# Sign Regulations in Bellingham, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bellingham, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/bellingham
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-16
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://bellingham.municipal.codes/BMC/20.12.040)

## At a glance

Bellingham, Washington regulates 45 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Billboard (Off-Premises Sign)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at May not exceed allowed sign height in underlying land use designation; never more than 35 ft overall. tall and Up to 300 sq ft per face; replacement/relocation cannot exceed original face area or 300 sq ft (whichever smaller), subject to trading between permits., with a Not allowed in required setbacks from residential or public designations; not in right‑of‑way. setback (Sec. BMC 20.12.040(B), (C)(4), (E)(1)–(3)). Most commercial signs in Bellingham require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | May not exceed allowed sign height in underlying land use designation; never more than 35 ft overall. | Up to 300 sq ft per face; replacement/relocation cannot exceed original face area or 300 sq ft (whichever smaller), subject to trading between permits. | — |
| Public General Use Type | 1 | — | General cap not specified; must be ‘limited to a size…to adequately identify the use’; when within 100 ft of a residential zone, max 50 sq ft. | — |
| Residential Single General Use Type | 5 | — | 50 sq ft per sign | — |
| Residential Multi General Use Type | 5 | — | 32 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Commercial General Use Type (Neighborhood) | 5 | Freestanding signs: max 35 ft; freestanding sign for a coordinated shopping center: subject to same 35 ft cap unless further constrained by design; no roof signs allowed. | 150 sq ft total per sign | — |
| Commercial General Use Type (Waterfront) | 4 | 35 ft for freestanding signs | 200 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Industrial General Use Type (Light, Heavy) | 4 | 35 ft for freestanding signs; for signs oriented to I‑5, max 20 ft above elevation of nearest driving lane (still subject to overall 35‑ft cap from billboard section, but industrial section allows 35 ft freestanding with special I‑5 measurement rule). | 300 sq ft per sign | — |
| Industrial General Use Type (Marine) | 4 | 25 ft | 150 sq ft per sign | — |
| Planned Multi | 1 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| Planned Commercial | 6 | 25 ft | 275 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Planned Industrial | 5 | 25 ft | 275 sq ft per sign face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic Message Sign - Freestanding Monument | 8 ft overall sign height | May not exceed 50% of the permanent freestanding sign’s area; when within 100 feet of a residential zone, electronic portion max 16 sq ft (and still within 50% rule) | — | — | 1 per site or development complex; 1 additional bonus sign allowed if on separate abutting street and at least 500 ft from first sign | On-site, as part of a freestanding monument sign structure; not off‑premises. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(3)(d)(i)–(iii) |
| Electronic Message Sign - Wall-Mounted | — | Electronic display area max 16 sq ft when within 100 ft of a residential zone (whether stand‑alone or part of a larger wall sign) | — | — | Counts toward 1 electronic message sign per site (+1 bonus if conditions met). | Building wall on site; not over public property. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(3)(d)(ii)–(iii) |
| Billboard (Off-Premises Sign) | May not exceed allowed sign height in underlying land use designation; never more than 35 ft overall. | Up to 300 sq ft per face; replacement/relocation cannot exceed original face area or 300 sq ft (whichever smaller), subject to trading between permits. | — | Not allowed in required setbacks from residential or public designations; not in right‑of‑way. | Subject to spacing and intersection/segment caps noted in additional requirements. | Only in billboard overlay zones and on private property; not in rights‑of‑way, not in required setbacks from residential and public designations, and not within 300 ft of a residential zone unless found to have no significant negative visual impact. | — | BMC 20.12.040(B), (C)(4), (E)(1)–(3) |
| Any Zone - Temporary Building Sign (General Cap) | — | Cap depends on use type and zone; see more specific entries per general use type. | — | — | Typically 1 per site unless a more specific provision states otherwise. | On site of building under construction or similar temporary condition. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(4)(b)(iv); (A)(5)(b)(iv); (A)(6)(a)(viii); (A)(7)(a)(v); (A)(7)(b)(iv) |
| Any Zone - Real Estate Sign (General Framework) | — | Residential single: 6 sq ft per frontage; Residential multi & neighborhood commercial: 16 sq ft per frontage; other commercial/planned: 32 sq ft per frontage; industrial: 64 sq ft per frontage. | — | Must be outside vision triangle; residential-subdivision signs must be on private property or in right‑of‑way with public works approval. | 1 per street frontage (real estate); 2 open house directionals per open house. | On the property that is for sale/lease (real estate sign), or in unpaved portion of right‑of‑way for open house directional signs. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(4)(b)(v); (A)(5)(b)(v); (A)(6)(a)(ix); (A)(7)(a)(vi); (A)(7)(b)(v) |

### Commercial General Use Type (Neighborhood)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign Package (Neighborhood Commercial Frontage) | Freestanding signs: max 35 ft; freestanding sign for a coordinated shopping center: subject to same 35 ft cap unless further constrained by design; no roof signs allowed. | 1 sq ft of sign area per linear foot of street frontage, up to a maximum of 100 sq ft total for all permanent exterior signs for that use | — | Freestanding signs must be off public property; projecting signs must maintain 2 ft horizontal and 8 ft vertical clearance from curb/sidewalk. | Not numerically capped so long as total area per use does not exceed formula. | On private property; signs may project over right‑of‑way from existing buildings up to 6 ft but no closer than 2 ft to curb, with minimum 8 ft vertical clearance; no portion of sign may be on or over public property except this limited projection. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(6)(a)(i)–(vii) |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Identification Sign (Neighborhood Commercial) | Not more than 35 ft per general cap for neighborhood commercial freestanding signs (no express override). | 150 sq ft total per sign | — | As for other neighborhood commercial freestanding signs (off public property, etc.). | 1 per neighborhood commercial shopping center | At the center’s main entrance on private property. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(6)(a)(vii) |
| Temporary Building Sign (Neighborhood Commercial) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | On site of project under construction or similar. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(6)(a)(viii) |
| Real Estate Sign (Neighborhood Commercial) | — | 32 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On each street frontage of the property offered for sale/lease. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(6)(a)(ix) |
| Specific Service Signage (Neighborhood Commercial) | — | — | — | — | As allowed by separate specific‑service program. | Within public right‑of‑way. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(6)(a)(x) |

### Planned Commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Planned Commercial - Wall Sign Package | — | No explicit numeric cap per wall sign; overall project identification handled separately via freestanding and freeway‑oriented signs. | — | — | Not numerically capped; controlled via coordinated plan. | On buildings within the planned commercial complex. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(8)(b)(i)–(iii), (ix) |
| Planned Commercial - Main Entrance Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 275 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 at the main entrance | At the main entrance to the planned commercial complex, on private property. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(8)(b)(iv) |
| Planned Commercial - Secondary Entrance Identification Signs | 25 ft per sign | All secondary entrance signs combined: 250 sq ft total; each individual secondary sign: max 150 sq ft | — | — | As needed at secondary entrances, subject to total 250 sq ft combined. | At each secondary entrance to a planned commercial area >4 acres. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(8)(b)(v) |
| Planned Commercial - Freeway-Oriented Sign | 25 ft, OR 20 ft above surface elevation of nearest primary freeway driving lane (whichever is applicable per code; both caps apply) | 275 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 freeway‑oriented sign per qualifying parcel of record | On property abutting I‑5 right‑of‑way, oriented to freeway. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(8)(b)(vi) |
| Planned Commercial - Standalone Gasoline Station Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 75 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 freestanding sign per gasoline station under these conditions | At a gasoline station located within a shopping center or multiple‑use site, but only if that station is not already represented on the center’s main signs. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(8)(b)(viii) |
| Specific Service Signage (Planned Commercial) | — | — | — | — | Not specified. | Public right‑of‑way. | — | BMC 20.12.040(A)(8)(b)(vii) |

## Prohibited signs in Bellingham

- No sign is permitted unless it complies with BMC 20.12.040 and applicable sign provisions.
- Signs in residential single and residential multi general use types are prohibited unless specifically authorized in the code.
- Off‑premises signs are prohibited everywhere in the city, except that billboards are allowed only in designated billboard overlay zones and only in accordance with code provisions.
- Roof signs are prohibited for planned commercial and planned industrial developments.
- No sign or any portion of a sign hereafter erected may be located on or over public property, except that signs on existing buildings abutting a right‑of‑way may protrude up to six feet over the right‑of‑way and no closer than two feet from the curb with a minimum eight‑foot vertical clearance.
- No off‑premises signs are permitted in commercial neighborhood, commercial waterfront, light industrial, heavy industrial, marine industrial, planned commercial, and planned industrial areas.
- Electronic message signs may not blink, flash, or change their message more frequently than once every five seconds.
- Electronic message signs must not use drawn‑out frame animations that create the illusion of motion between static images.
- Electronic message signs may not display animation or video, including movement toward or away from the viewer, expansion, contraction, bouncing, rotating, spinning, twisting, fireworks, flashes of light, blinking or chasing lights, or any effects that imitate traffic control devices.
- Electronic message signs must not exceed brightness of 0.3 foot‑candles above ambient light, 5,000 nits during daylight hours, or 500 nits at night.
- Electronic message signs may be used only to advertise on‑site activities or services or to present public service information; off‑site commercial advertising is prohibited.
- No more than one electronic message sign is permitted on a site or development complex, except where a second sign meets the separation standards in the code.
- When an electronic message sign is malfunctioning, it must be turned off until repaired and operating in compliance.
- Signs are prohibited within any median strip or roundabout located in the city right‑of‑way, regardless of zoning or neighborhood.
- Billboards may not be holograms or appear to move; they may not contain moving, flashing, or blinking lighting; lighting must be indirect and glare‑shielded from traffic and nearby residences.
- Billboards are not allowed in required setbacks from residential and public designations or in the public right‑of‑way, measured from the vertical projection of any part of the billboard.
- Billboards must not be located within 300 feet of a residential zone if they would have a significant negative visual impact on adjacent residences, as determined by the planning director.
- At most two billboard structures may be located within 100 feet of all property corners of an intersection.
- The minimum spacing between billboards on the same side of the street facing traffic is 300 feet in commercial and planned designations and 150 feet in light or heavy industrial designations.
- The maximum number of billboards on both sides of a street is four within any 1,320‑foot segment.
- Billboard height may not exceed the allowed sign height in the underlying designation and may not exceed 35 feet in any case.
- Maintenance is required for billboards; damaged or disfigured billboards (including posters) must be repaired within 20 days.
- No real estate sign in residential single zones may exceed 6 square feet per frontage; real estate signs must be unlighted in residential zones.
- Real estate signs in residential multi zones are limited to one per frontage, unlighted, and not more than 16 square feet.
- Neighborhood commercial real estate signs are limited to one unlighted sign per frontage not exceeding 32 square feet.
- Industrial light/heavy real estate signs are limited to one unlighted sign per frontage not exceeding 64 square feet.
- Temporary building signs are limited by maximum size in each use type (e.g., 8 sq ft in residential single, 16 sq ft in residential multi, 32 sq ft in neighborhood commercial, 64 sq ft in light/heavy industrial and marine industrial).
- Commercial neighborhood signs may not exceed 35 feet in height.
- Commercial waterfront signs may not exceed 35 feet in height and 200 square feet per face.
- Light and heavy industrial freestanding signs may not exceed 35 feet in height, except when oriented to I‑5 where they may not exceed 20 feet above the nearest driving lane.
- Light and heavy industrial signs may not exceed 300 square feet in area.
- Marine industrial signs may not exceed 150 square feet in area and 25 feet in height.
- In commercial neighborhood areas, roof signs are prohibited.
- Total gross area of all permanent exterior signs for any one neighborhood commercial use may not exceed the lesser of one square foot per lineal foot of street frontage or 100 square feet.
- In a coordinated neighborhood shopping center, only one freestanding sign is allowed, not exceeding 150 square feet.
- Gasoline station freestanding signs in shopping centers that are not on the center’s primary sign may not exceed 75 square feet and 25 feet in height, and may only display name and gasoline prices.
- Planned commercial and planned industrial freeway‑oriented signs must be on‑site, may not exceed 25 feet in height or 20 feet above the nearest freeway driving lane, and may not exceed 275 square feet in area; only one freeway sign per parcel of record (as of June 18, 1984) is allowed.
- Off‑premises and outdoor advertising signs (other than billboards in overlay zones) existing after March 13, 1996, are violations and must be removed unless removal is prohibited by state or federal law or would require compensation.
- Any unpermitted sign on property or off‑premises is a violation subject to penalties under BMC Chapter 20.52.
- Any sign on property or in the adjacent right‑of‑way that violates standards in BMC 20.12.040(A)–(F) is a violation subject to penalties.
- Freestanding electronic message signs must be monument signs; pole‑type electronic message signs are prohibited.
- Electronic message wall signs must be flush‑mounted; projecting or roof‑mounted electronic message wall signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bellingham

- Traffic signs installed by a government agency are exempt from the provisions of the sign title.
- Directional and wayfinding program signs installed by a government agency are exempt from the provisions of the sign title if they are consistent with applicable neighborhood plans.
- Traffic signs installed by a government agency, and directional/wayfinding program signs installed by a government agency, are exempt from the prohibition on signs in median strips and roundabouts when consistent with applicable neighborhood plans.
- Any otherwise‑permitted sign may display a noncommercial message in place of commercial copy, so long as it complies with all other sign standards.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Publicly owned signs on public sites must be reviewed by the Bellingham Arts Commission when city‑owned (Public general use type signage).
- All signage in planned commercial developments must be an integral, coordinated part of a sign design plan for the entire complex under one ownership.
- All signage in planned industrial developments must be an integral, coordinated part of a sign design plan for the entire complex.
- Planned commercial areas larger than four acres may have one project identification sign at each secondary entrance; total square footage and maximum sizes are controlled at the project level and must be coordinated through the overall sign design plan.
- Billboards in planned designations under development may remain only if specifically included and found compatible in a new planned contract; a planned contract is required if a billboard is proposed on a vacant planned site.
- Electronic message sign brightness compliance must be certified by the developer prior to building permit issuance.
- Any relocation or replacement of a billboard requires a transferable billboard relocation permit (valid for five years) obtained at the time a demolition permit is released, and a separate building permit for the new structure.
- In planned commercial and planned industrial areas, freeway‑oriented sign proposals must be coordinated by the applicant with the State of Washington and the State Scenic Vistas Act.
- For public general use type electronic message signs, only one electronic message sign is allowed per site or development complex, with an optional second sign on a different street frontage if separated by at least 500 feet; this limitation must be addressed when planning signage for multi‑frontage sites.

## 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 11 zoning districts in Bellingham — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bellingham+WA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bellingham

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