Multnomah County, OR Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Interstate spacing
- 2,000 ft between relocated billboards
- Height limit
- 50 feet, or zone limit if lower
- Size range
- 288 to 672 square feet
- Allowed zones
- C-3 Retail and LM Light Manufacturing only
- Relocation cap
- One interstate relocation per calendar year
Summary
Multnomah County caps freeway billboards at the pre-existing countywide inventory and limits relocated interstate billboards to a 2,000-foot separation: unincorporated area only, since Portland runs its own sign code.
The owner of a billboard shall not maintain any greater number of billboards on interstate highways in unincorporated Multnomah County than were established prior to the effective date of this section. However, in the event that the owner is unable to continue the lease for the property upon which the existing billboard is located, the owner may relocate that billboard to another location on an interstate highway, except that any relocated billboard structure must be a minimum of two thousand feet from any other billboard structure subject to this subparagraph and in no event shall the owner relocate more than one billboard subject to this subparagraph within a calendar year.
(S-1 2019)
6-28
Full Breakdown
Multnomah County froze the total number of billboards allowed in the unincorporated county to the inventory that existed when MCC 39.6770 took effect, so no new billboard may be erected beyond that count. Owners may relocate an existing billboard only for specific reasons such as a lost lease, storm damage, or road-pattern changes, and along interstate highways a relocated billboard must sit at least 2,000 feet from any other billboard, with no more than one interstate relocation per year. Billboards are confined to C-3 Retail Commercial and LM Light Manufacturing zones, capped at 50 feet in height and 288 to 672 square feet in area. The rule covers only unincorporated county land, not Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview or Wood Village.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a billboard beyond the county's frozen inventory, or relocating one within 2,000 feet of another billboard along an interstate highway, violates MCC 39.6770 and can invalidate the billboard's permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a new billboard be erected anywhere in Multnomah County?
Does this rule apply to billboards inside Portland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon sign regulations overview
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