Bellevue, WA Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)

Bellevue's Land Use Code does not include a yard-ornament ordinance. Statuary, garden gnomes, flagpoles, decorative rocks, planters, fountains, and similar items on private property are unregulated as to size, color, or quantity by the city. The only city limits come from generally applicable rules: items must sit within zoning setbacks (LUC 20.20.010); items may not encroach into the public right-of-way, including planter strips and sidewalk areas (BCC Title 14); fences, walls, and screening structures over 6 feet require permits under BCC 23 even if ornamental; flagpoles over 35 feet may require a building permit under WA Building Code; and lighting on ornaments must not cause glare onto neighbors or roadways under LUC 20.20.522. Sight-distance triangles at driveway and street corners must be kept clear under the city's Engineering Standards. HOAs commonly impose private restrictions on ornament style and count through covenants, enforceable in civil court, not by the city. Items in shoreline jurisdictions (Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish frontage) must comply with the Shoreline Master Program (LUC 20.25E).