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Bellevue, WA Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Freeway corridor width
375 feet from freeway right-of-way
Letter/logo height cap
Generally 42 inches
Sign length cap
1/3 of building facade
Governing section
BCC 22B.10.025(E)(5)
Factoria freeway signs
BCC 22B.10.055, amortization required
Review path
Design review, Chapter 20.30F LUC

Summary

Signs within Bellevue's 375-foot freeway corridor along each side of the right-of-way face extra design-review criteria under BCC 22B.10.025(E)(5): letter and logo height generally capped at 42 inches and total sign length limited to one-third of the building facade.

5. Freeway Corridors. In addition to criteria applicable in the underlying land use district, signs within freeway corridors are subject to the following design criteria: a. Sign letter and logo height shall generally not exceed 42 inches; provided, that logos and first-letter capitals may exceed this limit if consistent with applicable design review criteria. b. Sign length shall not exceed one-third of the building facade.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 6929, passed July 14, 2026).

Full Breakdown

020 as a band paralleling each side of the freeway extending 375 feet from the freeway right-of-way, excluding land within downtown. 025(B)(1)(b)(iv), regardless of the underlying zoning district, alongside signs tied to design-review-required development, planned unit developments and conditional uses. 025(E)(5): sign letter and logo height generally may not exceed 42 inches, though logos and first-letter capitals can exceed that if the design review criteria are otherwise met, and total sign length is capped at one-third of the building facade, counting all signs together when multiple signs share one face. 150. 30F LUC and must include location, lighting, letter details, materials and an overall signage concept; the director can waive submittal items found unnecessary.

Violations & Fines

A freeway corridor sign erected without required design review approval, or exceeding the 42-inch letter/logo height or one-third-facade length limits, is a civil violation under BCC Chapter 1.18 with a monetary penalty and possible abatement, and BCC 22B.10.170(C) also allows prosecution as a misdemeanor. In Factoria, enlarging a freeway-oriented sign outside an approved amortization agreement violates BCC 22B.10.055 and carries the same civil/misdemeanor exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as Bellevue's freeway corridor for sign rules?
BCC 22B.10.020 defines it as the land within 375 feet of each side of the freeway right-of-way, excluding downtown. Any sign proposed in that band is subject to mandatory design review under BCC 22B.10.025(B)(1)(b)(iv).
How tall can lettering be on a freeway-facing sign in Bellevue?
Generally no more than 42 inches under BCC 22B.10.025(E)(5)(a), though logos and first-letter capitals may exceed that height if consistent with the applicable design review criteria approved by the director.
Can an existing freeway sign in Factoria be enlarged?
Yes, under BCC 22B.10.055(A)(1), but only within Sign Code size limits, and if the sign meets the freeway-oriented definition in RCW 47.42.020(B), enlargement requires an agreement to amortize the sign over a period set by the director.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bellevue

All Bellevue rules

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