How Gresham Handles Sign Regulations: A Practical Guide
Gresham maintains 113 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with sign regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Gresham falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Holiday Displays
Holiday decorations in Gresham skip the sign development permit entirely, but the exemption only holds if you take them down within 15 days after the holiday they mark has passed.
Key details: Removal deadline: 15 days after the holiday. Permit status: Exempt if removed on time. Governing code: Development Code Appendix 6. Applies to: Any holiday decoration citywide.
Decorations left up past the 15-day window lose their permit exemption and become an unpermitted sign, exposing the owner to code compliance and abatement proceedings under Development Code § A6.140.
The rules around holiday displays in Gresham lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.
Digital Billboards
Gresham doesn't allow stand-alone digital billboards: an electronic message center may only be built into a freestanding or wall sign, and the electronic panel itself is capped at 8 square feet.
Key details: Max EMC area: 8 square feet. Placement: Freestanding or wall sign only. Combination limit: Not both sign types. Zones: Commercial, mixed-use, industrial districts.
An electronic message center over 8 square feet, built as a stand-alone structure, or added to both a freestanding and a wall sign on one site violates Development Code § A6.100(F)(3) and isn't permit-eligible as installed.
Garage Sale Signs
Gresham caps garage sale A-board signs at 12 square feet, limits them to two consecutive days, and only allows them out between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. in residential, mixed-use and plan districts.
Key details: Max size: 12 square feet per face. Display hours: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. only. Max duration: 2 consecutive days. Number allowed: One per site street frontage.
A garage sale sign left out overnight, displayed for more than two consecutive days, oversized, or placed in the clear vision area or right-of-way violates Development Code § A6.133 and is subject to sign code enforcement.
Window Signs
Gresham exempts window signs on commercial, industrial, and institutional properties from a development permit, but only if the signage covers no more than 50 percent of the window area; exceed that and a permit is required.
Key details: Citywide window sign cap: 50% of window area, no permit. Downtown Plan District cap: 20% of window area. Applies to: Commercial, industrial, institutional uses. Governing code: Community Development Code Appendix 6.000. If exceeded: Development permit required, § A6.010.
Window signage that exceeds the 50 percent cap loses the permit exemption and requires development permit review; downtown storefronts exceeding the district's 20 percent cap risk removal as a non-conforming sign.
The Bottom Line
Gresham's sign regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Gresham is broadly strict or permissive.
All of the above reflects Gresham's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.