SIGN REGULATIONS
Temporary Signs

The types of temporary signs allowed in the City of Lacey are: real estate (for sale or for rent), open house, construction, grand opening, political, garage sale, banners, seasonal sales, sandwich board signs and special events. They can be a helpful and cost effective method to publicize special or short-term needs. They are regulated to minimize the visual clutter which could result from a proliferation of signs.

Download Temporary Sign Permit Application

• 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 6 square feet, no wider than 2 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
  
• Businesses must comply with Section 16.75.110.A.8.a of the Lacey Municipal Code
  

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
  
  

 
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
  
• A garage sale permit is required. Apply with the Lacey Police Department; there is no charge.
  

• 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

Fill out an application indicating the type of sign you are requesting and provide an acknowledgment of the regulations pertaining to that type of sign. There are no fees for temporary sign applications (except for the College Street banner, which requires an application and fee of $25.00).

Download Temporary Sign Permit Application