Tacoma, WA Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- TMC § 13.06.090.I.3.b(7)
- Rule
- Exempt from sign permit requirements
- Where
- Private property only
- Right-of-way decorations
- Separate permit fee under § 2.09.130.E
Summary
Seasonal decorations displayed on private property are exempt from Tacoma's sign permit requirements under TMC § 13.06.090.I.3.b(7), so homeowners can put up holiday lights and lawn displays without a sign permit.
Exempt signs. The following signs shall be exempt from all requirements of this section and shall not require permits; however, this subsection is not to be construed as relieving the user of such signage from responsibility for its erection and maintenance, pursuant to Title 2 or any other law or ordinance relating to the same.
(1) Changing of the advertising copy or message on a sign specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.
(2) Repainting, maintenance, and repair of existing signs or sign structures; provided, work is done on-site and no structural change is made.
(3) Signs not visible from the public right-of-way and beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel.
(4) Incidental and warning signs.
(5) Sculptures, fountains, mosaics, murals, and other works of art that do not incorporate business identification or commercial messages.
(6) Signs installed and maintained on bus benches and/or shelters within City right-of-way, pursuant to a franchise authorized by the City Council.
(7) Seasonal decorations for display on private property.
(8) Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
(9) Signs of public service companies indicating danger and aid to service or safety.
(10)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4946110; v22 updated 2026-07-28).
Full Breakdown
Tacoma's zoning sign code, TMC § 13.06.090.I, lists categories of signage exempt "from all requirements of this section" and not required to obtain a permit. Item (7) of that exempt-sign list is "seasonal decorations for display on private property": covering the holiday lights, inflatables, and lawn displays homeowners put up each year. The exemption sits alongside other no-permit categories, like window signs and home address signage, but only reaches decorations on private property. Separately, TMC § 2.09.130.E authorizes a City permit fee for street banners, streamers, and holiday decorations placed in the public right-of-way, which is not covered by the private-property exemption.
Violations & Fines
Exempt seasonal decorations carry no sign-permit violation exposure on private property. A display that instead functions as a commercial sign, or is installed in the public right-of-way without the § 2.09.130 permit, can be enforced under Chapter 13.05's land-use permit and code-compliance process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for holiday lights in Tacoma?
What about holiday banners on downtown light poles?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
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