King County, WA Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sign type
- One nonilluminated wall sign
- Max size
- 10% of facade
- RA zone option
- Freestanding sign, 24 sq ft, 6 ft tall
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Unincorporated King County caps home occupation and home industry signs at one nonilluminated wall sign, no bigger than 10% of the facade it's mounted on.
3. Home occupation and home industry signs are limited to:
a. one nonilluminated wall sign not exceeding ten percent of the building façade on which they are located; and
b. in the RA zone, one nonilluminated freestanding sign not exceeding twenty-four square feet and a maximum height of six feet. (Ord. 16950 § 21, 2010: Ord. 16594 § 4, 2009: Ord. 16267 § 37, 2008: Ord. 15404 § 3, 2006: Ord. 12595 § 1, 1997: Ord. 10870 § 427, 1993).
21A.20.090 Office zone signs. Signs in the O zones shall be limited as follows:
A. Wall signs are permitted, provided they do not total an area more than 10 percent of the building facade on which they are located and provided they are limited to building facades with street frontage.
B. Freestanding signs:
1. One freestanding sign not exceeding 50 square feet is permitted for each street frontage of the lot, provided corner lots with a street frontage of less than 100 feet on each street shall be permitted only one freestanding sign;
2. On lots where more than one freestanding sign is permitted, the sign area permitted for individual freestanding signs may be combined; provided the combined sign does not exceed 80 square feet; and
3. The maximum height for freestanding signs shall be 15 feet. (Ord. 10870 § 428, 1993).
21A.20.095 Neighborhood business zone signs. Signs in the NB zones shall be limited as follows:
Full Breakdown
In the county's residential zones (R, UR and RA), King County Code 21A.20.080(B)(3) limits home occupation and home industry signage to one nonilluminated wall sign not exceeding 10 percent of the building facade it is mounted on. Properties in the RA (Rural Area) zone get an additional option: one nonilluminated freestanding sign up to 24 square feet and 6 feet tall. Illuminated signs and freestanding signs outside the RA zone are not permitted for home businesses under this section. This applies only to unincorporated King County. Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Auburn, Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish, Burien, Shoreline, Issaquah and the county's other incorporated cities enforce their own municipal sign codes.
Violations & Fines
Sign permits and code enforcement run through the King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division; a sign exceeding these limits is a zoning code violation subject to correction or removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a home business in unincorporated King County put up an illuminated sign?
Does this rule cover Seattle home businesses?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in King County
Compare King County to another location·View the Washington home business overview
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