Washington County, OR Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sign count allowed
- One identification sign
- Residential/ag/forest district cap
- 2 square feet
- Commercial/industrial district cap
- 20 square feet
- Vehicle lettering
- Exempt from the sign limit
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Washington County only
Summary
A home-based business in unincorporated Washington County may display exactly one identification sign. In a residential, agricultural, or forest district the sign is capped at 2 square feet; in a commercial or industrial district it can be as large as 20 square feet, under the county's home occupation standards.
D.In a residential, agricultural, or forest district, limit any external evidence of an occupation to one identification sign not to exceed 2 square feet in area. Business identification on a commuter vehicle is exempt from this requirement;E.In a commercial or industrial district, limit any external evidence of a home occupation to one identification sign not to exceed 20 square feet in area;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Community Development Code: Supplement 2 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
1(D) limits any external evidence of a Type I home occupation in a residential, agricultural, or forest district to one identification sign no larger than 2 square feet, though business lettering on a commuter vehicle used for the business is exempt from that limit. 1(E) allows a larger sign, up to 20 square feet, but only for a home occupation sited in a commercial or industrial district. 2(G) repeats the 20-square-foot allowance in commercial and industrial districts. 3(E), since the tier's district restriction places it outside the commercial and industrial areas where the larger sign is allowed.
In every tier the code caps the count at one sign; a second sign, a larger sign, or off-premises advertising for the home business is not authorized under Section 430-63. As with the rest of the home occupation standards, this sign limit is part of the county's development permit and applies only within the unincorporated area, not inside Hillsboro, Beaverton, or another incorporated city in the county.
Violations & Fines
A home occupation sign larger than the permitted 2 or 20 square feet, or a second sign beyond the one allowed under Section 430-63.1(D)-(E) or 430-63.2(F)-(G), is a violation of the home occupation permit conditions and can be cited through the county's code compliance process. Because the sign standard is tied to the annually renewed home occupation permit itself, an oversized or unauthorized sign can also jeopardize renewal of the underlying permit at its next annual renewal date.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my home business sign be in Washington County?
Can I put my business name on my work vehicle instead of a sign?
Does the 20-square-foot sign apply to a Type III home occupation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Oregon home business overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.