# Sign Regulations in Bellevue, Washington

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Bellevue, Washington, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Bellevue, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/bellevue
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-19
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://bellevue.municipal.codes/BCC/22B.10)

## At a glance

Bellevue, Washington regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (property line to building line)s in the OLB, OLB-2, OLB-OS, EG-TOD, CB, NMU, DT-O-1, DT-O-2, DT-MU, DT-R, DT-OB, DT-OLB, EM-TOD-H, EM-TOD-L, GC, LI, MI, BelRed Land Use Districts (except BR-ORT), Factoria Land Use District 1 (F1), Factoria Land Use District 2 (F2), Factoria Land Use District 3 (F3), Neighborhood Business (NB) zoning district are capped at 5 ft. tall and 25 sq. ft., with a Between property line and building line setback (Sec. 22B.10.030(B)(1)-(2), (E)(1); 22B.10.140(F)). Most commercial signs in Bellevue require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| OLB, OLB-2, OLB-OS, EG-TOD, CB, NMU, DT-O-1, DT-O-2, DT-MU, DT-R, DT-OB, DT-OLB, EM-TOD-H, EM-TOD-L, GC, LI, MI, BelRed Land Use Districts (except BR-ORT), Factoria Land Use District 1 (F1), Factoria Land Use District 2 (F2), Factoria Land Use District 3 (F3), Neighborhood Business (NB) | 12 | 15 ft. | Up to 300 sq ft (see formula) | — |
| PO, O, BR-ORT, EH-D, R-10, R-15, R-20, R-30 | 5 | 20 ft above grade or bldg height (whichever is less; design review may modify) | Up to 105 sq. ft. | — |
| DT-O-1, DT-O-2, DT-MU, DT-R, DT-OB, DT-OLB, Downtown (all DT except DT-OLB), East Main Land Use Districts, East Main Transit Oriented Development - High (EM-TOD-H), East Main Transit Oriented Development - Low (EM-TOD-L), BelRed Office/Residential-1 (BR-OR-1), BelRed Office/Residential-2 (BR-OR-2), BelRed Residential/Commercial-1 (BR-RC-1), BelRed Residential/Commercial-2 (BR-RC-2), BelRed Manufacturing/Office-1 (BR-MO-1) | 4 | 24 inch letters/graphics (average); logos/capitals up to 30 inch | 300 sq ft | — |
| Residential-7.5 (R-7.5), Residential-5 (R-5), Residential-4 (R-4), Residential-3.5 (R-3.5), Residential-2.5 (R-2.5), Residential-1.8 (R-1.8), Residential-1 (R-1) | 3 | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 10 ft | Outside Downtown (except single-family): 32 sq ft, 10 ft high; Single-family: 8 sq ft; Downtown: signs can total 64 sq ft, may be increased to 128 sq ft by design review | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### OLB, OLB-2, OLB-OS, EG-TOD, CB, NMU, DT-O-1, DT-O-2, DT-MU, DT-R, DT-OB, DT-OLB, EM-TOD-H, EM-TOD-L, GC, LI, MI, BelRed Land Use Districts (except BR-ORT), Factoria Land Use District 1 (F1), Factoria Land Use District 2 (F2), Factoria Land Use District 3 (F3), Neighborhood Business (NB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (property line to building line) | 5 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | Between property line and building line | 1 per building (or more with multiple frontages) | Between property line and building line | — | 22B.10.030(B)(1)-(2), (E)(1); 22B.10.140(F) |
| Freestanding Sign (on/behind building line) | 15 ft. | 75 sq. ft. | — | On building line or behind | 1-2 per building (see D.1 for intersecting/parallel street bonuses) | On building line or behind it | — | 22B.10.030(B)(1)-(2), (E)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Building-Mounted Sign) | — | Up to 300 sq ft (see formula) | — | — | See table in 22B.10.030(C)(1): <999 sq ft facade: 2; 1000-2999: 3; >=3000: 4 (plus 1 for each extra dept with separate entrance) | On facade actually occupied by enterprise | — | 22B.10.030(B)(3), (C), (E)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Upper-Level High-Rise) | — | 300 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per eligible enterprise (see 22B.10.030(C)(2)) | Upper level/roof of high-rise buildings, on two facades most oriented to I-405 (max one per facade) | — | 22B.10.030(E)(2)(e); 22B.10.025(E)(3); 22B.10.030(C)(2) |
| Roof Sign / Canopy Sign | — | Up to 300 sq ft (see wall sign formula) | — | — | Counted in primary sign total | Roof or canopy (see definitions) | — | 22B.10.030(E)(3) |
| Window Sign | — | 15 sq ft or 10% of window area (whichever is less) | — | — | — | On or within 3 ft of window, visible from exterior | — | 22B.10.030(H); 22B.10.150(A) |
| Complex Identification Sign | 15 ft | 75 sq ft | — | — | One per ROW access for complexes 15 acres or greater | At right-of-way providing direct access for complexes of 15+ acres | — | 22B.10.030(A)(5) |
| Factoria F3 Specific Signs - Entrance Sign | — | Proportionate to entrance facade area | — | — | 1 per building | At or above primary entry facade | — | 22B.10.055(D)(1) |

### PO, O, BR-ORT, EH-D, R-10, R-15, R-20, R-30

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (property line to building line) | 5 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | Between property line and building line | 1 (see C for corner and double-frontage building allowances) | Between property line and building line | — | 22B.10.040(B)(1)-(2), (D)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (on/behind building line) | 10 ft. | 35 sq. ft. | — | On building line or behind | See above | On building line or behind it | — | 22B.10.040(B)(1)-(2), (C)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Building-Mounted Sign) | 20 ft above grade or bldg height (whichever is less; design review may modify) | Up to 105 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 (buildings on one street); 4 (corner, w/ 2 freestanding if on different streets, 100 ft apart); Up to 2 per street on through blocks; Large complexes (5+ acres) may have separate complex sign per ROW. | On building facade actually occupied by enterprise | — | 22B.10.040(B)(3)-(4), (D)(2) |
| Roof Sign / Canopy Sign | 20 ft above grade or bldg height (see wall sign height) | Up to 105 sq. ft. (see wall sign formula) | — | — | Counted in primary sign total | Roof or canopy | — | 22B.10.040(B)(3)-(4), (D)(2) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | 22B.10.040(D)(1)-incidental allowed |

### DT-O-1, DT-O-2, DT-MU, DT-R, DT-OB, DT-OLB, Downtown (all DT except DT-OLB), East Main Land Use Districts, East Main Transit Oriented Development - High (EM-TOD-H), East Main Transit Oriented Development - Low (EM-TOD-L), BelRed Office/Residential-1 (BR-OR-1), BelRed Office/Residential-2 (BR-OR-2), BelRed Residential/Commercial-1 (BR-RC-1), BelRed Residential/Commercial-2 (BR-RC-2), BelRed Manufacturing/Office-1 (BR-MO-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Pedestrian-Oriented) | 24 inch letters/graphics (average); logos/capitals up to 30 inch | — | — | — | See sign allocation 22B.10.030(C) | First/second floor facade | — | 22B.10.025(E)(3) |
| Wall Sign (Upper-Level High-Rise - Downtown) | 8 ft letter/logo | 300 sq ft | — | — | 2 per eligible enterprise | Upper levels, oriented to I-405 | — | 22B.10.025(E)(3); 22B.10.030(E)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 ft (property line to building line), 15 ft (on/behind) | 25 sq ft (property line to building line), 75 sq ft (on/behind building line) | — | As above | 1-2 per building (see intersecting streets, parallel street bonuses) | See location per setback | — | 22B.10.030(B)(1)-(2), (E)(1) |
| Window Sign | — | 15 sq ft, or 10% of window area (whichever is less) | — | — | — | Window, visible from exterior | — | 22B.10.030(H) |

## Prohibited signs in Bellevue

- Window signs containing material unrelated to the merchandise for sale or service performed by the person or business on whose premises or property the sign is located (except certain real estate and estate sale signs); provided, on-premises signs may call attention to public holidays or community events, the time, and temperature.
- Signs which purport to be, or resemble, an official traffic sign or signal, or which bear the words 'stop,' 'caution,' 'danger,' 'warning,' or similar words.
- Signs which, by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination may be confused with or construed as a traffic control sign, signal, or device or the light of an emergency or radio equipment vehicle; or which obstruct the visibility of any traffic or street sign or signal device.
- Signs which rotate or have a part or parts which move or revolve except for hands of a clock or digital indicators showing time and temperature or national market indices (not advertising a specific company or commodity), or indicating whether a parking garage is full.
- Displays, banners, clusters of flags, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of lights, spinners, twirlers or propellers, flashing, rotating or blinking lights, chasing or scintillating lights, flares, balloons, bubble machines, and similar carnival devices, or devices creating sound or smell. (Exceptions: limited use for seasonal decorations and specified temporary or joint sales events.)
- Signs identifying, or window signs advertising, activities, products, businesses or services discontinued for more than 60 days on the premises.
- Private signs on utility poles or public property (with limited exceptions for political or permitted signs).
- Searchlights, except as specifically permitted for certain temporary events or joint sales signage.
- Billboards.
- Portable signs, except sandwich board signs as specifically permitted, political signs as permitted, and temporary signs as permitted.
- Signs for which a permit has been granted under conditions with which the permittee does not comply.
- Signs for which a permit has been granted and subsequently revoked for cause.
- Directional signs, except where specifically authorized by code provisions.
- Signs erected, altered or relocated without a permit issued by the city or any governmental agency requiring a permit by law.
- LED readerboard signs, except as specifically permitted for public assembly locations (with restrictions) and noncommercial public service use.
- No sign shall be located so as to physically obstruct any door, window, or exit from a building.
- No sign shall be located so as to be hazardous to a motorist’s or pedestrian’s ingress and egress from parking areas or any way open to the public.
- All signs must comply with city sight distance requirements at intersections.
- Signs may not create undue brightness, glare, or reflect light on private or public property in the surrounding area, or distract pedestrians or motorists.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bellevue

- Traffic or pedestrian control signs or signals, or signs indicating scenic or historic points of interest, erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of public duty.
- Signs required by law.
- Official public notices, official court notices, or official sheriff’s notices.
- Flags of a government or noncommercial institutions such as schools.
- Exterior signs or displays not visible from streets or ways open to the public.
- Signs in the interior of a building more than three feet from the closest window or not facing a window.
- Plaques, tablets, or inscriptions indicating the name of a building, its date of erection, or other commemorative information, integral to the building or attached flat, non-illuminated, and not exceeding three square feet in area.
- 'No trespassing,' 'no dumping,' 'no parking,' 'private,' and other informational warning signs, not exceeding three square feet in area.
- Reasonable seasonal decorations within the appropriate public holiday season, to be removed within five days following the end of the season.
- Flag of a commercial institution (one per business premises, not exceeding 20 square feet, left loose to fly in the breeze).
- Sculptures, fountains, mosaics, and design features not incorporating advertising or identification.
- Sandwich-board signs worn by a person while walking public ways.
- Existing theater marquees (freestanding or building-mounted).
- Reasonable temporary decorations and signs promoting nonprofit, school, or child daycare sponsored fairs, festivals or events, including announcements of enrollment periods (displayed no more than 14 days prior to and during the event, removed within five days after).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign master plan (sign plan) is required for proposals for new signage regulated by an existing sign master plan, or to amend a previously approved sign master plan; approval requires a land use exemption (LUX).
- Design review (including sign master plan) is required for signs in specific districts (e.g., downtown except DT-OLB; CB; NMU; NB; OLB-OS; OLB-2; transition areas; BelRed except BR-GC unless otherwise specified; EG-TOD; EM-TOD-H; EM-TOD-L) and for developments required to have design review by ordinance, planned unit developments (PUDs), conditional uses, and freeway corridor signs.
- No sign governed by this code shall be erected, altered, or relocated in any new building or project, or on existing buildings in a design district or originally approved through PUD or conditional use, without design review approval.
- Applications for design review require submission of location, lighting, letter size/type/style, sign type, color(s), material(s), sign placement, and overall signage concept (including construction period, lease-up, and permanent signs).
- Signs subject to design review must comply with the design review process described in Land Use Code Chapter 20.30F.
- Temporary construction period signage in downtown, and lease-up/sales period signage, is subject to design review approval and must be consistent with a previously approved sign package or obtain new design review approval.
- Off-premises directional signs may be approved by the director subject to the standards required for granting a variance as set forth in the variance section (BCC 22B.10.180).
- A variance (Process II, Land Use Code 20.35.200 et seq.) may be applied for certain relief from the sign code; application must meet specified hardship and compatibility criteria.
- Permanent signs permitted within city rights-of-way require a permit in all cases, subject to approval of both the director and the director of transportation.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 5 zoning districts in Bellevue — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bellevue+WA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bellevue

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