# Sign Regulations in Mukilteo, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mukilteo, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/mukilteo
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-14
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Mukilteo/#!/Mukilteo17/Mukilteo1780.html)

## At a glance

Mukilteo, Washington regulates 18 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Pole/Pylon Signs in the Community business district (CB, CB(S), PCB, PCB(S)) zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall, Total sign area: 60 square feet maximum; Copy area per side: 24 square feet; Maximum two sides, and 10 feet (overall); Copy area width: 6 feet wide (Sec. 17.80.070 (Pole/Pylon—Sign Area; Maximum Number Allowed; Design); 17.80.120(E) (Commercial)). Most commercial signs in Mukilteo require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-family residential district (RD 20.0, RD 12.5, RD 12.5(S), RD 9.6, RD 9.6(S), RD 8.4, RD 7.5, RD 7.2) | 5 | 8 feet | Up to 75 square feet | — |
| Multiple-family residential district (MRD, MR) | 3 | 8 feet | Up to 75 square feet | — |
| Downtown business district (DB) | 5 | Attached feature: maximum height of underlying zone; Detached feature structure: 10 feet minimum, 20 feet maximum; Top of sign no higher than 15 feet | Maximum copy area 32 square feet per sign face; No more than two sign faces | — |
| Community business district (CB, CB(S), PCB, PCB(S)) | 6 | Attached feature: maximum height of underlying zone; Detached feature structure: 10 feet minimum, 20 feet maximum; Top of sign no higher than 15 feet | Total sign area: 60 square feet maximum; Copy area per side: 24 square feet; Maximum two sides | — |
| Business park district (BP), Planned industrial district (PI), Industrial park district (IP), Light industrial district (LI), Heavy industrial district (HI) | 6 | Attached feature: maximum height of underlying zone; Detached feature structure: 10 feet minimum, 20 feet maximum; Top of sign no higher than 15 feet | Total sign area: 60 square feet maximum; Copy area per side: 24 square feet; Maximum two sides | — |
| Open space district (OS) | 2 | No more than 8 feet from ground level | Copy area maximum 32 square feet per face | — |
| Public/semi-public district (PSP) | 6 | Attached feature: maximum height of underlying zone; Detached feature structure: 10 feet minimum, 20 feet maximum; Top of sign no higher than 15 feet | Total sign area: 60 square feet maximum; Copy area per side: 24 square feet; Maximum two sides | — |
| Waterfront mixed-use district (WMU) | 4 | Attached feature: maximum height of underlying zone; Detached feature structure: 10 feet minimum, 20 feet maximum; Top of sign no higher than 15 feet | Maximum copy area 32 square feet per sign face; No more than two sign faces | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | Maximum 4 feet tall for signs on ground | Maximum 45 square feet in surface area | — |

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

### Community business district (CB, CB(S), PCB, PCB(S))

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Main: at least 20 square feet; Secondary: by percentage | — | — | Generally: 2 per main facade; 1 per secondary facade; max 3 facades with signs | On building facades (up to three facades may have signs) | — | 17.80.070 (Wall—Commercial: Sign Area; Maximum Number Allowed); 17.80.120(E) (Commercial) |
| Window Sign | — | Maximum 15% of window or 50 square feet (whichever is smaller) | — | — | No limit | On or within window | — | 17.80.070 (Window—Commercial); 17.80.040(B)(10); 17.80.120(E) (Commercial) |
| Projecting or Suspended Sign | — | 10 square feet maximum | — | Sidewalk clearance 8 feet minimum | Not specified | Projecting or suspended over sidewalk/tenant frontage | — | 17.80.070 (Projecting/Suspended—Commercial: Sign Area; Clearance; Separation); 17.80.120(E) (Commercial) |
| Pole/Pylon Sign | 8 feet | Total sign area: 60 square feet maximum; Copy area per side: 24 square feet; Maximum two sides | 10 feet (overall); Copy area width: 6 feet | — | One freestanding sign per lot or multi-tenant complex | Freestanding at site frontage | — | 17.80.070 (Pole/Pylon—Sign Area; Maximum Number Allowed; Design); 17.80.120(E) (Commercial) |
| Monument Sign | Up to 8 feet overall; base minimum 12 inches tall | Generally 32 square feet copy area per side; For approved fuel/service stations: copy area may be increased to 45 square feet per side | Dependent on height: Height < 4.5 ft: max width 15 ft; 4.5–<5.5 ft: max width 13 ft; 5.5–<6.5 ft: max width 8 ft 4 in; 6.5–<7.5 ft: max width 7 ft 3 in; 7.5–8 ft: max width 6 ft 3 in | — | Generally 1 per lot or multi-tenant complex; 2 allowed for qualifying multi-tenant complexes | Freestanding at site frontage | — | 17.80.070 (Monument—Sign Area; Maximum Number Allowed; Design); 17.80.120(E) (Commercial) |
| Complex Identification Sign (4+ tenants) | Attached feature: maximum height of underlying zone; Detached feature structure: 10 feet minimum, 20 feet maximum; Top of sign no higher than 15 feet | Maximum copy area 32 square feet per sign face; No more than two sign faces | — | — | 1 per qualifying complex | Either attached feature (≥ 2.5 acres with ≥ 200 lineal feet frontage) or detached feature/focal point/identity landmark (≥ 5 acres with ≥ 300 lineal feet frontage) | — | 17.80.070 (Complex Identification—Style; Maximum Number Allowed; Design; Height) |

### Business park district (BP), Planned industrial district (PI), Industrial park district (IP), Light industrial district (LI), Heavy industrial district (HI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Main: at least 20 square feet; Secondary: by percentage | — | — | Generally: 2 per main facade; 1 per secondary facade; max 3 facades with signs | On building facades (up to three facades may have signs) | — | 17.80.070 (Wall—Commercial: Sign Area; Maximum Number Allowed applied to nonresidential); 17.80.120(E) (Industrial) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On or within window | — | 17.80.040(B)(10); 17.80.120(E) (Industrial) |
| Projecting or Suspended Sign | — | 10 square feet maximum | — | Sidewalk clearance 8 feet minimum | Not specified | Projecting or suspended over sidewalk/tenant frontage | — | 17.80.070 (Projecting/Suspended—Commercial: Sign Area; Clearance; Separation); 17.80.120(E) (Industrial) |
| Pole/Pylon Sign | 8 feet | Total sign area: 60 square feet maximum; Copy area per side: 24 square feet; Maximum two sides | 10 feet (overall); Copy area width: 6 feet | — | One freestanding sign per lot or multi-tenant complex | Freestanding at site frontage | — | 17.80.070 (Pole/Pylon—Sign Area; Maximum Number Allowed; Design); 17.80.120(E) (Industrial) |
| Monument Sign | Up to 8 feet overall; base minimum 12 inches tall | Generally 32 square feet copy area per side; For approved fuel/service stations: copy area may be increased to 45 square feet per side | Dependent on height: Height < 4.5 ft: max width 15 ft; 4.5–<5.5 ft: max width 13 ft; 5.5–<6.5 ft: max width 8 ft 4 in; 6.5–<7.5 ft: max width 7 ft 3 in; 7.5–8 ft: max width 6 ft 3 in | — | Generally 1 per lot or multi-tenant complex; 2 allowed for qualifying multi-tenant complexes | Freestanding at site frontage | — | 17.80.070 (Monument—Sign Area; Maximum Number Allowed; Design); 17.80.120(E) (Industrial) |
| Complex Identification Sign (4+ tenants) | Attached feature: maximum height of underlying zone; Detached feature structure: 10 feet minimum, 20 feet maximum; Top of sign no higher than 15 feet | Maximum copy area 32 square feet per sign face; No more than two sign faces | — | — | 1 per qualifying complex | Either attached feature (≥ 2.5 acres with ≥ 200 lineal feet frontage) or detached feature/focal point/identity landmark (≥ 5 acres with ≥ 300 lineal feet frontage) | — | 17.80.070 (Complex Identification—Style; Maximum Number Allowed; Design; Height) |

### Public/semi-public district (PSP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Main: at least 20 square feet; Secondary: by percentage | — | — | Generally: 2 per main facade; 1 per secondary facade; max 3 facades with signs | On building facades (up to three facades may have signs) | — | 17.80.070 (Wall—Commercial: Sign Area; Maximum Number Allowed); 17.80.120(E) footnote 1 (internal illumination prohibited in PSP) |
| Window Sign | — | Maximum 15% of window or 50 square feet (whichever is smaller) | — | — | No limit | On or within window | — | 17.80.070 (Window—Commercial); 17.80.040(B)(10); 17.80.120(E) footnote 1 (PSP) |
| Projecting or Suspended Sign | — | 10 square feet maximum | — | Sidewalk clearance 8 feet minimum | Not specified | Projecting or suspended over sidewalk/tenant frontage | — | 17.80.070 (Projecting/Suspended—Commercial: Sign Area; Clearance; Separation); 17.80.120(E) footnote 1 (PSP) |
| Pole/Pylon Sign | 8 feet | Total sign area: 60 square feet maximum; Copy area per side: 24 square feet; Maximum two sides | 10 feet (overall); Copy area width: 6 feet | — | One freestanding sign per lot or multi-tenant complex | Freestanding at site frontage | — | 17.80.070 (Pole/Pylon—Sign Area; Maximum Number Allowed; Design); 17.80.120(E) footnote 1 (PSP) |
| Monument Sign | Up to 8 feet overall; base minimum 12 inches tall | Generally 32 square feet copy area per side; For approved fuel/service stations: copy area may be increased to 45 square feet per side | Dependent on height: Height < 4.5 ft: max width 15 ft; 4.5–<5.5 ft: max width 13 ft; 5.5–<6.5 ft: max width 8 ft 4 in; 6.5–<7.5 ft: max width 7 ft 3 in; 7.5–8 ft: max width 6 ft 3 in | — | Generally 1 per lot or multi-tenant complex; 2 allowed for qualifying multi-tenant complexes | Freestanding at site frontage | — | 17.80.070 (Monument—Sign Area; Maximum Number Allowed; Design); 17.80.120(E) footnote 1 (PSP) |
| Complex Identification Sign (4+ tenants) | Attached feature: maximum height of underlying zone; Detached feature structure: 10 feet minimum, 20 feet maximum; Top of sign no higher than 15 feet | Maximum copy area 32 square feet per sign face; No more than two sign faces | — | — | 1 per qualifying complex | Either attached feature (≥ 2.5 acres with ≥ 200 lineal feet frontage) or detached feature/focal point/identity landmark (≥ 5 acres with ≥ 300 lineal feet frontage) | — | 17.80.070 (Complex Identification—Style; Maximum Number Allowed; Design; Height) |

## Prohibited signs in Mukilteo

- Signs attached to fences, utility poles, traffic signs, poles, control stations, trees, or natural features are prohibited, regardless of sign type
- Abandoned or damaged signs: signs left in place on land left vacant for 180 or more consecutive days, or any sign where the cost of repairs exceeds 50% of the replacement cost
- Animated signs are prohibited, including flashing, inflatable, rotating signs, streamers, balloons, searchlights, spinners, and propellers (changeable copy signs that change less frequently than every 10 seconds are not considered animated)
- Beacons and searchlights are prohibited
- Billboards are prohibited
- Flags (except national and state flags) larger than 20 square feet are prohibited
- Obscene signs are prohibited
- Off-premises signs (signs advertising businesses not located on or adjacent to the property where the sign is placed) are prohibited
- Roof signs (any sign mounted higher than the roof of the building) are prohibited
- Any sign that obstructs vision, hinders visibility of traffic control devices, misleads or confuses traffic, or otherwise detracts from traffic safety by reason of size, location, shape, movement, or method of illumination is prohibited
- Vehicles used as signs: signs greater than 5 square feet attached, painted, or affixed to a vehicle or trailer for the primary purpose of display are prohibited (applies to vehicles not used during the normal course of business, parked in the same location for more than 72 hours, or any unlicensed or inoperable vehicle)
- Prohibited illumination components on sign lighting visible from a public street: exposed incandescent lamps over 75 watts; exposed incandescent lamps with internal or external polished mirror reflectors; exposed lamps used on the exterior surface or raceway lighting (exposed neon tubing is allowed); incandescent lamps inside internally lighted signs; 800 milliamp ballast lamps spaced closer than 10 inches on center for internally lighted signs

## Signs exempt from permit in Mukilteo

- Displays of art, statues, seasonal decorations, fountains, clock towers, and other features that do not contain copy are not considered signs regulated by this chapter
- Minor work on legal, conforming signs that does not alter the frame, supports, or electrical parts does not require a permit: replacement of copy; repair or replacement of light bulbs or neon tubing; painting
- Address signs providing building identification per Chapter 15.08 do not require a permit
- Community bulletin board signs used for posting public or legal notices required by a governmental entity do not require a permit
- Historical signs (plaques on a historic building or site, including gravestones) do not require a permit
- Human signs (signs worn or carried by a person) do not require a permit
- Incidental informational signs less than 4 square feet pertaining to on-site facilities (e.g., restrooms, telephone, help wanted, hours of operation, parking space designations, entrance/exit) do not require a permit
- Signs inside a building, not attached to a window, and not legible from more than 3 feet beyond the lot line do not require a permit
- Flags: national and state flags of any size and number are allowed without a permit; two additional flags per lot are allowed without a permit if each is 20 square feet or smaller
- Public or legal notices or warnings required by federal, state, or local law, or by a governmental entity, do not require a permit
- Traffic control, wayfinding, public service, and other signs installed in public rights-of-way by a governmental agency that meet WSDOT standards do not require a permit
- Window signs do not require a permit
- One pole sign on property offered for sale that is less than 8 square feet does not require a permit

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Unless modified through a master signage plan, the sign standards table in Section 17.80.070 applies
- Signs permitted as part of prior master signage plan provisions that do not comply with current requirements become nonconforming on January 1, 2029; until that date they may be replaced in the same location with the same size and height allowances
- A sign permit is required prior to placement, construction, or modification of a sign unless specifically exempted by Section 17.80.040
- Temporary signs must be registered with the city (owner contact, location, and duration); unregistered temporary signs are a violation
- Any person may apply for a variance from the requirements of this chapter; variances are processed like zoning variances (Chs. 17.13 and 17.64) and cannot increase the number of signs allowed or allow a prohibited sign type

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

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