Federal Way, WA Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Qualifying distance
- Within 1,320 ft of I-5 right-of-way
- Extra signs allowed
- One additional wall sign
- Max area
- 200 square feet
- Max height
- 25 feet
- Roofline limit
- May not extend above roofline
- Eligible property type
- Non-residential only
Summary
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.
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.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-1049, passed August 11, 2026).
Full Breakdown
065. 3 otherwise allow. That extra sign must be oriented toward I-5, cannot extend above the building's roofline, is capped at 25 feet in height, and cannot exceed 200 square feet in area. This bonus stacks with other multipliers in the same subsection, such as a 25 percent area increase for properties with no internally lit sign faces, or a 25 percent increase where all signs other than center identification signs are building-mounted. 040, and a fee applies at the rate set in the city's fee schedule.
70 FWRC. The base tables that this bonus attaches to apply to community business (BC), city center frame (CC-F), city center core (CC-C), and commercial enterprise (CE) zoned properties of at least 15 acres with at least 250 linear feet of street frontage, meaning the freeway bonus is most relevant to larger commercial sites near the I-5 corridor rather than small infill lots.
Violations & Fines
A freeway-facing wall sign that exceeds 200 square feet, exceeds 25 feet in height, extends above the roofline, or is erected without the required sign permit under FWRC 19.140.040 does not qualify for the FWRC 19.140.065(4)(f) bonus and is subject to the city's standard sign code enforcement, including permit denial or required removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business near I-5 in Federal Way put up an extra sign facing the freeway?
How big can a freeway-facing sign be in Federal Way?
Does a freeway sign still need a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Federal Way
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Freeway-Facing Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle freeway-facing signs.