Multnomah County, OR Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Where it applies
- Gorge Scenic Area, General Mgmt Area only
- Exempted from
- ban on luminous, flashing signs
- Not covered
- Portland, Gresham, rest of county
- Citation
- MCC § 38.0080(C)(1)(a)
Summary
In the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area's General Management Area, Multnomah County exempts seasonal holiday light displays from its ban on luminous and internally illuminated signs, but only within the Gorge overlay boundary, not countywide.
Luminous signs or those with intermittent or flashing lights. These include neon signs, fluorescent signs, light displays and other signs which are internally illuminated, exclusive of seasonal holiday light displays.
(b) New billboards.
(c) Signs with moving elements.
(d) Portable or wheeled signs, or signs on parked vehicles where the sign is the primary use of the vehicle.
(2) The following signs are prohibited in the Special Management Area:
(a) Advertising billboards.
(b) Signs that move or give the appearance of moving, except signs used for highway construction, warning or safety.
(c) Portable or wheeled signs, or signs on parked vehicles where the sign is the primary use of the vehicle, except for signs used for highway construction, warning or safety.
(d) Interpretative signs on Interstate 84.
(D) Signs in a General Management Area shall be permitted under an expedited review process pursuant to the following provisions:
(1) All new signs must meet the following standards unless they conflict with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (2012 or most recent version) for public safety, traffic control or highway construction signs. In such cases, the standards in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (2012 or most recent version) shall supersede these standards.
(a) The support structure shall be unobtrusive and have low visual impact. (S-1 2023)
1-30
Multnomah County – Chapter 38 – Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Full Breakdown
Multnomah County Code section 38.0080(C)(1) bans luminous, neon, fluorescent and internally illuminated signs in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area's General Management Area, but the same subsection carves seasonal holiday light displays out of that ban entirely. The exemption applies only to General Management Area land inside the federal Scenic Area boundary along the Gorge, not to the whole county. It does not reach Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village, or the rest of unincorporated Multnomah County, where the Zoning Code (Chapter 39) sets no holiday-lighting standard of its own.
Violations & Fines
No permit or review applies to seasonal holiday displays under this exemption. Illuminated or flashing signage that isn't a seasonal holiday display stays prohibited in the Scenic Area's General Management Area and is enforced through the county's Scenic Area code compliance process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this exemption cover my house in Portland?
Do I need a permit for holiday lights in the Gorge overlay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.