Yakima, WA Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Nameplates allowed
- One per home occupation
- Maximum size
- 2 square feet
- Illumination
- Not permitted
- Mounting
- Must attach to dwelling
Summary
Yakima limits home-business signage to a single nameplate on the dwelling, capped at two square feet and barred from being illuminated.
Nameplates. Only one nameplate shall be allowed. It may display the name of the occupant and/or the name of the home occupation (e.g., John Jones, Accountant). The nameplate shall be attached to the dwelling, but shall not exceed two square feet in area or be illuminated.
F. Application Fee and Review Period. Application for a home occupation shall be made in accordance with the provisions of YMC Chapter 15.11, except as noted, and shall be accompanied by the appropriate filing fee. The administrative official may accept an aerial photo of the site in lieu of a site plan when the aerial photo clearly shows all structures and parking areas and no new construction or site modifications are proposed.
G. Unclassified Home Occupation—Review by the Hearing Examiner. Home occupations not listed in Table 4-2 shall be reviewed by the hearing examiner in accordance with the provisions of YMC Chapter 15.22; provided, any unclassified home occupation permitted after review and decision by the hearing examiner in a particular district shall be allowed only as a Class (2) or (3) use.
H. Home Occupations Not Permitted. The following uses, by the nature of their operation or investment, have a pronounced tendency, once started, to increase beyond the limits permitted for home occupations and impair the use and value of a residentially zoned area for residential purposes. Therefore, the uses listed below shall not be permitted as home occupations:
1. Auto repair;
2.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4980636; v1 updated 2026-08-03; through 08-03-2026).
Full Breakdown
Yakima Municipal Code § 15.04.120(E) allows a home occupation only one nameplate, attached to the dwelling itself. The nameplate may show the occupant's name and/or the home occupation's name -- the code's own example is 'John Jones, Accountant' -- but it cannot exceed two square feet in area and cannot be illuminated. No other signage, banner or advertising display is authorized for a home occupation, and § 15.04.120(C)(5) separately bars business colors, materials or lighting that alter the residential character of the property.
Violations & Fines
Installing a larger, additional or illuminated sign beyond the single two-square-foot nameplate violates § 15.04.120(E) and § 15.04.120(C)(5), and can result in denial or revocation of the home occupation approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big a sign can I put up for my Yakima home business?
Can I light my home business sign at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yakima
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