# Sign Regulations in Bothell, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bothell, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/bothell
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-09
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://bothell.municipal.codes/BMC/12.22)

## At a glance

Bothell, Washington regulates 38 sign types across 17 zoning districts. Grand Projecting Signs in the Downtown Core District (DC) zoning district are capped at Up to 10 ft above roofline; bottom of sign at least 12 ft above sidewalk tall, 400 sq ft (total area of all faces); 30 ft height (bottom to top of sign); 2 ft max width, and 2 ft wide, with a 6 ft max projection from façade; must be 12 ft above sidewalk setback (Sec. BMC 12.64.602(A)(1)). Most commercial signs in Bothell require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (17 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Downtown Core District (DC) | 9 | Up to 10 ft above roofline; bottom of sign at least 12 ft above sidewalk | Up to 800 sf or 25% of wall area, whichever less | — |
| Downtown Neighborhood District (DN) | 6 | 8 ft above sidewalk minimum | 150 sq ft per sign | — |
| Downtown Transition District (DT) | 6 | min 8 ft above sidewalk | 150 sq ft per sign | — |
| SR-522 Corridor District (522) | 7 | 15 ft | 150 sq ft per sign | — |
| General Downtown Corridor District (GDC) | 7 | 15 ft | 150 sq ft per sign | — |
| Sunrise/Valley View District (SVV) | 5 | 6 ft | 36 sq ft per face (unless city code provides larger for site type) | — |
| Campus District (C) | 5 | 15 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — |
| Parks and Public Open Space District (PPOS) | 4 | 6 ft | 36 sq ft per face standard (or up to 50 sq ft for major parks/campuses per BMC 12.64.602(A)(6)) | — |
| Office/Residential Mixed-Use – High (OR-H), Office/Residential Mixed-Use – Medium (OR-M), Office/Residential Mixed-Use – Low (OR-L), Residential Mixed-Use – High (RMU-H), Residential Mixed-Use – Medium (RMU-M), Employment – Medium (E-M), Employment – Low (E-L) [Canyon Park Subarea] | 4 | Must not project above wall. Min. 8 ft clearance above sidewalk/walkway. | No single sign >150 sq ft; total for all wall/projecting/awning signs must not exceed ratio. | — |
| Commercial/General Overlay (C-G), Mixed Use/Neighborhood Overlay (MU-N), Mixed Use/Community Overlay (MU-C), Mixed Use/Employment Overlay (MU-E), Employment/Medium (City) Overlay (E-MC), Light Industrial (LI) | 4 | Must not project above wall; min 8 ft above sidewalk. | 150 sq ft per sign | — |
| Specialized Senior Housing Overlay (SSHO) | 4 | 4 ft max if ground-mounted; 8 ft if attached to pole for road/parking. Prefer lower placement inside pedestrian/drive lanes. | 24 in. (2 ft) tall (ID sign); overall area proportional to facade/scale, generally not exceeding 24 sq ft unless approved through site or CUP. | — |
| Motor Vehicle Sales Overlay (MVSO) | 4 | May not project above wall; min 8 ft above activity/walk zone. | 150 sq ft per sign (individual wall signs) | — |
| North Creek Fish and Wildlife Critical Habitat Protection Area (NCFWCHPA) | 4 | 5 ft maximum to top; low viewing height preferred; must not block important wildlife viewing or movement. | 16 sq ft (recommended); up to 24 sq ft if setback, larger building, or approved as compatible with site/plan. | — |
| Queensborough/Brentwood/Crystal Springs Subarea (QB), Shelton View/Meridian/3rd Avenue SE Subarea (SV), Country Village/Lake Pleasant/527 Corridor Subarea (CV), Canyon Park Subarea (CP), Canyon Creek/39th Avenue SE Subarea (CC), Fitzgerald/35th Avenue SE Subarea (FI), Maywood/Beckstrom Hill Subarea (MB), North Creek/NE 195th Street Subarea (NC), Bloomberg Hill Subarea (BH), Brickyard Road/Queensgate Subarea (BR), Westhill Subarea (WH), Downtown Subarea (DT), Waynita/Simonds/Norway Hill Subarea (WS), Locust/14th Avenue W Subarea (LO), Damson/Logan Subarea (DL), Filbert/Winesap Subarea (FW), Thrasher’s Corner/Red Hawk Subarea (TC) | 4 | Min 8 ft above sidewalk; cannot project above building wall/eave. | 150 sq ft per building (nonresidential); Residential subdivision entry sign: 50 sq ft (if monument/ground-mounted). Public facility/community center ID: area proportional to facade/site, not exceeding 36 sq ft unless plan approval. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | No higher than wall/top of entry/door; min 8 ft above walk/ADA path. | 150 sq ft per wall sign (single business/primary use). | — |
| Office-Professional (OP), Neighborhood Business (NB), Community Business (CB), General Commercial (GC) | 4 | 8 ft above sidewalk minimum; must not extend above wall/eave. | 150 sq ft per sign (individual business); cumulative area must not exceed allocation per frontage. | — |
| Office/Residential Mixed-Use – High (OR-H), Office/Residential Mixed-Use – Medium (OR-M), Office/Residential Mixed-Use – Low (OR-L), Residential Mixed-Use – High (RMU-H), Residential Mixed-Use – Medium (RMU-M), Employment – Medium (E-M), Employment – Low (E-L) | 4 | 8 ft clearance minimum; not above wall/eave/top of entry. | 150 sq ft per wall sign (individual use); total per use must not exceed frontage allocation. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 17 zones)

### Downtown Core District (DC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Grand Projecting Sign | Up to 10 ft above roofline; bottom of sign at least 12 ft above sidewalk | 400 sq ft (total area of all faces); 30 ft height (bottom to top of sign); 2 ft max width | 2 ft | 6 ft max projection from façade; must be 12 ft above sidewalk | 1 per establishment | Projecting perpendicular from façade; only for certain uses (night clubs, theaters >200 persons) | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(1) |
| Marquee Sign | Must be min 8 ft above sidewalk; lowest height no less than max projection from façade | Up to 400 sq ft total across 3 faces | — | Must not lower than 8 ft above sidewalk or 14 ft above right-of-way | 1 per establishment | Above primary public entrance only | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(2) |
| Grand Wall Sign | — | Up to 800 sf or 25% of wall area, whichever less | — | No more than 1 ft projection from façade | 1 per establishment per façade | Windowless wall area only | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(3) |
| Wall Sign | Varies (ground level: below 2nd floor window sill; top floor: up to parapet/top of wall) | Up to 150 sq ft per sign; menu or menu case signs are limited to two pages of menu size; barber pole does not count toward area | — | Max 1 ft projection | Variable; multi-story buildings limit upper floor signs to one per business | Mounted on wall area below 2nd floor window sill or designated window level for upper floors | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(4) |
| Projecting Sign | No lower than 8 ft above sidewalk | 20 sq ft | — | 4 ft max from façade | — | Perpendicular to building; wall area below 2nd floor window sill | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(10) |
| Portable Sign (A-frame, Portable Menu Stand) | 3 ft for A-frame; 4 ft for menu stand | A-frame: 6 sq ft per face, 3 ft max height; menu stand: 4 ft max height, size of 2 menu pages | — | — | 1 per business | Sidewalk, must not obstruct flow nor curbside access | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(8) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 36 sq ft (DC/Downtown Neighborhood/Transition/Sunrise); 50 sq ft in SR 522 and General Downtown Corridor | — | — | — | On ground (see landscaping requirements) | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(6) |
| Blade Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | Up to 4 ft projection, 8 ft minimum height | — | Perpendicular to building | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(9) |

### SR-522 Corridor District (522)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Varies; ground floor signs must be below 2nd floor window sill; 1-story buildings/upmost floor can go to top of wall/parapet. | 150 sq ft per sign | — | Projection no more than 1 ft from façade. | Varies; see business linear frontage. | On wall area below second floor window sill for storefronts; on upper stories as allowed. | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft min from property line and driveways. | 1 per qualifying parcel. | Freestanding, not attached to building; corridor frontage parcels only. | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(7) and Chart |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft per face (SR 522 and GDC zones); 36 sq ft otherwise | — | — | As allowed by overall sign area calculations. | On ground, landscaped base required. | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(6) |
| Projecting Sign | 8 ft above sidewalk min | 20 sq ft | 4 ft projection max | Max 4 ft from building, min 8 ft above sidewalk | — | Perpendicular to building, below 2nd floor window sill | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(10) |
| Blade Sign | 8 ft min over walk | 20 sq ft | 4 ft max projection | Max 4 ft projection, min 8 ft above sidewalk | — | Perpendicular to building | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(9) |
| Portable Sign (A-frame, menu, etc.) | 3 ft (A-frame), 4 ft (menu) | 6 sq ft per face (A-frame); 4 ft high menu stand. | — | — | 1 per business. | On sidewalk, must not block ADA/wheelchair path/curb access. | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(8) |
| Window Sign | — | 15% of window area; 12 in. letters | — | — | — | Interior side of ground-floor window. | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(20) |

### General Downtown Corridor District (GDC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Varies by building; ground floor signs below 2nd story sill; one-story/top-floor businesses up to top of wall/parapet. | 150 sq ft per sign | — | Projection no more than 1 ft from façade | Variable based on wall and multiple businesses. | On wall below 2nd story (main); top floor/one-story businesses to top of wall. | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft min from property line/driveway | 1 per qualifying parcel. | Corridor/frontage parcels only; not on building. | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(7) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft per face (GDC/SR 522); 36 sq ft if not frontage street. | — | — | — | On ground, with landscaped base | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(6) |
| Projecting Sign | 8 ft min above sidewalk | 20 sq ft | 4 ft projection max | 4 ft projection max; 8 ft minimum clearance. | — | Perpendicular; typically below 2nd story sill. | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(10) |
| Blade Sign | 8 ft min above sidewalk | 20 sq ft | 4 ft projection max | 4 ft max projection; 8 ft min clearance. | — | Perpendicular to wall (blade) | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(9) |
| Portable Sign (A-frame, menu, etc.) | 3 ft (A-frame); 4 ft (menu) | 6 sq ft per face (A-frame); 4 ft high (menu) | — | — | 1 per business. | On sidewalk at entry, not obstructing passage or curb ramps. | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(8) |
| Window Sign | — | 15% of any window area; 12 in. letter height | — | — | — | Interior/attached, ground-floor window only | — | BMC 12.64.602(A)(20) |

## Prohibited signs in Bothell

- Signs that interfere with the view of traffic signs, signals or devices, and approaching or merging traffic.
- Animated signs not limited to movement of the hands of a clock, electronic message displays, or barber poles.
- Signs that are significantly distracting to vehicle operators, such as those containing flashing, moving or intermittent lights, or signs with a concentrated light source or reflecting frames or surfaces of such intensity or glare that they may create a safety hazard.
- Signs erected, maintained, or painted upon trees, rocks, or other natural features.
- Signs that are structurally unsafe, improperly maintained, or otherwise in violation of the Uniform Building Code and other Bothell ordinances.
- Signs on utility poles as prohibited by state law (RCW 70.54.100).
- Pennants, permanent banners, streamers, strings of ribbon, tinsel, small flags, pinwheels, twirlers, propellers, and flashing or blinking lights; flares; balloons; and devices of a similar carnival character.
- Portable permanent signs, except as specifically allowed for A-frame signs.
- Specific types of portable temporary signs, including those posted or displayed upon a movable chassis or support (with or without wheels), posters, signs mounted upon vehicles for advertising (except for normal vehicles or vehicles for sale), searchlights, and inflatables.
- Signs whose size, location, movement, content, shape, coloring or manner of illumination obscure, imitate, or may be confused with lawfully posted governmental signs such as traffic control signs, signals, or devices.
- Billboards.
- Permanent, off-premises signs, except for governmental signs.
- Temporary off-premises signs, except as specifically allowed and regulated; in most cases, these are prohibited in all residential and commercial zones.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bothell

- Off-premises governmental signs posted in accordance with 12.22.070.
- Signs required by law such as official legal notices.
- Traffic control or directional signs posted on premises by private persons that do not exceed six square feet and contain only necessary copy or symbols.
- Signs or displays not visible from public right-of-way.
- Patriotic, governmental, institutional or corporate flags not exceeding 50 square feet each.
- "No Trespassing," "No Dumping," "No Parking," "Private," "Entrance," "Exit" and other on-premises informational warning and directional signs not exceeding two square feet.
- Seasonal decorations within the public holiday season, or civic or festival season, provided they are removed at the end of the season.
- Sculptures, fountains, benches, lighting, mosaics, murals and other urban design elements.
- Postal signs.
- Gravestones.
- Memorial signs, historic site markers or plaques recognized by the city council.
- Address numbers not exceeding 12 inches in height.
- Temporary signs no greater than three square feet per side and no more than four feet in height that remain for less than 90 days in a one-year period.
- Temporary construction signs up to 32 square feet each, including those announcing new development, provided they are removed prior to Certificate of Occupancy (specifically in the downtown subarea).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Approval of a master sign plan is optional for retail, commercial, business park and industrial developments containing more than one tenant or business (multi-tenant/business development).
- Application for a master sign plan should be made and processed concurrently with the project application for the associated development, but existing developments may apply retroactively to achieve conformance.
- Review for a master sign plan includes location, size, type, number, height, setback, and illumination for all signs in the plan.
- Approval of a master sign plan constitutes approval for all individual signs contained within said plan for the elements specified in 12.22.140 (nonconforming use and discontinuance of use); no further city review for these elements is required for signs filed in accordance with the master sign plan.
- A master sign plan is processed as a Type I permit consistent with BMC Title 11.
- Minor revisions to an approved master sign plan may be granted by the director, provided the revisions do not vary from the code or subarea requirements.
- Master sign plan procedures apply city-wide, supplemented by any more restrictive subarea sign requirements.
- In the downtown subarea, master sign plan options and requirements are referenced under 12.64.601.B.4 and must adhere to both the subarea and citywide sign regulations.
- Any development within the downtown subarea must comply with the sign regulations in 12.64.600 and 12.22, including provisions for master sign plans.

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

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