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Washington County, UT Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Sign allowed
One unlit identification sign
Setback
Min. 10 feet from front property line
Max size
12" x 18" (216 sq in)
Lighting
No animation or lighting permitted
Zones covered
OST, A, FR, SFR, RA, RE, SF, MF, MH
Adopted
Ord. 2014-1042-O, 11-18-2014

Summary

A detached single-family home or an approved home occupation in Washington County's residential zones may post one unlit identification sign under § 10-19-3(A)(1): it must sit at least ten feet from the front property line, contain no animation or lighting, and measure no more than twelve by eighteen inches, or 216 square inches total.

City-specific rules exist: St. George has its own signage rules rules that differ from Washington County's county-level regulations. If you live in St. George, check the city-specific page instead.

1. Unlit Identification Sign: One unlit identification sign will be allowed in connection with all detached single-family dwellings or approved home occupation in these zoning districts; provided, that the sign conforms to the following regulations: a. Shall be located a minimum of ten feet (10') from front property lines. b. Shall be limited to only one sign per site. c. Shall contain no animation or lighting. d. Shall not exceed twelve inches by eighteen inches (12" x 18") in size, or a total of two hundred sixteen (216) square inches.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 2026-1329-O, passed 8-18-2026).

Full Breakdown

Washington County's home-business sign allowance is tucked into § 10-19-3(A), the residential-zone section of the sign chapter, covering zones OST, A, FR, SFR, RA, RE, SF, MF and MH wherever a residence is a permitted or conditional use. Paragraph 1 gives every detached single-family dwelling, and any lot with an approved home occupation, the right to one unlit identification sign, provided it meets four conditions: it sits at least ten feet back from the front property line, only one is allowed per site, it carries no animation or lighting of any kind, and it cannot exceed twelve inches by eighteen inches, a 216-square-inch ceiling.

Because the sign must be unlit, a home business cannot rely on this allowance for an illuminated sign, spotlight, or backlit panel; those fall under the separate outdoor lighting standards in § 10-15C-11. The same subsection lists what else a residential lot may post alongside the identification sign: real estate signs offering the property for sale, lease or inspection are capped at two on-site signs of six square feet each (§ 10-19-3(A)(4)), and a temporary subdivision or planned-development sales sign may run up to six feet tall and thirty-two square feet (§ 10-19-3(A)(3)).

Any sign for a home occupation still needs a sign permit from the building inspector under § 10-19-2(H) before it goes up, since the identification-sign allowance sets the size and placement ceiling, not an exemption from the permit step.

Violations & Fines

A home-occupation identification sign that exceeds the twelve-by-eighteen-inch limit, sits closer than ten feet to the front lot line, or carries lighting or animation is an illegal sign under § 10-19-2. The building inspector issues a written notice of violation, and if the sign isn't brought into conformance within thirty working days, the county abates and removes it, billing the removal cost to the owner. The owner may appeal the removal order under § 10-2-4 before the sign comes down, unless it presents an immediate public danger.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put up a lit sign for my home-based business in Washington County?
No. Section 10-19-3(A)(1) only authorizes an unlit identification sign for a home occupation or detached single-family dwelling; it must contain no animation or lighting at all, so an illuminated or backlit sign would need to qualify under a different, nonresidential sign category, which most home lots don't.
How big can a home occupation's identification sign be?
Up to twelve inches by eighteen inches, or 216 square inches total, and only one such sign is allowed per site under § 10-19-3(A)(1), set back at least ten feet from the front property line.
Do I still need a permit for a sign this small?
Yes. Section 10-19-2(H) makes it unlawful to erect, alter or enlarge any sign in the county without first getting a sign permit from the building inspector, regardless of how small the sign is or which zone it sits in.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington County

All Washington County rules

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