Olympia, WA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

OMC 18.43.085 covers noncommercial speech signs, which express public or community event, religious, political, ideological, or other philosophical messages. The section states that the content of such signs is not regulated, and OMC 18.43.020 adds that the sign chapter does not restrict speech on the basis of content, viewpoint, or message. Size, height, number and placement are regulated.

On private property in the Residential Sign Zone, a residential use can display noncommercial signs up to ten square feet of sign area each, a maximum height of four feet from grade to top of sign, and a minimum setback from property lines of five feet. The number is not limited. Approved nonresidential uses and multifamily complexes get twenty-four square feet, the same four foot height and five foot setback, and one sign per street frontage. In the Downtown, Auto Mall, and Business & Corridor Sign Zones, the total sign area of all noncommercial speech signs on a lot cannot exceed thirty-two square feet, with one per street frontage. Freestanding signs there are limited to four feet within five feet of property lines and ten feet when more than five feet from all property lines, and building mounted signs cannot extend above the roof line.

In the public right of way, every noncommercial sign must be no larger than six square feet and no more than four feet above grade, with thirty inches or less required in a clear sight triangle. No more than three temporary signs are allowed per street frontage adjacent to any one parcel, counting all other temporary signage. The sign must sit entirely outside the roadway, at least ten feet from the edge of the roadway where no curb exists, must not encroach into the forty-eight inch minimum clear pathway, and must stay portable, not attached to trees, utility or light poles, parking meters, or pavement. Only Yard/Lawn signs are allowed in the right of way.

No permit is needed for temporary noncommercial signs under six square feet on private property and less than four feet above ground (OMC 18.43.040.B.5), and noncommercial speech signs are excluded from the Temporary Sign Agreement requirement in OMC 18.43.080.J.1.