).
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, dates of erection, and similar features incorporated into building materials/facades are exempt from permitting.
- Vehicles with signs are exempt unless the vehicle is parked or stationed in a prominently visible location for the primary purpose of attracting attention to the sign.
- Temporary window signs affixed inside a window, easily removable, and within area limits for window/temporary signs are exempt from permitting.
- Portable signs and freestanding temporary signs that meet YMC 15.08.155 and 15.08.110, respectively, and all other applicable provisions, are exempt from permitting.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive design plan is required whenever adjustment of one or more sign design standards is proposed or when required as part of a detailed sign plan (YMC 15.08.170(A)).
- The comprehensive design plan must include a narrative and site plan detailing sign size, height, shape, color, location, and landscaping; how the sign relates to surroundings; justification for adjustment; and for multiple-tenant buildings or multiple-building complexes, how available sign area will be allocated among tenants or leasable spaces (YMC 15.08.170(A)(1)-(4)).
- Administrative adjustment to allow siting signs in zones or locations not otherwise authorized may be requested; the request must include a site plan, description of surroundings, and justification (YMC 15.08.170(B)).
- Administrative adjustments are reviewed by the administrative official under YMC Chapter 15.10 and may be approved with conditions or disapproved (YMC 15.08.170(C)).
- Except as allowed by administrative adjustment, reductions of sign standards require a variance under YMC Chapter 15.21 (YMC 15.08.180).
- A development permit is required before any sign governed by the title is erected, structurally altered, or relocated; structural changes or replacement of an existing sign require review and approval by the building official (YMC 15.08.030).
- On-premises freestanding and subdivision/use identification signs proposed within a parking space or drive aisle require modification review under YMC Chapter 15.17 (YMC 15.08.030(1)).
- On-premises signs not meeting the standards of Chapter 15.08 must follow the administrative adjustment procedures in YMC 15.08.170 or are otherwise not permitted (YMC 15.08.030(1); Table 8-1 notes).
- Projecting signs over the public right-of-way require a right-of-way use permit under YMC 8.20; certain temporary or portable sign placements in the right-of-way or on city property also require right-of-way use or special event permits (YMC 15.08.080(2); 15.08.070(L); 15.08.110(D)(6); 15.08.110(B); 15.08.155(E)).
- Temporary signs and carried signs do not require permits if they meet applicable code standards (YMC 15.08.110; 15.08.115).

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

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