OAR 350-081-0112
Signs

(1)

GMA Sign Provisions:

(a)

Except for signs allowed without review pursuant to 350-081-0074 (Uses Allowed Outright), all new signs must meet the following guidelines unless these guidelines conflict with the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices for public safety, traffic control or highway construction signs. In such cases, the standards in the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices shall supersede these guidelines.

(A)

The support structure shall be unobtrusive and have low visual impact.

(B)

Lettering colors with sufficient contrast to provide clear message communication shall be allowed. Signs shall be colored to blend with their setting to the maximum extent practicable.

(C)

Backs of all signs shall be unobtrusive, nonreflective, and blend in with the setting.

(D)

Spotlighting of signs may be allowed where needed for night visibility. Backlighting is not permitted for signs.

(E)

Except for signs along public highways necessary for public safety, traffic control, or road construction and consistent with the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the following signs are prohibited:
(i)
Luminous signs or those with intermittent or flashing lights. These include neon signs, fluorescent signs, light displays, and other signs that are internally illuminated, exclusive of seasonal holiday light displays.
(ii)
New billboards.
(iii)
Signs with moving elements.
(iv)
Portable or wheeled signs, or signs on parked vehicles where the sign is the primary use of the vehicle.

(b)

Any sign that does not conform with a provision of these guidelines and has existed before their adoption is subject to the following provisions:

(A)

Alteration of existing nonconforming signs shall comply with these guidelines.

(B)

Any nonconforming sign used by a business must be brought into conformance concurrent with any expansion or change in use that requires a development permit.

(2)

SMA Sign Provisions:

(a)

New signs shall be allowed as specified in the applicable land use designation.

(b)

No sign shall be erected or placed in such a manner that it may interfere with, be confused with, or obstruct the view of any traffic sign, signal, or device.

(c)

Preexisting signs are allowed to continue, provided no changes occur in size, structure, color, or message.

(d)

Except for signs allowed without review pursuant to 350-081-0074 (Uses Allowed Outright), all new signs shall meet the following guidelines and be consistent with the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices:

(A)

Signs shall be maintained in a neat, clean, and attractive condition.

(B)

The character and composition of sign materials shall be harmonious with the landscape and/or related to and compatible with the main structure upon which the sign is attached.

(C)

Signs shall be placed flat on the outside walls of buildings, not on roofs or marquees.

(D)

Signs shall be unobtrusive and have low contrast with the setting.

(E)

The visual impact of the support structure shall be minimized.

(F)

Outdoor sign lighting shall be used for purposes of illumination only, and shall not be designed for, or used as, an advertising display, except for road safety signs.

(G)

The backs of all signs shall be visually unobtrusive, non-reflective, and blend in with the setting.

(H)

Internal illumination or backlighting of signs shall not be permitted except for highway construction, warning, or safety.

(e)

Public signs shall meet the following standards in addition to 350-081-0112 (Signs)(2)(a)–(d):

(A)

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Graphic Signing System provides design standards for public signs in and adjacent to public road rights-of-way. All new and replacement public signs, except those transportation regulatory, guide, and warning signs allowed outright shall conform to the guidelines in this system. Types of signs addressed include recreation site entry, interpretive, specific service signs, destination and distance signs, variable message signs, or signs that bridge or are cantilevered over the road surface.

(B)

Signs located outside public road rights-of-way are encouraged to be designed in a way that is consistent with similar-purpose signs described in the Graphic Signing System.

(C)

Signs posted by governmental jurisdictions giving notice to the public shall be no larger than that required to convey the intended message.

(f)

Signs for public and commercial recreation facilities, home occupations, cottage industries, and commercial uses shall meet the following guidelines in addition to 350-081-0112 (Signs)(2)(a)–(d) and 350-081-0112 (Signs)(2)(g):

(A)

Any sign advertising or relating to a business that is discontinued for a period of 30 consecutive days shall be presumed to be abandoned and shall be removed within 30 days thereafter, unless permitted otherwise by the jurisdictional authority.

(B)

Any signs relating to or advertising for a business shall be brought into conformance with these sign guidelines before any expansion or change in use that is subject to review by the counties.

(C)

Offsite and onsite directional signs on approach roads to recreational facilities may be permitted. Name and interpretive signs may be permitted onsite, but should be kept to the minimum required to achieve the purpose(s) of the facilities.

(D)

Commercial recreation businesses approved in conjunction with a recreational facility may have a name sign not exceeding 16 square feet.

(E)

Recreation developments may have one on-premise name sign at each principal entrance. Such signs are encouraged to be of a low profile, monument type, and shall conform to the Graphic Signing System.

(g)

The following signs are prohibited:

(A)

Advertising billboards.

(B)

Signs that move or give the appearance of moving, except signs used for highway construction, warning, or safety.

(C)

Portable or wheeled signs, or signs on parked vehicles where the sign is the primary use of the vehicle, except for signs used for highway construction, warning, or safety.

(h)

Sign clutter and other negative visual effects from excessive signs along all roads and highways, and at parking lots and recreation facilities, shall be reduced.
[Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.]

Source: Rule 350-081-0112 — Signs, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=350-081-0112.

350‑081‑0010
Purposes and Applicability 350‑081‑0012
Affected Area 350‑081‑0014
Maps 350‑081‑0016
Review and Approval Required 350‑081‑0018
Uniform Application of Management Plan 350‑081‑0020
Definitions 350‑081‑0030
Standards for Applications 350‑081‑0032
Application for Review and Approval 350‑081‑0034
Pre-Application Conference 350‑081‑0036
Acceptance of Application 350‑081‑0038
Notice of Development Review 350‑081‑0040
Comment Period 350‑081‑0042
Decision of the Executive Director 350‑081‑0044
Expiration of Approvals 350‑081‑0046
Changes or Alterations to an Approved Action 350‑081‑0050
Development Eligible for Expedited Review 350‑081‑0052
Resource and Treaty Rights Protections Guidelines 350‑081‑0054
Procedures for Expedited Review Process 350‑081‑0060
Emergency/Disaster Response Actions 350‑081‑0070
Exempt Land Uses and Activities 350‑081‑0072
Prohibited Land Uses and Activities 350‑081‑0074
Uses Allowed Outright 350‑081‑0076
Agricultural Buffer Zones in the General Management Area 350‑081‑0078
Variances 350‑081‑0080
Applying New Less-Stringent Regulations to Development Approved Under Prior Scenic Area Regulations 350‑081‑0082
Existing Uses and Discontinued Uses 350‑081‑0084
Indian Tribal Treaty Rights and Consultation 350‑081‑0086
Buffers from Existing Recreation Sites 350‑081‑0090
Agricultural Buildings 350‑081‑0092
Temporary Use — Hardship Dwelling 350‑081‑0094
Sewer and Water Services 350‑081‑0096
Docks and Boathouses 350‑081‑0098
Home Occupations and Cottage Industries 350‑081‑0100
Bed and Breakfast Inns 350‑081‑0102
Small-Scale Fishing Support and Fish Processing Operations 350‑081‑0104
Resource Enhancement Projects 350‑081‑0106
Disposal Sites for Spoil Materials from Public Road Maintenance Activities 350‑081‑0108
Commercial Events 350‑081‑0110
Columbia River Bridge Replacement 350‑081‑0112
Signs 350‑081‑0114
Special Uses in Historic Buildings 350‑081‑0120
Consolidation of Lots 350‑081‑0124
Land Divisions and Cluster Development 350‑081‑0126
Lot Line Adjustments 350‑081‑0170
Agricultural Land Designations 350‑081‑0180
Uses Allowed Outright — Agricultural Land 350‑081‑0182
Uses Allowed through the Expedited Development Review Process — Agricultural Land 350‑081‑0190
Review Uses — Agricultural Land 350‑081‑0200
Review Uses with Additional Approval Criteria — Large-Scale or Small-Scale Agriculture 350‑081‑0210
Approval Criteria for Life Estates — Large-Scale or Small-Scale Agriculture Designations 350‑081‑0220
Approval Criteria for Specified Review Uses on Lands Designated Large-Scale or Small-Scale Agriculture 350‑081‑0230
Uses Allowed Outright for Lands Designated Agriculture — Special 350‑081‑0231
Uses Allowed through the Expedited Development Review Process — Agriculture-Special 350‑081‑0232
Review Uses for Lands Designated Agriculture-Special 350‑081‑0234
Approval Criteria for Review Uses on Lands Designated Agriculture-Special 350‑081‑0236
Uses Prohibited on Lands Designated Agriculture-Special 350‑081‑0240
Range Conservation Plans 350‑081‑0250
Forest Land Designations 350‑081‑0260
Uses Allowed Outright — Forest Land 350‑081‑0262
Uses Allowed through the Expedited Development Review Process — Forest Land 350‑081‑0270
Review Uses — Forest Land 350‑081‑0280
Review Uses with Additional Approval Criteria — Commercial Forest Land, or Large or Small Woodland Designations 350‑081‑0290
Approval Criteria for Specified Review Uses on Lands Designated Commercial Forest Land or Large or Small Woodland 350‑081‑0300
Approval Criteria for Fire Protection in GMA Forest Designations 350‑081‑0310
Approval Criteria for Siting of Dwellings on Forest Land in the GMA 350‑081‑0320
Approval Criteria for Life Estates in Commercial Forest Land or Small or Large Woodland 350‑081‑0330
Open Space Designations 350‑081‑0335
Uses Allowed Outright — Open Space 350‑081‑0338
Uses Allowed through the Expedited Development Review Process — Open Space 350‑081‑0340
Review Uses — Open Space 350‑081‑0350
Residential Land Designations 350‑081‑0360
Uses Allowed Outright — Residential Land 350‑081‑0365
Uses Allowed through the Expedited Development Review Process — Residential Land 350‑081‑0370
Review Uses — Residential Land 350‑081‑0380
Review Uses with Additional Approval Criteria — Residential Land 350‑081‑0390
Approval Criteria for Specified Review Uses on Lands Designated Residential 350‑081‑0400
Rural Center 350‑081‑0410
Uses Allowed Outright — Rural Center 350‑081‑0415
Uses Allowed through the Expedited Development Review Process — Rural Center 350‑081‑0420
Review Uses — Rural Center 350‑081‑0430
Commercial Land 350‑081‑0440
Uses Allowed Outright — Commercial Designations 350‑081‑0445
Uses Allowed through the Expedited Development Review Process — Commercial Designations 350‑081‑0450
Review Uses — Commercial Designations 350‑081‑0460
Approval Criteria for Review Uses on Lands Designated on Lands Designated Commercial 350‑081‑0470
Recreation 350‑081‑0480
Uses Allowed Outright — Public Recreation and Commercial Recreation 350‑081‑0485
Uses Allowed through the Expedited Development Review Process — Public Recreation and Commercial Recreation 350‑081‑0490
Review Uses — Public Recreation and Commercial Recreation 350‑081‑0500
Approval Criteria for Non-Recreation Uses in GMA-Public Recreation Designations 350‑081‑0510
Approval Criteria for Non-Recreation Uses in GMA-Commercial Recreation Designations 350‑081‑0520
General Management Area Scenic Review Criteria 350‑081‑0530
Special Management Area Scenic Review Criteria 350‑081‑0540
General Management Area Cultural Resource Review Criteria 350‑081‑0550
Special Management Area Cultural Resource Review Criteria 350‑081‑0560
General Management Area Wetland Review Criteria 350‑081‑0570
General Management Area Stream, Pond, Lake and Riparian Area Review Criteria 350‑081‑0580
General Management Area Sensitive Wildlife Review Criteria 350‑081‑0590
General Management Areas Rare Plant Review Criteria 350‑081‑0600
Special Management Areas Natural Resource Review Criteria 350‑081‑0610
General Management Areas Recreation Resource Review Criteria 350‑081‑0620
Special Management Area Recreation Resource Review Criteria 350‑081‑0630
Notice of Application Requirements
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 350-081-0112’s source at or​.us