Spokane County, WA Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit needed
- None: SCC 14.804.040(3) exempts temporary signs
- Portable sign size cap
- 9 square feet maximum, SCC 14.804.050(4)
- Right-of-way setback
- 10 feet for the 3-7 ft zone, SCC 14.804.110(2)(a)
- Level I penalty
- $200 civil notice of violation, SCC 14.408.140
- Level II penalty
- $500 plus $50/day, SCC 14.408.140
- Appeal deadline
- 14 days to county hearing examiner, SCC 14.408.150
- Enforcing agency
- Spokane County Building & Planning code enforcement
Summary
A garage-sale sign in unincorporated Spokane County is a temporary sign, so it needs no sign permit under SCC 14.804.040(3), but placement is not free-for-all. SCC 14.804.110 bars any sign from overhanging or sitting inside the public right-of-way, requires a ten-foot setback for the three-to-seven-foot zone of a sign, and portable signs over nine square feet are banned outright under SCC 14.804.050(4).
14.804.040 - Sign permit not required. The following shall not require a sign permit...3.Temporary banners and temporary signs as permitted herein...5.Incidental signs. 14.804.050 - Prohibited signs...4.Portable signs exceeding nine square feet. 14.804.110 - Sign location and setback. 1.All signs shall be located so that they:a.Do not interfere with vehicular/pedestrian accessibility or sight distance.b.Conform to the provisions of chapter 14.812, Fences/Clear View Triangle.c.Do not overhang, or are not located in any public right-of-way.d.Comply with any restrictions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Airport Overlay (AO) zone.2.All signs shall be located and set back as follows:a.Any portion of a sign (including structural supports) that is higher than three feet and less than seven feet above grade shall be located a minimum of ten feet back from any public right-of-way, unless it can be demonstrated that the location of a structural support or monument sign will not create an adverse impact with regard to sight distance of vehicles entering and exiting the site.
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
040(3), the same exemption that lets a resident post a garage-sale placard without applying to the Building and Planning Department. 110. 812, and cannot overhang or sit inside a public right-of-way. Any part of a sign between three and seven feet above grade, which covers most yard-stake garage-sale signs, must sit at least ten feet back from the right-of-way unless the owner can show the structural support will not create a sight-distance hazard for traffic entering or exiting the site. 050(4) prohibits any portable sign larger than that in every zone in the county. 110(1)(d). 408, not a separate sign ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Spokane County's planning director and code enforcement officers enforce sign placement under chapter 14.408. A confirmed violation draws a notice of investigation and fourteen days to fix it; missing that window brings a Level I notice of violation with a $200 penalty, escalating to $500 for repeat violations, plus $50 per day out of compliance under SCC 14.408.140. The county can instead charge a misdemeanor: up to 90 days jail or a $1,000 fine under SCC 14.408.040. Appeals go to the hearing examiner within fourteen days under SCC 14.408.150.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put up a garage-sale sign in unincorporated Spokane County?
How big can my garage-sale sign be?
Where can I place a garage-sale sign?
What happens if I leave my garage-sale sign up too long or place it illegally?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
Compare Spokane County to another location·View the Washington sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.