Sign Permits
A sign permit is required when any new sign is proposed. Signs are regulated by Chapter 21.35 of the Woodinville Municipal Code.
A sign is any device, structure, fixture, or placard that is visible from a public right-of-way or surrounding properties and uses graphics, symbols, logos, or written copy for the purpose of advertising or identifying any establishment, product, goods, service or event.
Please see below for information and guidance related to various sign types.
The following sign types are not permitted in the City of Woodinville:
- Portable signs; except as provided for in WMC 21.35.130, Signs or displays of limited duration;
- Signs on utility poles, except signs of the utility or government;
- Signs which, by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination, may be confused with traffic control signs or signals;
- Signs located in the public right-of-way, except where permitted in this chapter;
- Posters, pennants, strings of lights, blinking lights, balloons, searchlights and other displays of a carnival nature;
- Billboards, poster boards and other advertising for products or business not located on the site of the business or place of sale;
- Signs that are located so as to interfere with visibility for the safe movement of pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles;
- Animated signs;
- Highly reflective frame materials such as mirrored glass or chrome metal;
- Signs for businesses that are no longer operating and open for business;
- Off-premises signs, except where permitted by the code;
- Signs located on or above a roof; and
- Human held signs.
Permanent commercial signs, including freestanding or building-mounted signs are subject to restrictions on the size, number, and location. Permanent signs require a permit. Below is a summary of the code requirements, please see the Woodinville Municipal Code for a full list of regulations.
Building signs in commercial and industrial zones:
- Number: Tenants are permitted one building sign per façade, up to two per tenant.
- Size: The maximum size is eight percent of the building façade area. If specific criteria are met the size can be up to twelve percent of the building façade area.
Freestanding signs in commercial and industrial zones:
- Number: One per street frontage, plus one for each 250 feet of street frontage.
- Height: Maximum height of ten feet.
- Size: Smaller of one percent of gross floor area tenant/building space or one square foot. per four lineal feet of street frontage, minimum 25 square feet, maximum 75 square feet.
- Frame: Base must be solid or use double post and use City frame colors.
- Letter/logo size: Minimum lettering height of six inches.
Portable & temporary signs are permitted within city limits with a permit. These signs are intended for short term use, such as community events, political signs, construction, initial lease-up, sales, real estate, and grand openings. Depending on the type of sign different size and time restrictions apply. See WMC 21.35.130 for more information.
Portable A-frame Signs
Portable signs (A-frame signs) are a type of temporary sign requiring a permit. A-frame signs are limited to:
- Size: Signs are limited to six (6) square feet of sign area per face and no more than two sign faces.
- Height: A maximum of three (3) feet tall
- Number of Signs: One (1) per business in the commercial zones and two (2) per business in the industrial zone.
- Duration of Display: Signs may be displayed only during the hours of operation of the establishment.
- Location. Portable signs may be placed in the zone in which the business is located, in conformance with the following requirements:
- Signs may be placed within public right-of-way, but not within a street or on a sidewalk.
- Signs shall be located either on-premises or adjacent to the property line for that property where the business is located.
- Signs placed within public right-of-way shall not block pedestrian, bicycle or vehicle traffic.
- Signs may not be placed on public property other than public rights-of-way.
- Signs shall not block the sight distance triangle pursuant to WMC 21.22.190
Additional guidance is available on the Portable & Temporary Sign webpage.
Sign Permit Application & Important Forms
To apply for a sign permit, you'll need a completed application and related plans, including façade area calculations for building signs and landscaping plans for free standing signs.
- You can submit your permit application request through the City's online Permit Portal or by submitting a PDF application below.
- A complete sign permit application is required and includes required plans, supporting documents, and fees.