# Sign Regulations in Mill Creek, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mill Creek, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/mill-creek
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-24
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/MillCreek/#!/MillCreek17/MillCreek1726.html)

## At a glance

Mill Creek, Washington regulates 24 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Commercial Center Identification - Option 1)s in the Community Business (CB), Neighborhood Business (NB), East Gateway Urban Village (EGUV), Business Park (BP), Town Center (TC) zoning district are capped at 4 ft 6 in (at grade); 6 ft 6 in (raised 18" on base) tall and 50 square feet (total w/ structure), min 6 sq ft per tenant, with a Minimum 5 feet from street ROW or access easement; not in sight distance triangle. setback (Sec. 17.26.020(E)(5)). Most commercial signs in Mill Creek require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Neighborhood Residential (NR) | 7 | 54 inches (16 sf), 6 feet (24 sf) | 64 square feet (sign area), 128 square feet (decorative structure + sign) | — |
| Medium Density Residential (MDR) | 7 | 54 inches (16 sf), 6 feet (24 sf) | 64 square feet (sign area), 128 square feet (decorative structure + sign) | — |
| High Density Residential (HDR) | 7 | 54 inches (16 sf), 6 feet (24 sf) | 64 square feet (sign area), 128 square feet (decorative structure + sign) | — |
| Mixed-Use/High Density Residential (MU/HDR) | 7 | 54 inches (16 sf), 6 feet (24 sf) | 64 square feet (sign area), 128 square feet (decorative structure + sign) | — |
| Community Business (CB), Neighborhood Business (NB), East Gateway Urban Village (EGUV), Business Park (BP), Town Center (TC) | 14 | 54 inches | 128 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Neighborhood Residential (NR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Identification Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 per residence | On premises, at residence | — | 17.26.020(A) |
| Residential Development Identification Sign | 7 feet (decorative structure + sign) | 64 square feet (sign area), 128 square feet (decorative structure + sign) | — | — | Allowed at each entry road | Each road entry to development | — | 17.26.020(B) |
| Temporary On-Premises Real Estate/Construction Sign (Residential) | 6 feet | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 | On premises being sold, rented, or under construction | — | 17.26.060 and Table 17-6 |
| Temporary On-Premises Real Estate/Construction Sign (Subdivision/Multiple Units) | 54 inches (16 sf), 6 feet (24 sf) | 16 square feet (no rendering), 24 square feet (with rendering) | — | — | 1 per street front (max 2) | At subdivision under construction or for project marketing | — | 17.26.060 and Table 17-6 |
| Temporary Banner (Noncommercial)/Event | — | — | — | — | — | On premises for campaign, drive, or event | — | 17.26.080(C) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-premises or off-premises, subject to removal after election | — | 17.26.070 |
| Temporary Off-Premises Construction Sign | 54 inches (16 sf), 6 feet (24 sf) | 16 sq ft (no rendering), 24 sq ft (rendering) | — | — | 1 per street front (max 2) | Off-premises, for projects under construction | — | 17.26.040 and Table 17-5 |

### Medium Density Residential (MDR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Identification Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 per residence | On premises, at residence | — | 17.26.020(A) |
| Residential Development Identification Sign | 7 feet (decorative structure + sign) | 64 square feet (sign area), 128 square feet (decorative structure + sign) | — | — | Allowed at each entry road | At each road entry to development | — | 17.26.020(B) |
| Temporary On-Premises Real Estate/Construction Sign (Residential) | 6 feet | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 | On premises being sold, rented, or under construction | — | 17.26.060 and Table 17-6 |
| Temporary On-Premises Real Estate/Construction Sign (Subdivision/Multiple Units) | 54 inches (16 sf), 6 feet (24 sf) | 16 square feet (no rendering), 24 square feet (with rendering) | — | — | 1 per street front (max 2) | At subdivision under construction or for project marketing | — | 17.26.060 and Table 17-6 |
| Temporary Banner (Noncommercial)/Event | — | — | — | — | — | On premises for campaign, drive, or event | — | 17.26.080(C) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-premises or off-premises, subject to removal after election | — | 17.26.070 |
| Temporary Off-Premises Construction Sign | 54 inches (16 sf), 6 feet (24 sf) | 16 sq ft (no rendering), 24 sq ft (rendering) | — | — | 1 per street front (max 2) | Off-premises, for projects under construction | — | 17.26.040 and Table 17-5 |

### Community Business (CB), Neighborhood Business (NB), East Gateway Urban Village (EGUV), Business Park (BP), Town Center (TC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial Center Identification - Option 1) | 4 ft 6 in (at grade); 6 ft 6 in (raised 18" on base) | 50 square feet (total w/ structure), min 6 sq ft per tenant | — | Minimum 5 feet from street ROW or access easement; not in sight distance triangle. | 1 per arterial street bordering site | On arterial street bordering commercial center site on lot(s) over 1 acre | — | 17.26.020(E)(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Standalone Structure) | 42 inches | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 | Standalone structure over 3,000 sf occupied by single business in commercial center | — | 17.26.020(E)(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Business/Industrial Park) | 42 inches | 34 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | Each lot in business/industrial park | — | 17.26.020(E)(6) |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial Lot Fronting Arterial) | 42 inches | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | Commercial zone lot with minimum 80 feet arterial frontage | — | 17.26.020(E)(7) |
| Institutional Use Freestanding Sign | 54 inches | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 per street bordering site | Lot over 1 acre, institutional use, 1 per street bordering site | — | 17.26.020(E)(11) |
| Fuel Price Sign | 42 inches | 9 square feet | — | — | 1 per arterial | Gas station with pump island on arterial | — | 17.26.020(E)(10) |
| Temporary On-Premises Real Estate/Construction Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | 54 in (16 sf), 6 ft (24 sf) | 16 square feet (no rendering), 24 square feet (with rendering) | — | — | 1 per street front (max 2) | Existing commercial or industrial buildings/tenant spaces | — | 17.26.060 and Table 17-6 |
| Temporary Post-Style Commercial Sign | 4 feet | 2 ft x 2 ft (4 sq ft) | — | Not in ROW unless impractical for private property; must meet sight triangle | 1 | Anywhere on business property during business hours only | — | 17.26.080(A)(1)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Mill Creek

- Permanent signs which are designed and constructed to move by any means are prohibited in all zones.
- Signs mounted on trailers are prohibited in all zones.
- Signs with exposed braces and guy wires are prohibited in all zones.
- Signs with blinking, flashing or moving lights (with the exception of time/temperature and similar public service displays) are prohibited in all zones.
- Flags or banners, except governmental flags or as specifically allowed, and balloons or inflatable signs are prohibited in all zones.
- All off-site signs are prohibited except approved temporary signs.
- Signs larger than two square feet pertaining to or associated with any business, which are attached, painted or otherwise affixed to a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property and visible from a designated collector or arterial street, are prohibited, except when the vehicle or trailer is operating in the normal course of business.
- A-board signs are prohibited except as allowed for real estate purposes.
- Reader board signs are prohibited except as allowed for institutional uses.
- Temporary signs shall not be located upon utility poles, trees or placed in a position which would obscure fire hydrants, traffic control devices or block the vision or pathway of vehicles or pedestrians.
- No temporary sign shall be lighted.
- No sign may be installed or changed without a sign permit and approval of the Mill Creek design review board, except for signs expressly exempted.
- No permanent sign, except for those exempted, may be installed or changed without required permits and approvals.
- All signs must be kept in good repair and maintained in a neat, clean, attractive and safe condition; any work required to repair or maintain a sign shall be completed promptly.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mill Creek

- Individual residential identification signs are exempt from design review board review and building permit requirements.
- Temporary signs are exempt from design review board review and building permit requirements.
- Political signs are exempt from design review board review and building permit requirements.
- Governmental flags on one flag pole on any lot are exempt from design review board review and building permit requirements.
- Seasonal displays are exempt from design review board review and building permit requirements.
- Wall or building mounted signs which meet the adopted sign design criteria of the design review objectives are exempt from design review board approval and are only reviewed by the building official for code conformance.
- Public and private directional signs designed in accordance with the Uniform Traffic Sign Manual and incidental informational signs less than one square foot in size are exempt from design review board review and building permit requirements.
- Temporary signage associated with a special event permit is exempt from building permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No permanent sign, except as specifically exempted, may be installed or changed without a sign permit and approval from the Mill Creek design review board per 17.26.010(A).
- Design review board application for sign plans requires submittal of a completed application, a site plan showing the building and adjacent streets, a drawing of the proposed sign(s), sign dimensions and materials, a colored illustration, and payment of application fees per 17.34.030(B)(3).
- Wall or building mounted signs meeting adopted design criteria are exempt from design review board approval but still require review by the building official for conformance.
- A specific sign program or concept should be designed for multiple-tenant buildings or complexes and identify the location and sizes for future signs. Color and letter style shall be coordinated when businesses share the same building and consistent sign patterns shall be utilized (17.34.040(F)(6)).
- All freestanding signs (including monument signs and center/complex signs) are subject to design review board approval for appearance, scale, materials, and compatibility per the sign design criteria.
- Sign plans and applications are subject to review for conformance with overall building and site design in accordance with overall project design review (Chapter 17.34).

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

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