Spokane County, WA Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Corridors covered
- I-90, US 2, SR 902/290/27, US 395, others
- Freestanding sign cap inside UGA
- 20 feet, 150 sq ft
- Freestanding sign cap outside UGA
- 15 feet, 100 sq ft
- Underlying zone rule
- Stricter zone standard still governs
- Permit required
- Yes, under SCC 14.804.020
- Violation penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 90 days jail
Summary
Parcels fronting Interstate 90 and seven other named roadways fall under Spokane County's Aesthetic Corridor Overlay sign standards. Freestanding signs there cannot exceed 20 feet and 150 square feet inside the urban growth area, or 15 feet and 100 square feet outside it, tighter caps than the underlying zone alone would allow.
1.The standards of 14.804.090 shall apply to parcels that are contiguous to the rights-of-way of the following roadways:a.Interstate 90;b.U.S. 2;c.State Route 902;d.State Route 290;e.U.S. 395;f.State Route 27;g.Little Spokane Drive;h.Nine Mile Road/State Route 291....3.Freestanding signs shall be as per section 14.804.070, or 14.804.080, respective of zoning, except the following additional limitations shall apply:a.Freestanding signs located within the urban growth area shall in no case exceed twenty feet in height or one hundred fifty square feet in area. Should the underlying zone be more restrictive, the standards of the underlying zone shall govern.b.Freestanding signs located outside the urban growth area shall in no case exceed fifteen feet in height or one hundred square feet in area. Should the underlying zone be more restrictive, the standards of the underlying zone shall govern.
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
S. S. 395, State Route 27, Little Spokane Drive and Nine Mile Road/State Route 291. 080 (commercial and industrial zones), but freestanding signs face an added ceiling: within the urban growth area they cannot exceed 20 feet in height or 150 square feet in area, and outside the urban growth area the cap drops to 15 feet and 100 square feet. The code specifies that where the underlying zone's own standard is more restrictive than the corridor cap, the underlying zone governs instead, so the corridor rule only ever tightens, never loosens, a business's sign allowance. 020 before the county's Building and Planning Department will issue the required sign permit.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a freestanding sign that exceeds the 20-foot/150-square-foot (or 15-foot/100-square-foot outside the UGA) corridor cap, or building any sign without the permit required by SCC 14.804.020, is a zoning code violation under SCC 14.408.040: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail, or a civil violation starting at a $200 Level I penalty (rising to $500 for a Level II notice) plus $50 for each day the oversized sign remains in place, appealable to the county hearing examiner within 14 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my business get a bigger freeway sign in unincorporated Spokane County?
Which roads count as an Aesthetic Corridor for sign purposes?
Do wall signs face the same corridor limit as freestanding signs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
Compare Spokane County to another location·View the Washington sign regulations overview
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