Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Sign Regulations

How Yakima Handles Sign Regulations: A Practical Guide

By CityRuleLookup Editorial Team

Yakima maintains 106 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with sign regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Yakima falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Holiday Displays

Yakima imposes no calendar-based take-down deadline for residential holiday lights, wreaths, inflatables, or seasonal decorations. The YMC 15.08.020 definition of 'Sign' targets devices used 'to attract attention to the subject matter that identifies, advertises, and/or promotes a product, good, service, place, person, firm, merchandise, point of sale or business' — generic seasonal decorations with no commercial or identifying message generally fall outside the definition. Practical limits come from the YMC 15.08.110(A) clear view triangle, YMC 15.08.075 illumination rules, the YMC 11.40 Property Maintenance Code (nuisance/structural maintenance), and YMC Chapter 6 (Public Peace, Morals and Welfare) for amplified sound.

Key details: Permit Required: No — non-commercial residential decorations not regulated as 'signs'. Take-down Deadline: None in the Yakima Municipal Code. Clear View Triangle: Must remain clear (YMC 15.08.110(A)). Illumination: No illuminated temporary/portable signs; no residential-zone sign lighting (YMC 15.08.075(A)). Light Shielding: External fixtures must be fully shielded (YMC 15.08.075(B)(1)).

No automatic citation for residential holiday displays. Citations apply only when a display blocks the clear view triangle (YMC 15.08.110(A)), creates illumination spillover (YMC 15.08.075), violates the YMC 11.40 property maintenance / nuisance provisions, exceeds WAC 173-60 / state noise limits, or violates HOA covenants (privately enforced under RCW 64.90). Property Maintenance Code penalty schedule (YMC 11.40.106.4): $250 — no abatement after notice; $500 / $750 / $1,000 — escalating repeat offenses.

The rules around holiday displays in Yakima lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Political Signs

Yakima regulates signs under YMC Chapter 15.08 (Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance, Title 15). YMC 15.08.010 states the chapter is content-neutral and that nothing should be construed to favor commercial speech over noncommercial speech, so the temporary-sign standards apply to political/campaign signs regardless of message. Under YMC 15.08.110(E), in single-family residential zones temporary freestanding signs may not exceed 4 sq ft and 5 ft high if post-mounted (3 ft high if stake-mounted/portable); in multifamily zones 6 sq ft / 5 ft (3 ft stake/portable). One temporary window sign per residential unit up to 4 sq ft is also allowed. No permit is required for temporary signs (YMC 15.08.110, first sentence). Washington has no statewide political-sign preemption.

Key details: Code Section: YMC 15.08 (Signs) — 15.08.010 content-neutral, 15.08.110 temporary signs. Permit Required: No — 'No review is required for temporary signs' (YMC 15.08.110). Single-Family Yard Sign: Max 4 sq ft, 5 ft post-mounted / 3 ft stake or portable (YMC 15.08.110(E)(2)(i)). Multifamily Yard Sign: Max 6 sq ft, 5 ft post-mounted / 3 ft stake or portable (YMC 15.08.110(E)(2)(ii)). Residential Window Sign: One per unit, max 4 sq ft (YMC 15.08.110(E)(1)).

Violations of YMC Chapter 15.08 are addressed under YMC 15.08.190. Signs attached to city property (utility poles, boxes, fences, street signs) will be removed by the city and held for 5 business days at Public Works before destruction (YMC 15.08.070(K)). Dilapidated or nuisance temporary signs in the ROW must be removed by the person responsible (YMC 15.08.110(D)(5)). Repeat or refused-to-abate violations may also be processed under YMC Title 6 (general civil infractions) and YMC 11.40 (Property Maintenance Code) penalties — $250 (no abatement after notice), escalating to $500/$750/$1,000 for repeat offenses (YMC 11.40.106.4).

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Yakima gives residents more flexibility on political signs.

Garage Sale Signs

Yakima has no garage-sale-specific sign ordinance; yard-sale signs are regulated as temporary signs under YMC 15.08.110. No permit is required ('No review is required for temporary signs'). On the seller's own residential property, signs must comply with YMC 15.08.110(E) size limits (4 sq ft / 5 ft in single-family; 6 sq ft / 5 ft in multifamily, 3 ft if stake-mounted). Off-premise signs in the city right-of-way are allowed only between the property line and back of curb on stakes manually pushed into the ground, with the abutting landowner's approval, capped at 4 sq ft and 3 ft high, and never on sidewalks (YMC 15.08.110(D)). Signs may not be attached to utility poles, fences, traffic signs, or any other city property (YMC 15.08.070(K)).

Key details: Permit Required: No — temporary signs do not require review (YMC 15.08.110). Own-Yard Size (SFR): Max 4 sq ft; 5 ft post-mounted / 3 ft stake or portable (YMC 15.08.110(E)(2)(i)). Own-Yard Size (MFR): Max 6 sq ft; 5 ft post-mounted / 3 ft stake or portable (YMC 15.08.110(E)(2)(ii)). ROW Sign Cap: 4 sq ft and 3 ft high; stakes only; not on sidewalks (YMC 15.08.110(D)). Abutting Owner Consent: Required for ROW signs (YMC 15.08.110(D)(2)).

Code Administration may issue a notice of violation; off-premise/utility-pole signs are removed by the city and held 5 business days at Public Works before destruction (YMC 15.08.070(K)). General code-compliance penalties under YMC 11.40.106.4 — $250 (no abatement after notice), $500 / $750 / $1,000 escalating for repeat offenses. WSDOT removes signs in state-highway ROW under RCW 47.42.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Yakima gives residents more room on sign regulations. 2 of the 3 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

All of the above reflects Yakima'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.