Sign Regulations in Federal Way, WA (2026)
5 verified sign regulations for Federal Way, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
Federal Way treats campaign and political signs as temporary signs under FWRC 19.140.050: no permit or fee is required, but placement outside the right-of-way is capped at 120 consecutive days per calendar year, and signs tied to a specific event must come down within 10 days of the event's close.
Federal Way Political and Temporary Sign Rules
Light RestrictionsFWRC 19.140.050(1)(d)
(d) Duration. Temporary signs may be placed, with the permission of the property owner when placed on property outside the right-of-way, for a maximum of 120 consecutive days per calendar year and must be removed within 10 days of the close of the event if the sign pertains to a specific event, or as otherwise specified elsewhere in this section.
Garage Sale Signs
A garage sale sign in Federal Way needs no permit or fee, but it is still a regulated temporary sign: it must come down within 10 days of the sale, and in the right-of-way it is capped at six square feet and four feet tall.
Federal Way Garage Sale Sign Rules
Some RestrictionsFWRC 19.140.050(1)(d), (2)(a)
(d) Duration. Temporary signs may be placed, with the permission of the property owner when placed on property outside the right-of-way, for a maximum of 120 consecutive days per calendar year and must be removed within 10 days of the close of the event if the sign pertains to a specific event, or as otherwise specified elsewhere in this section. ... (2) Right-of-way. ... (a) Generally. (i) Siz...
Digital Billboards
Federal Way bans billboards outright in every zone under FWRC 19.140.085(2), except for signs already legally nonconforming under FWRC 19.140.092. An on-premise electronic changeable message sign, defined at FWRC 19.05 as a sign whose content changes through electronic programming, is not a billboard and is specifically exempted from the city's separate ban on flashing signs.
Federal Way Digital Billboard Rules
Significant RestrictionsFWRC 19.140.085
“Electronic changeable message sign” means an electronically activated sign whose message content, either whole or in part, may be changed by means of electronic programming. ... The following signs or displays are prohibited in all zones within the city. Prohibited signs are subject to removal by the city at the owner’s or user’s expense pursuant to FWRC 19.140.115: ... (2) Billboards, except ...
Window Signs
Federal Way exempts window signs from permitting only when they cover no more than 25 percent of the window area and advertise on-site products, business identification, hours, address, or emergency information; beyond that they need a sign permit.
Federal Way Window Sign Coverage Limit
Light RestrictionsFWRC 19.140.060(1)(n)
(n) Window signs not exceeding 25 percent of the window area only to advertise products, goods or services for sale on site, business identification, hours of operation, address, and emergency information.
Freeway-Facing Signs
Non-residential property within 1,320 feet of the I-5 right-of-way may add one extra wall sign oriented to the freeway, capped at 200 square feet and 25 feet in height, on top of the standard sign allowance under FWRC 19.140.065.
Federal Way Freeway-Facing Sign Allowance
Some RestrictionsFWRC 19.140.065(4)(f)
Freeway signs. Any non-residential property within 1,320 feet of an I-5 right-of-way may have one additional wall sign. The additional wall sign must be oriented to I-5, may not extend above the roofline, may be no taller than 25 feet in height, and may be no more than 200 square feet.
Looking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Federal Way city rules.
Sign Regulations in King County →