Issaquah, WA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Section 18.612.120 of the Issaquah Land Use Code covers noncommercial speech signs, which it describes as signs expressing noncommercial messages such as public or community events, religious, political, ideological or other philosophical messages. The content of such signs is not regulated, but each sign is subject to the time, place and manner standards in the section. A sign permit or temporary sign agreement is not required to install one, and no fee is required to place temporary noncommercial signs in the City.

Materials and construction: signs must be durable enough to withstand rain, wind and normal wear and tear, must be maintained in an aesthetic and safe condition, cannot be electric or illuminated, and cannot move, vibrate, emit noise, be animated or have changing images. Duration must be consistent with the definition of temporary signs in Chapter 18.102. Height is set sign type by sign type in 18.612.130, and in no case can a sign extend above the roofline or stand higher than 65 feet above grade.

Placement: a sign goes in the right-of-way only where the section specifically allows it. On-site signs must sit wholly within the property. Signs must stay out of the sight distance triangle, ten feet from any driveway, alley or vehicle access point, two feet from any curb or roadway edge, two feet from any pedestrian sidewalk or ADA accessible path, and five feet from any building access point if not attached to the building. They cannot block the 48 inch clear pathway, cannot interfere with car doors, bicycle parking, bus stops or loading zones, and cannot be attached or anchored to trees, utility or light poles, parking meters or pavement. Medians, roundabouts, traffic circles, traffic signals and street trees are off limits.

Sizes in 18.612.130: on-site signs in residential and community facilities zones total 32 square feet across all faces, using A-frame signs of 6 square feet, stake or wire frame signs of 4 square feet, window signs of 15 square feet or banners of 15 square feet. In the right-of-way next to any zone, only stake or wire frame signs are allowed, at 4 square feet per face, 2 faces and 4 feet in height.