# Sign Regulations in Burien, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Burien, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/burien
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-09
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Burien/#!/Burien19/Burien1930.html#19.30)

## At a glance

Burien, Washington regulates 53 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Billboard (Relocated - I zone only)s in the Mixed-Use Low (MU-1); Mixed-Use Low Boulevard Park (MU-1 BP); Industrial (I) zoning district are capped at I zone: up to 15 ft above average height of all buildings within 330 ft of billboard or 45 ft, whichever is less tall, Type I: up to 672 sq ft face; Type II: up to 300 sq ft face, and Type I: up to 48 ft width; Type II: up to 25 ft width wide, with a Observe same setbacks as required for primary use of site; Type II ≥100 ft from residential zones; Type I ≥330 ft from residential zones setback (Sec. BMC 19.30.090.1–15 (esp. .5.B, .6, .7.B, .9, .10, .11, .12, .13, .14)). Most commercial signs in Burien require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 25 sq ft per flag | — |
| Residential, Single-Family (RS); Residential 1 (R-1); Residential 2 (R-2); Residential 3 (R-3); Residential 4 (R-4); Residential 5 (R-5) | 17 | 6 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| Mixed-Use High (MU-2); Mixed-Use High Employment (MU-2 E); Mixed-Use High Creative District (MU-2 CD); Downtown Mixed-Use (MU-DT); Community Mixed-Use (MU-C) | 19 | Maximum 20 ft above finished grade | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| Mixed-Use Low (MU-1); Mixed-Use Low Boulevard Park (MU-1 BP); Industrial (I) | 18 | Maximum 20 ft above finished grade | Type I: up to 672 sq ft face; Type II: up to 300 sq ft face | — |
| Airport Industrial (AI); Arterial Mixed-Use (MU-A) | 18 | Maximum 20 ft above finished grade | Type I: up to 672 sq ft face; Type II: up to 300 sq ft face | — |
| Special Planning Area 2 (SPA-2) | 1 | — | — | — |
| CR; CC-2 | 5 | Per Table 19.30-1 standards for each sign type | Per Table 19.30-1 standards for each sign type | — |
| Mixed-Use Low Boulevard Park (MU-1 BP) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Community Mixed-Use (MU-C) - Clarification Note | 1 | Code includes conflicting maxima: 5 ft (BMC 19.30.060.5.B.i) AND 8 ft (BMC 19.30.060.5.B.ii); consult Director | Code includes conflicting caps: 32 sq ft (BMC 19.30.060.5.A.i) AND 48 sq ft (BMC 19.30.060.5.A.ii); consult Director | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Mixed-Use High (MU-2); Mixed-Use High Employment (MU-2 E); Mixed-Use High Creative District (MU-2 CD); Downtown Mixed-Use (MU-DT); Community Mixed-Use (MU-C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Primary Building Facade) | — | Per formula | — | — | No maximum (subject to total sign area limits) | On tenant’s primary building facade | — | BMC 19.30.060.4.A, D, E, F, G; BMC 19.30.070.6; Table 19.30-1 (Wall sign) |
| Wall Sign (Secondary Building Facade) | — | Per formula | — | — | No maximum (subject to total sign area limits) | On tenant’s secondary building facade(s) | — | BMC 19.30.060.4.B; Table 19.30-1 (Wall sign) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | Included in total sign area allowed | — | — | One per business per facade | On-site or over public street rights-of-way | — | Table 19.30-1 (Awning or canopy sign) |
| Blade Sign | 12 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | 2 ft minimum from curb | One per business per street frontage | On-site; may extend over public street right-of-way | — | Table 19.30-1 (Blade sign) |
| Window Sign | Maximum 20 ft above finished grade | Not specifically capped (subject to 25% inclusion rule) | — | — | No maximum | On-site (on or in windows) | — | Table 19.30-1 (Window sign) |
| Freestanding Sign (MU-DT/MU-2/MU-2 E/MU-2 CD/MU-C) | 5 ft | 32 sq ft per sign | — | No minimum setback required (general 5 ft setback does not apply in these zones) | One per site per street frontage; an additional monument sign allowed on a street frontage of ≥400 ft (max 32 sq ft and 5 ft height) | On-site; oriented to a street with usable motor vehicle access to customer parking | — | BMC 19.30.060.5.A.i, 5.B.i, 5.C, 5.E(i–iv), 5.F–K |
| Multi-Tenant Complex Identification Sign | Per freestanding sign height limits in the zone | 32 sq ft (for complex identification) | — | Per zone’s freestanding sign setback rules | One additional identification sign allowance per qualifying complex | Displayed on a building within the complex, combined as part of other signage, or on an additional monument sign along the street frontage providing direct vehicular access | — | BMC 19.30.060.5.D |
| Property For Sale/Lease/Rent (Nonresidential Property) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face (16 sq ft per sign face if face is visible from more than one direction) | — | — | One per street frontage | One sign per street frontage | — | BMC 19.30.060.6.1–5 |

### Mixed-Use Low (MU-1); Mixed-Use Low Boulevard Park (MU-1 BP); Industrial (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Primary Building Facade) | — | Per formula | — | — | No maximum (subject to total sign area limits) | On tenant’s primary building facade | — | BMC 19.30.060.4.A, F, G; BMC 19.30.070.6; Table 19.30-1 (Wall sign) |
| Wall Sign (Secondary Building Facade) | — | Per formula | — | — | No maximum (subject to total sign area limits) | On tenant’s secondary building facade(s) | — | BMC 19.30.060.4.B; Table 19.30-1 (Wall sign) |
| Blade Sign | 12 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | 2 ft minimum from curb | One per business per street frontage | On-site; may extend over public street right-of-way | — | Table 19.30-1 (Blade sign) |
| Window Sign | Maximum 20 ft above finished grade | Not specifically capped (subject to 25% inclusion rule) | — | — | No maximum | On-site (on or in windows) | — | Table 19.30-1 (Window sign) |
| Freestanding Sign (MU-1/MU-1 BP/I) | 8 ft | 48 sq ft per sign | — | Minimum setback 5 ft | One per site per street frontage; an additional monument sign allowed on a street frontage of ≥400 ft (max 48 sq ft and 8 ft height) | On-site; oriented to a street frontage | — | BMC 19.30.060.5.A.ii, 5.B.ii, 5.C, 5.F–K |
| Multi-Tenant Complex Identification Sign | Per freestanding sign height limits in the zone | 32 sq ft (for complex identification) | — | Per zone’s freestanding sign setback rules | One additional identification sign allowance per qualifying complex | Displayed on a building within the complex, combined as part of other signage, or on an additional monument sign along the street frontage providing direct vehicular access | — | BMC 19.30.060.5.D |
| Property For Sale/Lease/Rent (Nonresidential Property) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face (16 sq ft per sign face if face is visible from more than one direction) | — | — | One per street frontage | One sign per street frontage | — | BMC 19.30.060.6.1–5 |
| Billboard (Relocated - I zone only) | I zone: up to 15 ft above average height of all buildings within 330 ft of billboard or 45 ft, whichever is less | Type I: up to 672 sq ft face; Type II: up to 300 sq ft face | Type I: up to 48 ft width; Type II: up to 25 ft width | Observe same setbacks as required for primary use of site; Type II ≥100 ft from residential zones; Type I ≥330 ft from residential zones | Per relocation program; no more than two Type I faces or equivalent on a single billboard | I zone south of So. 176th St.; setbacks per primary use of site or closest adjacent use if site undeveloped; Type II ≥100 ft from any residential zone; Type I ≥330 ft from any residential zone | — | BMC 19.30.090.1–15 (esp. .5.B, .6, .7.B, .9, .10, .11, .12, .13, .14) |

### Airport Industrial (AI); Arterial Mixed-Use (MU-A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Primary Building Facade) | — | Per formula | — | — | No maximum (subject to total sign area limits) | On tenant’s primary building facade | — | BMC 19.30.060.4.A, F, G; BMC 19.30.070.6; Table 19.30-1 (Wall sign) |
| Wall Sign (Secondary Building Facade) | — | Per formula | — | — | No maximum (subject to total sign area limits) | On tenant’s secondary building facade(s) | — | BMC 19.30.060.4.B; Table 19.30-1 (Wall sign) |
| Blade Sign | 12 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | 2 ft minimum from curb | One per business per street frontage | On-site; may extend over public street right-of-way | — | Table 19.30-1 (Blade sign) |
| Window Sign | Maximum 20 ft above finished grade | Not specifically capped (subject to 25% inclusion rule) | — | — | No maximum | On-site (on or in windows) | — | Table 19.30-1 (Window sign) |
| Freestanding Sign (AI/MU-A) | 20 ft plus 1 additional ft for each 25 linear ft (or portion thereof) of street frontage, up to maximum total height of 35 ft | Up to 200 sq ft based on street frontage | — | Minimum setback 5 ft | One per site per street frontage; an additional monument sign allowed on a street frontage of ≥400 ft (max 64 sq ft and 12 ft height) | On-site; oriented to street frontage | — | BMC 19.30.060.5.A.iii, 5.B.iii, 5.C, 5.F–K |
| Multi-Tenant Complex Identification Sign | Per freestanding sign height limits in the zone | 32 sq ft (for complex identification) | — | Per zone’s freestanding sign setback rules | One additional identification sign allowance per qualifying complex | Displayed on a building within the complex, combined as part of other signage, or on an additional monument sign along the street frontage providing direct vehicular access | — | BMC 19.30.060.5.D |
| Property For Sale/Lease/Rent (Nonresidential Property) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face (16 sq ft per sign face if face is visible from more than one direction) | — | — | One per street frontage | One sign per street frontage | — | BMC 19.30.060.6.1–5 |
| Billboard (Relocated - MU-A zone only) | MU-A: up to 15 ft above average height of all buildings within 330 ft of billboard or 35 ft, whichever is less; If oriented to SR-518 and in specified non-residential area near SR-518, see special case below | Type I: up to 672 sq ft face; Type II: up to 300 sq ft face | Type I: up to 48 ft width; Type II: up to 25 ft width | Observe same setbacks as required for primary use of site; Type II ≥100 ft from residential zones; Type I ≥330 ft from residential zones | Per relocation program; no more than two Type I faces or equivalent on a single billboard | MU-A zone north of 146th St. and south of 154th St.; setbacks per primary use of site or closest adjacent use if site undeveloped; Type II ≥100 ft from any residential zone; Type I ≥330 ft from any residential zone | — | BMC 19.30.090.5.A, .6, .7.A and .7.C, .9, .10, .12–.14 |

## Prohibited signs in Burien

- Any sign not specifically permitted by Chapter 19.30 is prohibited (19.30.040.2.A).
- Blinking and/or flashing lights are prohibited, except for the time and temperature portion of an otherwise permitted sign as allowed in Table 19.30-1 (19.30.040.2.B); additionally, any continuous or sequential blinking or flashing operation is prohibited (19.30.070.3.C).
- Illumination exceeding the specified light intensity thresholds is prohibited: more than 1/2 statutory daylight measured directly from any distance greater than 3 feet (neon exempt), or more than 1/16 statutory daylight (1/32 for undiffused neon) measured with a 1-degree spot meter at 20 feet from the light source or the closest property line (19.30.070.3.A–B).
- Undiffused light sources are prohibited for sign illumination (other than neon as permitted) (19.30.070.3.D).
- Signs affixed to natural features, such as trees, rocks, and other natural features, are prohibited (19.30.040.2.C).
- New signs erected upon, against, or directly above a roof or that project above the highest point of the roof line, parapet, or fascia, including signs affixed to rooftop equipment structures, are prohibited (19.30.040.2.D).
- Signs affixed to or painted on utility poles, street sign poles, traffic signal equipment and poles, garbage receptacles (except signs placed by the waste company), bridges, railings, fences, and other street furniture/fixtures are prohibited; governmental traffic/utility signs are permitted (19.30.040.2.E).
- Off-site signs are prohibited, except as specifically permitted by the chapter (19.30.040.2.F).
- Signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited, except as specifically permitted by the chapter or applicable law (19.30.040.2.G).
- Revolving or rotating signs are prohibited, with limited exceptions for barber poles, numerical parts of clocks or thermometers, tri-vision billboard faces, or where specifically permitted by the chapter (19.30.040.2.H).
- Signs posted or displayed upon a movable chassis or support with or without wheels are prohibited (19.30.040.2.I).
- Signs mounted on parked vehicles and visible from the public right-of-way are prohibited, unless the vehicle is primarily used for normal day-to-day transportation (not primarily for advertising) or the sign advertises the vehicle for sale (19.30.040.2.J).
- Graffiti is prohibited (19.30.040.2.K; BMC Chapter 8.55).
- Signs that create a traffic hazard or public nuisance are prohibited, including: imitating official traffic signs/signals or using words such as stop, look, danger, caution, warning, or go slow; signs that may confuse motorists or detract from legal traffic devices; any sign placed to obscure motorists’ vision (19.30.040.2.L).
- Wind signs or devices that flutter, wave, sparkle, or otherwise move from wind pressure are prohibited, except as specifically permitted (19.30.040.2.M; see allowances for carnival-like devices).
- Exterior wall signs may not cover or interfere with architectural building details, windows, doors, fire escapes, stairways, or other openings intended to provide light, air, ingress, or egress (19.30.070.6).
- All signs (except public service traffic-safety signs) must comply with sight distance requirements; signs violating sight distance are not allowed (19.30.070.1).
- Prohibited signs are not subject to a variance or a Master Sign Plan (19.30.040.2).

## Signs exempt from permit in Burien

- The chapter does not apply to Public Agency signs, Public Service information signs, and Traffic signs (19.30.040.1.A).
- Point-of-purchase advertising displays such as product dispensers are exempt from the chapter (19.30.040.1.B).
- Gravestones are exempt from the chapter (19.30.040.1.C).
- Historical site plaques and memorial signs not exceeding 2 square feet per sign face are exempt from the chapter (19.30.040.1.D).
- Structures or improvements intended for a separate use (e.g., phone booths, donation containers, newspaper recycling boxes) are exempt from the chapter (19.30.040.1.E).
- Building addresses with numbers and letters not more than 12 inches in height are exempt from the chapter (19.30.040.1.F).
- Exterior signs or displays not visible from streets or ways open to the public are exempt from the chapter (19.30.040.1.G).
- Artwork, including murals that meet the definition (noncommercial), is exempt from the chapter (19.30.040.1.H).
- A sign permit is not required for repainting, cleaning, or other normal maintenance and repair of a permitted sign, or for sign face and copy changes that do not alter the size or structure of the sign (19.30.100.1; 19.30.120.1).
- Lawfully placed temporary signs do not require a sign permit unless otherwise noted (19.30.100.1; 19.30.120.3).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Plan is required when a building facade is more than two stories high and more than one wall sign is proposed on any facade (19.30.060.4.E; Table 19.30-1, Wall sign row).
- Master Sign Plan option: The Director may allow deviations from the chapter if a Master Sign Plan demonstrates exceptional visual harmony and meets all approval criteria; the application is decided by the Director and may be appealed as a Type 1 land use review (19.30.130.1–2).
- Master Sign Plan submittals must include the usual sign permit items plus: a narrative addressing the approval criteria, a written description of the design theme, and at least five color renderings/simulations of proposed signs in context (19.30.130.3).
- Master Sign Plan approval criteria include: consistent design theme; deviations are the minimum necessary for readable identification from the accessing rights-of-way; compatibility with planned land use and surrounding aesthetics; compatibility with adjacent neighborhood/business district; does not obstruct natural scenic views; and compliance with relevant City-adopted design documents where applicable (19.30.130.4).
- Minor modifications to an approved Master Sign Plan may be approved by the Director if they do not increase maximum sign area, maintain visual harmony with integral design elements, and comply with applicable City design documents (19.30.130.5).
- Prohibited signs cannot be approved or legalized via a Master Sign Plan or by variance (19.30.040.2).
- SPA-2 zone: Signs in SPA-2 are reviewed and approved as part of a City-approved Master Plan for the zone under BMC 19.15.060 (19.30.060.1).
- The first sign permit application on a site must include a complete listing and mapping of all existing signs on the site (type, area, height, and location), to be updated with subsequent applications (19.30.110.2).

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

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