Spokane County, WA Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sign count
- One sign per home industry
- Maximum size
- 16 square feet
- Illumination
- Unlighted, no exceptions
- Governing section
- SCC 14.616.230(9)(d)
- Content limit
- Must identify the home industry only
- Zones
- LTA, STA, Forest Land conditional use
Summary
A Spokane County "home industry" may put up exactly one sign identifying the business, and that sign must be unlighted and no larger than 16 square feet. SCC 14.616.230(9)(d) sets the limit; the operation must also stay family-run and keep unrelated retail off the premises.
9.Home industry (LTA, STA, F zones).a.The property shall retain its residential appearance and character....c.Only members of the family residing on the premises, and no more than two employees outside of the family, may be engaged in the home industry.d.One attached or detached sign identifying the home industry shall be allowed. The sign shall be unlighted and shall not exceed sixteen square feet in size.e.Window or outside displays may be allowed as approved by the hearing examiner.f.Storage or sale of items not directly related to the home industry is prohibited....j.The use shall be subject to restrictions and conditions, as may be imposed by the hearing examiner under chapter 14.404.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
100 as broader-scope home occupations, crafts, or bed-and-breakfast operations run from a residence, are a conditional use in the Large Tract Agricultural, Small Tract Agricultural and Forest Land zones under Table 616-1. 230(9) sets ten conditions a hearing examiner attaches to that conditional use permit. Subsection (d) governs signage directly: "One attached or detached sign identifying the home industry shall be allowed. " That single-sign, unlit, 16-square-foot cap applies regardless of the size of the operation or the acreage of the property. The signage rule sits inside a broader package of conditions: subsection (a) requires the property to retain its residential appearance and character, subsection (c) limits staffing to resident family members plus no more than two outside employees, subsection (e) allows window or outside displays only if the hearing examiner approves them, and subsection (f) bars storage or sale of items not directly related to the home industry, meaning the sign cannot be used to advertise an unrelated side business.
404, so a sign that meets the 16-square-foot cap can still be conditioned on placement, illumination timing, or removal upon change of ownership as part of the conditional use approval.
Violations & Fines
A sign larger than 16 square feet, an illuminated sign, or more than one sign for a home industry violates SCC 14.616.230(9)(d) and is enforceable as a zoning violation under SCC 14.408.040: a misdemeanor with up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail, or a civil violation starting at a $200 Level I penalty (or $500 Level II) plus $50 for each day the oversized or unauthorized sign remains up, appealable to the hearing examiner within 14 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my home industry sign be in unincorporated Spokane County?
Can I light up my home industry sign at night?
Can my sign advertise other products I sell from home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
Compare Spokane County to another location·View the Washington home business overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.