Spokane County, WA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Section 14.804.040 of the Spokane County Zoning Code lists 8 kinds of signs that need no sign permit, and item 6 on that list is "Political signs." Chapter 14.804 prints no separate size cap, no limit on how many political signs one property can carry, no posting window and no removal deadline for them, so the exemption is a permit waiver and nothing more. The lead-in sentence says the exemptions do not relieve the owner of responsibility to comply with the code, any other law or ordinance, or the Uniform Building Code.

The location rules in section 14.804.110 apply to all signs, and a campaign yard sign or banner is a sign. Subsection 1 requires every sign to avoid interfering with vehicular or pedestrian accessibility or sight distance, to conform to chapter 14.812 on fences and the clear view triangle, to avoid overhanging or standing in any public right-of-way, and to comply with Federal Aviation Administration restrictions and the Airport Overlay zone. Section 14.812.200 bars sight obstructions inside a clear view triangle as determined by the Spokane County Division of Engineering, and for two intersecting local access streets that triangle is measured 115 feet from the center of the intersection along each street centerline.

Subsection 2(a) adds the setback. Any portion of a sign, including its structural supports, that is higher than 3 feet and less than 7 feet above grade must be at least 10 feet back from any public right-of-way. The only relief is a demonstration that a structural support or monument sign will not create an adverse impact on the sight distance of vehicles entering and exiting the site. Subsection 2(b) exempts structural supports less than 2 feet wide, measured at any point, from that 10-foot rule. Subsection 2(c) separately says signs are exempt from the setback provision per zone classification, so the 10-foot rule in 2(a) is the setback written for signs.

Section 14.804.050 prohibits flashing signs, signs that resemble traffic control signs, signs that create a safety hazard, video boards, and portable signs exceeding 9 square feet in every zone. The planning director interprets and enforces the zoning code under section 14.408.020, so a sign that sits close to those lines is a question for that office.