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Washington County, UT Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Window sign limit
Max 2 illuminated signs per business
Size cap
4 square feet each
Hours
Must go dark when business is closed
Governing section
§ 10-15C-11(D), Outdoor Lighting chapter
Adopted
Ord. 2024-1271-O, 9-17-2024
Permit
Required via building inspector, § 10-19-2

Summary

Washington County caps illuminated window signs at two per business and four square feet apiece under § 10-15C-11(D) of the county's outdoor lighting ordinance, and none may stay lit after the business closes. The rule sits alongside broader sign-lighting standards for externally lit, internally lit and backlit signage in the same section.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Washington County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

D. Standards for Illuminated window signs. 1. Businesses may display a maximum of two illuminated window signs positioned to be primarily visible outside the business structure. 2. Illuminated window signs shall not exceed four square feet in area. 3. Illuminated window signs shall not be illuminated when the business is closed.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 2026-1329-O, passed 8-18-2026).

Full Breakdown

Washington County treats illuminated window signs as part of its outdoor lighting ordinance rather than the general sign chapter: § 10-15C-11 opens by declaring that in all zones and areas of the county, sign lighting must be designed, directed and shielded so the light source itself is never visible beyond the property line, and every illuminated sign must follow the countywide lighting-hours schedule. Subsection D speaks directly to window signs: a business may display no more than two illuminated window signs, each capped at four square feet, and none may stay lit once the business has closed for the day.

The same section separately regulates how any illuminated sign may be lit: externally lit signs are capped at four fixtures per sign face and 40,000 lumens each (§ 10-15C-11(A)), internally lit signs must use translucent, diffusing material for text and logos rather than clear panels (§ 10-15C-11(B)), and backlit signs may show only an indirect halo glow with the light source itself hidden from view (§ 10-15C-11(C)). Because this standard sits in Chapter 15C rather than Chapter 19, the building inspector still enforces it under the sign-permit process in § 10-19-2: no sign may be erected, enlarged or altered without a permit, and an illuminated window sign exceeding the two-sign or four-square-foot limit is treated as an illegal sign subject to the abatement process. All sign lighting, including window signs, also counts toward the property's total outdoor light-output cap.

Violations & Fines

Sign violations, including an oversized or overlit window sign, are enforced by the county building inspector under § 10-19-2. Erecting or altering a sign without a permit is unlawful under § 10-19-2(H), and an illegal sign not brought into conformance within thirty working days of written notice will be abated and removed at the owner's expense, billed within thirty calendar days under § 10-19-2(E)(4). An owner may appeal a removal or permit-denial order under § 10-2-4 before removal proceeds, unless the sign poses an immediate public danger.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many illuminated window signs can a Washington County business have?
Section 10-15C-11(D) caps it at two illuminated window signs per business, and each one is limited to four square feet, positioned so it's primarily visible from outside the building rather than aimed inward.
Do window signs have to turn off at night?
Yes. The same subsection requires illuminated window signs to go dark whenever the business is closed; leaving one lit around the clock is a violation the building inspector can cite under the sign enforcement provisions of § 10-19-2.
What happens if my window sign exceeds the size or count limit?
It's treated as an illegal sign under § 10-19-2. The building inspector issues a written notice, and if it isn't brought into conformance within thirty working days, the county can abate and remove it and bill the removal cost to the owner.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington County

All Washington County rules

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