Sign Permits

Temporary signs can be a helpful and cost effective method to publicize special or short-term needs. This type of signage is regulated to minimize the visual clutter which could result from a proliferation of signs.

Temporary Signs requiring a permit

Banners

• May not be used for permanent signage
• Must be made of durable materials and shall be well maintained
• Limited to two 30-day placements per calendar year
• May only be placed on building walls, tacked down on all four corners, and limited to
• 10% of wall area

Sandwich Board Signs

• For businesses that cater to pedestrians
• Shall be pedestrian oriented in nature
• Businesses are only permitted one sign
• Maximum sign area of 9 square feet, no wider than 3 feet
• Must be made of durable materials and shall be well maintained
• Signs may only be displayed during business hours, provisions shall be made to keep a sign in a well lit area after dark
• Signs may be located no further than 12 feet from the entrance to the business
• Signs must maintain 5 feet clearance on the sidewalk, not obstruct entrances, stairs, handicap ramps or be located within the vision triangle

Construction Signs

• May be displayed only after receipt of a building permit and during construction
• One sign permitted per site per public street where the project fronts Residential Zones

• Maximum size: 32 square feet
• Maximum height: 10 feet
• At least 10 feet from the property line and 10 feet from adjacent property line All Other Zones
• Maximum size: 32 square feet
• Maximum height: 10 feet
• At least 10 feet from the property line and 30 feet from adjacent property line

Grand Opening Signs / Displays

• Permitted for a maximum of seven days
• Only for the opening of a completely new enterprise or a business under new management
• All materials shall be removed immediately after the grand opening
• Grand opening temporary signs include: posters, banners, strings of pennants, balloons, searchlights, etc.

College Street Banner

• An application must be made with the Lacey City Manager’s Office, (360) 491-3214. Space is subject to scheduling. There is a $25.00 fee for hanging the banner.
• The banner is hung by City staff on City-owned poles located on College Street between 6th Avenue SE and Woodland Square Loop.
• This is only available for non-profit organizations or for governmental use.

Special Events Signs

• A special event is defined as a circus, carnival, festival or other similar event
• Placed only on private property
• Maximum size: 4 square feet
• May be displayed 30 days prior to the event and must be removed within 7 days of the conclusion of the event
• Business special events are allowed, not to exceed 30 days per year

Temporary Signs requiring no permit:

 Real Estate Signs (must be made of durable materials)

• Developed Residential Properties
• For sale signs must be located on the property being sold (no off-site directional signs)
• One “For Sale” sign is allowed per parcel
• Maximum size: 5 square feet
• Maximum height: 7 feet 

Open House Signs

• One “Open House” sign allowed on property for sale 
• Up to 3 open house signs directing toward the house. If more than one house within a subdivision, a maximum of 4 signs per subdivision is allowed.
• Open house signs must be placed within one mile of the open house
• Open house signs may only be displayed during daylight hours, while an agent is on the site and must state “open house” on the sign

Undeveloped Residential Properties

• There may be one sign used along the street frontage of the development to advertise buildable lots
• Maximum size: 32 square feet
• Maximum height: 7 feet
• Sign must be located at least 30 feet from property line
• The sign must be removed once all lots are developed

Subdivisions

• Subdivisions may have one cluster of flagpoles (up to 5 poles) in front of the sales office
• Flagpoles must be removed after all houses have sold

Developed Commercial / Industrial

• May be one sign used along the street frontage
• Maximum size: 32 square feet
• Maximum height: 7 feet
• If the sign is free standing, it must be located more than 15 feet from the property line or public right-of-way
• If one wall of the building is less than 10 feet from the building line, then the sign must be placed on the building or in a window 

Undeveloped Commercial / Industrial

• There may be one sign used along the street frontage
• Maximum size: 32 square feet
• Maximum height: 7 feet 

Temporary / Seasonal Sales

• Vendors who receive temporary business licenses are permitted one sign
• Maximum size: 20 square feet
• The sign shall be mounted to the booth or trailer used for the temporary sale 

Political Signs

• Maximum size: 10 square feet
• Located only on private property
• For candidates who are successful in the primary, signs may remain until 7 days after the final election
• Special election signs may be displayed for 60 days prior to the election and the signs must be removed within 7 days after the election

Garage Sale

• Sign is limited to one sign on the premises of the sale and 3 directional signs
• Maximum size: 4 square feet
• The signs may only be displayed during the sale and must be removed the day of the sale

Prohibited Signs

• Roof signs
• Animated signs
• Flashing signs
• Portable signs
• Signs that imitate an official traffic sign
• Signs projecting over or located on a sidewalk or public right-of-way (except awnings or marquees in commercial zones)
• Signs attached to public owned poles like traffic signal/sign poles, and power or telephone poles
• Strings of banners, pennants, and other graffiti-like material
• Free-standing pole/pylon signs