# Sign Regulations in Redmond, Washington

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Redmond, Washington (WA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/washington/redmond
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-17
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://redmond.municipal.codes/RZC/21.44)

## At a glance

Redmond, Washington regulates 47 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding/Monument Signs in the CMU zoning district are capped at Height equal to the sign setback up to 10 ft tall and Up to 50 sq ft per face (see formula), with a Minimum 5 ft from property line; sight clearance per RZC 21.52.040 setback (Sec. RZC 21.44.010.F.1 Table 21.44.010A (CMU appears in both rows; per RZC 21.04.010.B.2, the greater restriction controls → 50 sq ft); 21.44.010.G.6, G.10–G.11). Most commercial signs in Redmond require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 10 ft (height) and 10 ft (length) maximums | 60 sq ft per face; 120 sq ft total all faces | — |
| CMU | 9 | Height equal to the sign setback up to 10 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (see formula) | — |
| DTC; UMU; OV; MMC | 8 | Height equal to the sign setback up to 10 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (see formula) | — |
| Town Center (TWNC); Manufacturing Park Zone (MP); Industry Zone (I); Business Park Zone (BP); OBAT; MME; MMM | 8 | Height equal to the sign setback up to 10 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (see formula) | — |
| Neighborhood Mixed-Use (NMU) | 8 | 20 ft | 32 sq ft per face; max 2 faces | — |
| Neighborhood Multifamily Zone (NMF); Neighborhood Residential Zone (NR); Semi-Rural Zone (RA-5); Urban Recreation Zone (UR); DTE; OUMF | 11 | 20 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Overlake Mixed-Use (OV, OBAT, OUMF) | 8 | OV/OBAT: top of wall/facade; OUMF: 20 ft | OV: up to 300 sq ft; OBAT: up to 100 sq ft; OUMF: 60 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Address Identification Sign | Character height 4 to 12 inches | — | — | — | — | On-premises, visible from the street | — | RZC 21.44.010.G.1 |
| Changing Message Sign (time/date/temperature only) | — | Must be incorporated within allowable sign area of the host sign, if applicable | — | — | — | Any zone, subject to host sign standards | — | RZC 21.44.010.G.2; 21.44.010.B.1; 21.44.020.E.7(f) |
| Permanent Subdivision/Neighborhood Identification Sign | 10 ft (height) and 10 ft (length) maximums | 60 sq ft per face; 120 sq ft total all faces | — | Outside right-of-way; sight clearance per RZC 21.52.040 | — | At major entrances to subdivision/neighborhood on arterial and collector streets; outside right-of-way | — | RZC 21.44.010.G.4 |
| Readerboard (within Monument/Freestanding Sign) | Host sign height limits apply | Must fit within the allowable area of the host monument/freestanding sign | — | Host sign setbacks apply | — | Within an allowable monument or freestanding sign | — | RZC 21.44.010.G.5 |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign (General Standards) | Per zone standards; berming shall not be used to exceed maximum allowable height | — | — | Sight clearance per RZC 21.52.040 | — | On-premises; not oriented solely towards a freeway; shall not extend into public right-of-way | — | RZC 21.44.010.G.6, G.10; 21.44.020.F.7 |
| Service Organization Signs (City Entrances) | Standard no higher than 10 ft | 2 sq ft per organization sign/emblem | — | — | One standard carrying all organization signs at each entrance | City entrances | — | RZC 21.44.010.G.13 |
| Temporary Portable Sign (Commercial/Real Estate) – General | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per face; max 2 faces | — | — | See zone-specific entries for number allowances by zone | May not be within vehicle lanes, bikeways, trails, sidewalks, or median strips; may not block driveways; may not be affixed to utility poles, trees, or traffic signs; may not be strung between trees | — | RZC 21.44.010.H.1.b.i; H.1.c–e; H.1.f.i–ii |
| Temporary Construction Sign – General | 10 ft (except NR non-subdivision: 6 ft) | 32 sq ft per face; max 2 faces (except NR when not associated with a subdivision) | — | — | No more than two temporary construction signs per construction project site | May be affixed to fencing on a construction site | — | RZC 21.44.010.H.1.b.ii–iv; H.1.c; H.1.f.iii |

### CMU

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign | Height equal to the sign setback up to 10 ft | Up to 50 sq ft per face (see formula) | — | Minimum 5 ft from property line; sight clearance per RZC 21.52.040 | 1 per street frontage per establishment | On-premises; not oriented solely towards a freeway; outside public right-of-way | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.1 Table 21.44.010A (CMU appears in both rows; per RZC 21.04.010.B.2, the greater restriction controls → 50 sq ft); 21.44.010.G.6, G.10–G.11 |
| Wall Sign | Top of the wall or facade to which attached | Up to 300 sq ft (see formula) | — | — | 1 per facade (choose wall OR awning) | On building facade | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.2 Table 21.44.010B (CMU group); 21.44.010.G.8; 21.44.020.F.2 |
| Awning Sign | Top of the wall or facade to which attached | Up to 300 sq ft (see formula) | — | — | 1 per facade (choose awning OR wall) | On awning (treated as wall sign for area) | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.2 Table 21.44.010B; 21.44.010.G.12; 21.44.020.F.5 |
| Projecting Sign | Top of the wall or facade to which attached | 15 sq ft per sign face; 30 sq ft total of all sign faces | — | — | 1 per facade | Attached to building facade | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.3 Table 21.44.010C (CMU group); 21.44.010.F.3 paragraph note |
| Blade Sign (Pedestrian-Oriented) | Top of the wall or facade to which attached | 6 sq ft per sign face; 12 sq ft total of all sign faces | — | — | 1 per facade | Under overhangs/covered walkways or hung over pedestrian right-of-way (subject to code) | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.4 Table 21.44.010D (CMU group) |
| Bracket Sign (Pedestrian-Oriented) | Top of the wall or facade to which attached | 6 sq ft per sign face; 12 sq ft total of all sign faces | — | — | 1 per facade | Hung perpendicular to facade | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.5 Table 21.44.010E (CMU group) |
| Temporary Portable Sign (Commercial/Real Estate) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per face; max 2 faces | — | — | 1 per business or unit (portable); multi-unit complex: 1 portable sign for entire complex | Not within travel ways; not affixed to utility structures/trees; not strung between trees; not blocking driveways | — | RZC 21.44.010.H.1.a.i; H.1.b.i; H.1.c–e; H.1.f.i–ii |
| Temporary Freestanding Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per face; max 2 faces | — | — | 1 per street frontage (multi-unit complex) | Per street frontage of multi-unit complex | — | RZC 21.44.010.H.1.a.i; H.1.f.iv |

### Neighborhood Multifamily Zone (NMF); Neighborhood Residential Zone (NR); Semi-Rural Zone (RA-5); Urban Recreation Zone (UR); DTE; OUMF

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | 10 ft | 25 sq ft per sign face | — | Minimum 10 ft from property line; sight clearance per RZC 21.52.040 | 1 per street frontage per establishment | On-premises; not oriented solely towards a freeway; outside public right-of-way | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.1 Table 21.44.010A (Row: UR; RA-5; NR; NMF; OUMF; DTE); 21.44.010.G.6, G.10–G.11 |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | 20 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per facade (choose wall OR awning) | On building facade | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.2 Table 21.44.010B (Row: Nonresidential Uses in UR; RA-5; NR; NMF; OUMF; DTE); 21.44.010.G.8; 21.44.020.F.2 |
| Awning Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | 20 ft | 60 sq ft (treated same as wall sign for area) | — | — | 1 per facade (choose awning OR wall) | On awning | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.2 Table 21.44.010B (Nonresidential Uses row); 21.44.010.G.12; 21.44.020.F.5 |
| Projecting Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | 20 ft | 25 sq ft per sign face; 50 sq ft total of all sign faces | — | — | 1 per facade | Attached to building facade | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.3 Table 21.44.010C (Row: Nonresidential Uses in UR; RA-5; NR; NMF; OUMF; DTE) |
| Blade Sign (Pedestrian-Oriented) (Nonresidential Uses) | 20 ft | 6 sq ft per sign face; 12 sq ft total of all sign faces | — | — | 1 per facade | Under overhangs/covered walkways or hung over pedestrian right-of-way (subject to code) | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.4 Table 21.44.010D (Row: Nonresidential Uses in UR; RA-5; NR; NMF; OUMF; DTE) |
| Bracket Sign (Pedestrian-Oriented) (Nonresidential Uses) | 20 ft | 6 sq ft per sign face; 12 sq ft total of all sign faces | — | — | 1 per facade | Hung perpendicular to facade | — | RZC 21.44.010.F.5 Table 21.44.010E (Row: Nonresidential Uses in UR; RA-5; NR; NMF; OUMF; DTE) |
| Temporary Portable Sign (Commercial/Real Estate) (UR/DTE/OUMF/NMF) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per face; max 2 faces | — | — | 1 per business/unit (portable); multi-unit complex: 1 portable for entire complex; plus 1 freestanding per street frontage (multi-unit complex) | Not within travel ways; not affixed to utility structures/trees; not strung between trees; not blocking driveways | — | RZC 21.44.010.H.1.a.i (UR/DTE); H.1.a.iii (NMF/OUMF); H.1.b.i; H.1.c–e; H.1.f.i–ii |
| Temporary Portable Sign (Commercial/Real Estate) (RA-5/NR) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per face; max 2 faces | — | — | Up to 3 per business/unit (portable); plus 1 freestanding per street frontage (single-family or middle-housing residential site) | Not within travel ways; not affixed to utility structures/trees; not strung between trees; not blocking driveways | — | RZC 21.44.010.H.1.a.ii; H.1.b.i; H.1.f.iv |

## Prohibited signs in Redmond

- Animated signs are prohibited (no revolving or rotating mechanically or by illumination), except for clock hands, digital changers, and barber poles.
- Temporary portable signs are prohibited unless they meet this chapter’s requirements (including portable reader boards, signs on trailers, banners, and sandwich boards).
- Signs on utility, street light, and traffic control poles/standards are prohibited, except for utility or governmental signs.
- Signs that do not comply with permit conditions; signs erected, altered, or relocated without a required permit and not in compliance; altered/relocated former legal signs that are now noncompliant; and signs advertising discontinued or closed businesses for more than 60 days are unlawful.
- Visible off-site/public right-of-way displays such as banners, festoon flags, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of lights (except seasonal decorations), chasing/strobe/scintillating lights, flares, balloons, bubble machines, and similar devices are prohibited (exceptions: not visible from public rights-of-way; parades).
- Signs that may be confused with traffic control signs/signals/devices, or that obstruct visibility of traffic or street signs/signals, are prohibited.
- Obscene signs are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs or signs for businesses no longer in operation at the sign’s location are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or strung between trees are prohibited.
- Signs attached to fences are prohibited (except temporary construction safety signs).
- Rooftop signs (including those painted on rooftops) and any sign wholly or partially above a roofline are prohibited.
- Inflated devices or balloons used to attract attention to a business, product, or service are prohibited.
- Signs used in a home business are prohibited.
- Signs placed or attached to vehicles, vessels, or trailers parked on public or private property for the sole purpose of advertising are prohibited.
- Signs displaying information related to commercial, real property, or construction sites located outside Redmond city limits are prohibited.
- Signs that use blinking, rotating, flashing, or reflecting lights are not permitted.
- Signs may not project above rooflines or obstruct windows and/or doorways.

## Signs exempt from permit in Redmond

- Minor repairs do not require a sign permit: replacement of a light bulb; repair of neon tubing without altering the sign structure/design; replacement or repainting of existing individual letters; painting of the base or support frame.
- Seasonal decorations within an appropriate holiday season or during a festival, removed promptly afterward.
- Street furniture/design features without advertising or identification (sculptures, fountains, benches, lighting, mosaics, landscaping, artwork).
- Exterior and interior signs or displays not intended to be visible from public streets or public ways, including interior signs more than three feet from the closest window and not facing a window; window displays; point-of-purchase advertising displays such as vending machines.
- Flagpoles erected for displaying patriotic or corporate flags.
- Public/government signs, notices, and flags: street signs/numbers; street address identification; traffic control/pedestrian signs and signals; governmental directional/gateway/wayfinding signs; public/legal notices and warnings required by a public process; signs required by law; governmental flags.
- Address verification signs up to four square feet.
- Directional signs (guiding pedestrian/vehicular traffic to parking entrances/exits, service areas, business locations) up to six square feet; exempt from permit if they contain no commercial message or establishment name.
- Parking area identification signs when parking is separated from the business served: one off-premises sign up to six square feet; exempt from permit if there is no commercial message.
- Permanent and temporary window signs/graphics are exempt from permit (home businesses may not use window signs/graphics).
- Incidental noncommercial signs intended for public convenience up to six square feet are exempt from permit (e.g., restrooms, hours, entrances/exits, help wanted, public telephones; property control/warning signs such as “no trespassing,” “no dumping”; plaques/tablets/inscriptions integral to or attached flat to a building/walkway/street; resident name identification signs up to six square feet placed entirely on the resident’s property).
- Construction safety signs providing notice of site construction and caution.
- Political signs do not require permits (subject to size, placement, and removal rules).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign program is required for all new multiple-tenant buildings and multiple-building complexes.
- A sign program is required when: (a) two or more separate tenant spaces are created on the same parcel; (b) two or more separate tenant spaces are created within the same building; or (c) two or more buildings are designed to be created on the same parcel.
- New wall signs in a multi-tenant building or multi-building complex must be part of an approved sign program before installation.
- For multiple-building complexes and multiple-tenant buildings: individual businesses are not permitted individual freestanding/monument signs; signs must be based on a uniform sign concept approved by the Technical Committee (the approved “sign program”); all subsequent tenant signs must conform to the approved sign program unless a modification is requested by the property owners.
- Sign programs are reviewed and approved, modified, or denied by the Technical Committee using the Type I process.
- Applications that conflict with the review criteria or requests to deviate from sign program requirements are referred to the Technical Committee for consideration of approval.
- Signs not consistent with the sign design standards may be subject to Technical Committee review.
- Revisions to a sign program may be approved by the Administrator if the original intent is not affected; substantial deviations require review and approval of a new sign program.
- Administrative design flexibility: the Administrator may recommend minor variations from sign design standards for a sign permit or sign program when strict application causes practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships, provided the variation is not detrimental, is consistent with objectives, and may protect historic integrity.
- Sign program applications must include a vicinity map/site plan; program text (permitted sign types, area/letter/logo size standards, permitted illumination types, landlord/City approval language including permit needs, prohibited signs); and elevation drawings (each building elevation showing sign locations and each monument sign proposed).
- Sign programs should comply with the purpose and intent of the sign code and design standards, enhance the project with coordinated signage, and accommodate future revisions due to changes in use or tenants.

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

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