Bothell, WA Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)

BMC 12.22.040 lists signs that are exempt from regulation under Title 12, and subsection G covers seasonal decorations within the public holiday season, or civic or festival season. The exemption carries one condition: such displays shall be removed at the end of the season. The section prints no day count, no start date, and no size or number limit for decorations. Signs or displays not visible from the public right-of-way are exempt separately under subsection D.

Other parts of the code supply numbers for holiday lighting. BMC 12.14.240, the exterior lighting standard, defines seasonal lighting as temporary lighting installed and operated in connection with holidays, community celebrations or traditions, and defines temporary lighting as lighting installed and operated for periods not to exceed 60 days, completely removed and not operated again for at least 30 days. Its exemption list includes temporary lighting installed for holidays and celebrations, provided that individual lamps are 10 watts or less.

The prohibited sign list in BMC 12.22.050 is a separate section. It names pennants, streamers, strings of ribbon, tinsel, small flags, pinwheels, twirlers, propellers, flashing or blinking lights, flares, balloons, and devices of a similar carnival character, and it separately lists inflatables among prohibited portable temporary signs.

Temporary on-premises signs are covered by BMC 12.22.080. In commercial zones that means one wall, window or banner sign per property street frontage, up to 50 square feet for wall and window signs, with banners registered with the city. In residential zones it is one wall or freestanding sign per property street frontage at five square feet, with freestanding signs at six feet maximum height. Separately, BMC 8.64.030 prohibits any light fixture that causes direct glare or reflections toward public rights-of-way in a manner that causes a visual distraction to vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians, as determined by the director of public works.