Salem sign permit requirements

A sign permit is required for the construction, erection, enlargement, alteration, relocation, or repair of any permanent or temporary sign, except changing replaceable copy and normal maintenance/repair. Certain small signs (e.g. warning signs up to 4 sq ft) require no permit.

“Applicability. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a sign permit is required for the construction, erection, enlargement, alteration, relocation, or repair of any permanent or temporary sign.”

For standalone non-residential uses in CR/CG (general commercial): one wall sign not exceeding 125 sq ft per street frontage; plus any number of additional wall signs limited by primary building wall area: 50 sq ft or 15% (walls 0-500 sq ft), 75 sq ft or 12% (501-1,000 sq ft), 125 sq ft (1,001+ sq ft).

“The display surface for a wall sign shall not exceed 125 square feet.”

Per Table 900-7 (CR, CG, etc.): 15% of gross area of primary building wall for walls 0-500 sq ft; 12% for 501-1,000 sq ft; over 1,001 sq ft capped at 125 sq ft (no percentage).

Not less than 3 feet from the street front property line (or from the special setback area); not less than 5 feet from a side lot line.

“Freestanding signs shall have a setback of not less than three feet from the street front property line, unless the property is subject to a special setback area, in which case the freestanding sign shall be setback not less than three feet from the special setback area.”

Minimum 10 ft clearance from the bottom edge of all projecting signs to the grade below; maximum projection 4 ft 6 in (5 ft 6 in on a corner with two street frontages); outer edge must be at least 2 ft from the curbline.

“A minimum of ten feet clearance shall be required from the bottom edge of all projecting signs to the grade below the sign.”

For windows on building facades within 30 feet of a public street, interior window signs shall not cover more than 50 percent of the total window area on the facade within 30 feet of a public street (applies in commercial, mixed-use, and industrial zones).

“For windows on building facades within 30 feet of a public street, signs attached to or painted on the interior window shall not cover more than 50 percent of the total window area on the building façade that is within 30 feet of a public street.”

Permanent signs may be externally or internally illuminated. No exposed reflective bulb/par spot/incandescent lamp over 25 watts facing a public street. Wall, roof, and projecting signs within 100 ft of a residential zone may not be illuminated. General commercial (CG/CR) zones have no stated illumination curfew (curfews apply only in specified zones such as CO/FMU and residential: no illumination 12:00 midnight to 7:00 a.m.).

“Except as otherwise provided in this section, permanent signs may be externally or internally illuminated.”

Electronic display signs allowed. In commercial zones other than Commercial Office (CO), the change from one display to another shall be no more frequent than once every eight seconds (three seconds for time/temperature). Actual change must complete in two seconds or less; must be static after change; dissolve, scrolling, travel, and video prohibited unless authorized. Brightness limited to 0.3 foot candles above ambient. Prohibited within a historic district.

“the change from one electronic display to another electronic display shall be no more frequent than once every eight seconds, except changes to correct hour- and- minute or temperature information, which may change no more often than once every three seconds.”

Each temporary banner display surface shall not exceed 50 sq ft; display period limited to a 30-day continuous period; a maximum of four temporary banner permits are allowed per calendar year.

“Display period shall be limited to a 30-day continuous period. A maximum of four temporary banner permits are allowed per calendar year.”

Prohibited signs include: obscene/pornographic signs; signs violating ORS Ch. 377; signs on vehicles used primarily as signage; signs impeding traffic or obstructing fire escapes/egress; signs confusable with traffic control devices; signs in a vision clearance area; and any sign using a structure, material, illumination, size, or placement not specifically allowed (unless lawful nonconforming). Also, devices projecting an image onto a wall/sidewalk are prohibited; and speller effects and starburst/arrow effects are prohibited.

“Any sign that employs a structure, material, illumination, size, or placement not specifically allowed under this chapter, unless the sign is a lawfully established nonconforming sign.”

Values reported are for General Commercial (CG), grouped with Retail Commercial (CR), MU-III, EC, and several industrial zones under SRC 900.165. Standards vary materially by zone; separate sections govern CO/FMU (900.155), CB/mixed-use (900.160), residential/NH (900.150), and public zones (900.170).

“The following permanent signs are allowed in the Retail Commercial (CR), General Commercial (CG), Mixed Use (MU-III), Employment Center (EC), Industrial Commercial (IC), Industrial Business Campus (IBC), Industrial Park (IP), and General Industrial (IG) zones.”