Bellevue does not regulate the duration or hours of residential holiday lighting on private property. Seasonal decorations are expressly exempt from sign permit requirements under the city's sign code. Lighting on city-owned trees, poles, or public right-of-way requires a Holiday Lighting Permit, must be installed no earlier than November 1, and must be removed by January 31.
Bellevue City Code 22B.10 (Sign Code) exempts seasonal decorations within the appropriate public holiday season from permit requirements on private property. There is no city ordinance setting a removal deadline, hours of illumination, or brightness cap for residential holiday lights on private property. Practical limits come from LUC 20.20.522 (Light and Glare), which prohibits light spillover causing nuisance to neighbors. Lights cannot create direct glare onto a residence or roadway. Lights installed on or attached to city-owned trees, street-light poles, or in the public right-of-way require a separate Holiday Lighting Permit administered by the Transportation Department under the Right-of-Way Use Manual Appendix J. ROW lighting may not be installed before November 1, must be installed by noon the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and must be removed by January 31. City power for ROW lighting is available November 1 through January 15. Electrical work follows the National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by Washington L&I (WAC 296-46B). All exterior cords and fixtures must be rated for outdoor wet locations.
On private property, complaints usually proceed under LUC 20.20.522 (light and glare nuisance) with abatement orders. Unauthorized lighting in the public right-of-way is removable by the city without notice under the ROW Use Manual, and penalties up to $500 per day under BCC 1.18 may apply. Electrical fires from non-NEC-compliant installations may trigger fire code cost recovery.
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