# Sign Regulations in Lynnwood, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lynnwood, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/lynnwood
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-09
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://lynnwood.municipal.codes/LMC/21.16)

## At a glance

Lynnwood, Washington regulates 98 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Construction Sign (General)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 32 sq ft per face, with a Conform to monument sign setbacks setback (Sec. LMC 21.16.280). Most commercial signs in Lynnwood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 18 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residential Zones (RS-8, RS-7, RS-4) | 13 | ≤42 inches (3.5 ft) | 32 sq ft per side | — |
| Multiple-Family Zones (RML, RMM, RMH) | 4 | Per LMC 21.16.290 | Frontage facade: up to 200 sq ft (or +30% if meets Creative/Artistic Guidelines); non-frontage: up to 100 sq ft | — |
| Public and Semi-Public Zone (P-1) | 4 | ≤20 ft (absolute cap for P-1) | ≤75 sq ft per side | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (NC); Planned Commercial Development (PCD); City Center – West (CC-W); City Center – North (CC-N); City Center – Core (CC-C); General Commercial (CG); Commercial Residential (CR); College District Mixed Use (CDM) | 15 | ≤25 ft generally; ≤30 ft if within 500 ft of I-5/I-405/SR-525 and ≥100 ft from a public street; ≤20 ft on properties separated from those freeways by a public street. If site frontage within 100 ft of residentially zoned property and visible from those properties, illuminated sections ≤20 ft high. | Frontage: ≤200 sq ft (+30% if qualifies); Non-frontage: ≤100 sq ft; With transfer: ≤400 sq ft or ≤10% of building frontage area, whichever smaller | — |
| Planned Regional Shopping Center (PRC) | 8 | Per 21.16.310 (Pole ≤25/30 ft as applicable; Monument ≤25/30 ft; Ground ≤3.5 ft) | ≤500 sq ft each | — |
| Highway 99 Mixed Use (HMU) | 16 | ≤15 ft | ≤250 sq ft per building frontage (total) | — |
| Alderwood-City Center Transition Area (ACC) | 15 | ≤8 ft | ≤250 sq ft per building frontage (total) | — |
| Business/Technical Park (BTP); Light Industrial (LI) | 5 | ≤10 ft | ≤32 sq ft per face | — |
| Restricted Business Zone | 2 | Per 21.16.310(B) | ≤25 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag Pole | Within building setbacks: comply with monument/pole sign height limits; outside setbacks: comply with building height limits of the zone | — | — | When within setbacks, follow freestanding sign setbacks per zone; otherwise building height rules | — | On-site, subject to zone building setbacks and height limits | — | LMC 21.16.240 |
| Banner - Pre-Grand Opening (Commercial Use) (0 - 15,000 sq ft) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy street frontage | On building, at business occupancy | — | LMC 21.16.255(H)(1)-(5), Table 21.16.255J (Rows 1,3,4,5a) |
| Banner - Pre-Grand Opening (Public/Institutional/Nonprofit Use) (0 - 15,000 sq ft) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy street frontage | On building | — | LMC 21.16.255(H), Table 21.16.255J |
| Banner - Pre-Grand Opening (Multiple-Family Residential Use) (0 - 15,000 sq ft) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy street frontage | On building | — | LMC 21.16.255(H), Table 21.16.255J |
| Banner - Grand Opening (Commercial Use) (0 - 15,000 sq ft) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy street frontage | On building, at business occupancy; a banner may be authorized upon an existing freestanding sign cabinet to identify a temporary business/use (matching size/proportions of cabinet) during the allowed time | — | LMC 21.16.255(I)(1)-(3), Table 21.16.255J (Rows 2,3,4,5a,6) |
| Banner - Grand Opening (Public/Institutional/Nonprofit Use) (0 - 15,000 sq ft) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy street frontage | On building | — | LMC 21.16.255(I), Table 21.16.255J |
| Construction Sign (General) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | Conform to monument sign setbacks | 1 per street frontage | On the site of construction | — | LMC 21.16.280 |
| Off-Premises Portable Business Sign - Sandwich Board (Movable Double-Faced) | 5 ft (face height) | Each face: ≤2.5 ft wide and ≤5 ft high | 2.5 ft (face width) | — | 1 per business | Public right-of-way (not the public highway); within 100 yards of business | — | LMC 21.16.225(B)(2),(4) |

### Neighborhood Commercial (NC); Planned Commercial Development (PCD); City Center – West (CC-W); City Center – North (CC-N); City Center – Core (CC-C); General Commercial (CG); Commercial Residential (CR); College District Mixed Use (CDM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole | ≤25 ft generally; ≤30 ft if within 500 ft of I-5/I-405/SR-525 and ≥100 ft from a public street; ≤20 ft on properties separated from those freeways by a public street. If site frontage within 100 ft of residentially zoned property and visible from those properties, illuminated sections ≤20 ft high. | Per face: ≤150 sq ft (one pole sign sites) or ≤155 sq ft (sites with more than one freestanding sign). Additional area: +20 sq ft per tenant beyond one, up to +80 sq ft (multiple business site); +5% area per each 10 ft the sign is ≥50 ft from street, max total area ≤200 sq ft per sign. | — | Leading edge >35 ft from street ROW; ≥100 ft from adjacent I-5/I-405/SR-525 boundaries (not applicable adjacent to freeway ramps); ≥100 ft from Snohomish County PUD ROW where adjacent to I-5; ≥10 ft from side/rear property lines; ≥25 ft from any property line adjacent to a residential zone | Per street frontage: 1 (1–300 lf), 2 (301–600 lf), 3 (601–900 lf), 4 (901+ lf). Corner sites <250 ft spacing restricted. | Setbacks apply; may substitute ground signs for additional pole signs where qualified | — | LMC 21.16.310(A)(1)(a)-(c) |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | ≤6.5 ft at minimum setback +1 ft per 1.5 ft back; max ≤25 ft; ≤30 ft if within 500 ft of I-5/I-405/SR-525 and ≥100 ft from a public street; not higher than 25 ft if separated from freeways by a public street; illuminated sections ≤20 ft high within 100 ft of residential zone properties and visible | ≤75 sq ft per side | — | As above; sight triangle per Figure 4 | Counts toward pole sign maximum per street frontage | Leading edge ≥10 ft from street ROW; ≥10 ft from side property line; ≥25 ft from property line adjacent to residential zone; ≥100 ft from adjacent I-5/I-405/SR-525 boundaries; not within sight triangle at intersections/driveways | — | LMC 21.16.310(A)(2)(a)-(c) |
| Ground Sign | ≤3.5 ft | ≤25 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from street ROW | Total ground + monument + pole signs shall not exceed pole sign maximum per frontage; plus up to 2 additional ground signs for parking/driveway identification (site conditions) | ≥5 ft from street ROW; must minimize visibility interference at intersections/ingress/egress; may attach to retaining walls/fences ≥5 ft from street ROW | — | LMC 21.16.310(A)(3) |
| Wall Sign | Shall not extend higher than 1 ft above the wall to which attached | Frontage: ≤200 sq ft (+30% if qualifies); Non-frontage: ≤100 sq ft; With transfer: ≤400 sq ft or ≤10% of building frontage area, whichever smaller | — | — | — | On building facades | — | LMC 21.16.310(B)(1)(a)-(c) |
| Nonrigid Awning Sign | Shall not extend higher than the wall to which attached; minimum clearances: ≥8 ft above walkway; ≥16 ft above vehicular areas; allowed at top of garage bay doors unless vehicle contact possible | As defined by awning area/graphics rectangle | — | — | — | On nonrigid awning attached to building | — | LMC 21.16.310(B)(2) |
| Incidental Sign | If ground: ≤3 ft above grade | ≤4 sq ft per side (incidental signs <3 sq ft not counted toward 4-sign cap or allowable area) | — | ≥5 ft from street ROW (if ground mounted) | ≤4 per business (plus any <3 sq ft not counted) | Attached to building below roof line; or placed in ground ≥5 ft from street ROW | — | LMC 21.16.310(C) |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial Property) | ≤6.5 ft | ≤24 sq ft | — | ≥6 ft from street ROW | ≤1 per street corner or ≤1 per street frontage (whichever is less) | On commercially zoned property on which the sign is located | — | LMC 21.16.310(I) |
| Construction Sign (Commercial Property) | ≤10 ft | Per LMC 21.16.280: ≤32 sq ft per face | — | Monument sign setbacks apply | 1 per street frontage | On the site of construction | — | LMC 21.16.310(J) cross-ref 21.16.280 |

### Highway 99 Mixed Use (HMU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign (HMU) | ≤15 ft | ≤75 sq ft | — | Minimum 25 ft from property line (front setback) | ≤1 pole sign (if ≥50,000 sq ft GFA) | On-site; must meet setback | — | LMC 21.16.340(B) |
| Monument Sign (HMU) - <25,000 sq ft development | ≤4 ft | ≤20 sq ft | — | Front setback: ≥5 ft + 1.5 ft per additional foot in height above 3.5 ft; side setback: ≥5 ft; not within sight triangle per Figure 4 | Generally ≤1 monument sign per street frontage (with separation rule for additional signs) | On-site | — | LMC 21.16.340(C), Table 21.16.02 |
| Monument Sign (HMU) - 25,000–50,000 sq ft development | ≤6 ft | ≤30 sq ft | — | Front: ≥5 ft + 1.5 ft per additional foot over 3.5 ft; Side: ≥5 ft; sight triangle restriction applies | As above | On-site | — | LMC 21.16.340(C), Table 21.16.02 |
| Monument Sign (HMU) - >50,000 sq ft development | ≤8 ft | ≤40 sq ft | — | Front: ≥5 ft + 1.5 ft per additional foot over 3.5 ft; Side: ≥5 ft; sight triangle restriction applies | As above | On-site | — | LMC 21.16.340(C), Table 21.16.02 |
| Wall Sign (HMU) - Single Story (Tenants with building frontage) | May not extend above parapet, soffit, eave line or roof | ≥60 sq ft per tenant (minimum), otherwise per formula | — | — | — | On building frontage | — | LMC 21.16.340(D)(1)(a),(5)-(6) |
| Wall Sign (HMU) - Single Story (Tenants without building frontage) | May not extend above parapet, soffit, eave line or roof | ≤100 sq ft | — | — | — | On non-frontage building facades | — | LMC 21.16.340(D)(1)(b),(5)-(6) |
| Wall Sign (HMU) - Multi-Story (Ground-floor tenants with direct exterior entrance) | May not extend above parapet, soffit, eave line or roof | ≥60 sq ft per tenant (minimum), otherwise per formula | — | — | — | Ground floor exterior entry | — | LMC 21.16.340(D)(2)(a),(5)-(6) |
| Wall Sign (HMU) - Multi-Story (Other business tenants with building frontage) | May not extend above parapet, soffit, eave line or roof | ≤250 sq ft per building frontage (total) | — | — | — | Ground floor or top floor (below roof edge) | — | LMC 21.16.340(D)(2)(b),(5)-(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Lynnwood

- Balloons (prohibited in all zones unless expressly permitted elsewhere in Chapter 21.16)
- Pennants (prohibited in all zones unless expressly permitted elsewhere in Chapter 21.16)
- Festoons (prohibited in all zones unless expressly permitted elsewhere in Chapter 21.16)
- Revolving signs and signs with moving parts
- Signs with flashing or blinking lights and signs with lights that go on and off sequentially (except electronic changing message signs)
- Portable reader board signs
- Off-premises signs (except those expressly permitted in LMC 21.16.225, 21.16.260, 21.16.270, and 21.16.290)
- Portable and temporary signs (except those expressly permitted in LMC 21.16.225, 21.16.260, 21.16.270, 21.16.290, and 21.16.310)
- Signs attached to vehicles visible from the public right-of-way or adjacent property that do not have a current license or are inoperable
- Feather signs
- Inflatable signs
- No signs may be fastened to trees, shrubs, rocks, telephone or utility poles, street lights, or traffic control devices (unless allowed pursuant to federal or state laws)

## Signs exempt from permit in Lynnwood

- Traffic, bicycle or pedestrian control signs or signals and signs used by the public works department as permitted by other city regulations
- Building address numbers
- Signs on the inside of buildings with doors closed and signs on the inside of windows
- Regulatory, informational, identification or directional signs installed by, or at the direction of, a government entity
- Signs required by law (note: not all legally required signs are exempt, e.g., gasoline price signs)
- Official public notices or official court notices
- Signs or displays not visible from streets, rights-of-way, sidewalks, adjacent property, parking lots, or other areas open to the public
- Flags of government or noncommercial institutions such as schools
- Structures intended for separate use (e.g., phone booths, recycling containers) provided no advertising oriented to the public right-of-way is attached
- Reasonable seasonal decorations within a recognized public holiday season
- Sculptures, fountains, mosaics, murals, building architecture, design features, and other works of art that do not incorporate business identification or commercial messages
- Historic or commemorative site markers or plaques
- Lettering or symbols painted directly onto or flush-mounted magnetically onto a licensed and operable motor vehicle operating in the normal course of business

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs must be located on-premises and require issuance of a sign permit prior to placement, unless exempted by other sections (LMC 21.16.210.A)
- A banner permit is required for installation and display of banners authorized under LMC 21.16.255; permit fees per Chapter 3.104 LMC
- Decorative/artistic murals may be placed without a sign permit but require prior administrative review and approval by the Development and Business Services Department to confirm they are not mural signs (LMC 21.16.230)
- Political campaign signs do not require a sign permit (LMC 21.16.270)
- Commercial incidental signs do not require a sign permit, subject to size and location limits (LMC 21.16.310.C)
- Certain residential signs (e.g., real estate open house/directional, some construction signs on individual lots) do not require a sign permit, subject to specific conditions (LMC 21.16.290)
- Residential development or institutional identification ground signs require a sign permit (LMC 21.16.290.F.4)
- Commercial real estate signs require a temporary sign permit (LMC 21.16.310.I)
- Searchlights require a permit and fee; limited duration and frequency; must meet location and nuisance criteria (LMC 21.16.310.H)
- Ground signs closer than 5 feet to the street right-of-way may be allowed by conditional use permit if in the public interest and visibility is not impacted (LMC 21.16.310.A.3)
- Additional pole signs beyond standard allowances may be authorized by conditional use permit; the hearing examiner may require reduced height/area or increased setbacks (LMC 21.16.310.A.1.b)
- Monument signs in the Public and Institutional (P-1) zone may be approved by conditional use permit and must meet height and illumination limits (LMC 21.16.300.C)
- Roof signs require approval by the planning director and are allowed only when needed because permitted wall signs cannot be made readable from the closest street (LMC 21.16.310.B.3)
- Sign variances to relax standards are processed as variances; the hearing examiner considers specified factors and may require periodic review, eventual relocation, installation of wiring/foundation at required setback, and a bond or guarantee (LMC 21.16.310.L)
- Civic banners within or across public rights-of-way require Public Works approval and liability insurance naming the city as additional insured (minimum $1,000,000) (LMC 21.16.260.C)
- Construction signs may be displayed only after a grading or building permit has been issued and must be removed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy or permit expiration (LMC 21.16.280)
- No master sign plan or sign plan requirement is specified in the provided text

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

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