If you want to install, enlarge, alter, or move a sign, you will need to get a permit. (Salem Revised Code (SRC) Chapter 900)

Apply online for a sign permit

Types of Permanent Signs

A permanent sign is a sign that is permanently attached to a building, structure, or the ground and is intended to be used for an ongoing, indefinite period of time. Examples of permanent signs include the following:

Wall sign: a sign painted on or attached to a wall or parapet of a building or structure or the face or end of a marquee or canopy, with the sign face parallel to, and projecting not more than 18 inches from, the plane of the wall, parapet, face, or end.

Freestanding sign: a sign supported by one or more upright poles or braces, or placed upon a foundation, in or upon the ground and wholly detached from or only incidentally attached to a building or structure.

Hanging or under marquee sign: a hanging sign that is attached to the underside of a marquee, canopy, portico, porte-cochere, or other similar overhanging structure.

Outdoor advertising/billboard sign: a sign which is a substantial permanent structure that is either a wall sign or freestanding sign, with a display surface or surfaces normally and customarily used primarily for painting or posting a display thereon at periodic intervals, and which is located on a lot or parcel that is not owned or leased by the person constructing, erecting, or using the sign.

Projecting sign: a sign, other than a wall sign, that projects beyond the exterior wall of a building to which it is attached. "Projecting" means the distance that the sign extends from the building frontage or building face.

Roof sign: a sign erected upon or painted upon the roof of a building, canopy, portico, or marquee.

Vehicle viewing sign: a freestanding sign or a wall sign that is intended to be seen by a person doing business from the vehicle accessway while the person is within the person’s motor vehicle.

Other types of permanent signs include:

• Building directory: a sign giving the name and room number of the occupants of a building.
• Directional sign: a sign designed to be read by a person on the premises on which the sign is located, and used only to identify and locate an office, entrance, exit, telephone, or similar place, service, or route.
• Interior sign: a permanent sign located inside an enclosed building or structure, regardless of whether the sign is visible from the exterior of the building.

Permit Exceptions

The following activities do not require a sign permit:

• Changing of copy on a sign specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.
• Painting, repainting, cleaning, and normal maintenance and repair of an existing sign, where no structural alteration or enlargement is made.

The following signs do not require a sign permit, but are otherwise subject to the requirements of the sign code regulating the type of sign, location and size::

• Signs for individual residential dwelling units.
• Vehicle directional signs which are freestanding signs or wall signs that designates an automobile entrance onto or exit from a property.

Apply for a Permit

Step 1: Submit Your Sign Application

Once you know the submittal requirements, you are ready to apply for your sign permit on the Permit Application Center.

Make sure you follow the file naming standards for land use applications when preparing your files. You can submit application materials for your sign permit for electronic review online.

Plans for the sign shall be in a graphic form, that are detailed and clear enough to show compliance with the rules as outlined in the sign permit plans and documentation checklist.

Step 2: Upload Plans and Documents

1. Login to the Permit Application Center. Documents will not be accepted by email.
2. You will see a dashboard with boxes showing your active permits divided by type, e.g., development/building permits, land use actions, licenses, parking permits, etc.
3. Click the desired permit number in the box.
4. Click the [Add/Upload] button in the Attachments section.
5. Upload files by clicking the [Choose Files] button or by dragging and dropping files into the dashed area,
6. When you are done selecting files, click the [Upload] button.
7. After the upload finishes, a message appears showing the result of your upload.
8. Click the [OK] button to return to permit details page.
9. You should receive a confirmation email message within 30 minutes.

Step 3: Pay Online

1. Login to the Permit Application Center.
2. If you are paying an existing permit, click the Make Payment link.
3. Click the box in the Check column to the left of the item(s) you want to pay.
4. Click the [Make Payment] button.
5. You will be transferred to the bank’s payment page to complete your payment.
6. As a convenience, the bank’s payment page is filled-in with your name and address information as it appears in our permitting system. If you choose to pay with a credit card, you must ensure that the name and address on the screen matches your credit card billing name and address. You can type any necessary changes on the bank’s payment page.