Seattle, WA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SMC 23.55.012
- Neighborhood residential cap
- 8 sq ft per building lot
- Other zones cap
- 24 sq ft per building lot
- Per-occupant increase
- 8 sq ft per dwelling unit
- Extra display periods
- 4 additional 14-day periods/year
- Planting-strip sign
- 8 sq ft max, owner consent required
- Permit required
- none, if standards are met
Summary
SMC 23.55.012 sets Seattle's limits on political and other noncommercial signs. Real estate, contractor, and noncommercial fabric or rigid signs are allowed in every zone at all times up to 8 square feet per lot in neighborhood residential zones and 24 square feet elsewhere, plus up to four extra 14-day display periods a year for banners, balloons, and similar temporary signage.
A.Real estate "for sale," "for rent" and "open house" temporary signs, temporary signs identifying the architect, engineer or contractor for work currently under construction, and temporary noncommercial messages displayed on fabric signs, flags or rigid signs shall be permitted in all zones at all times, provided they are not painted with light-reflecting paint or illuminated. The total area for these types of temporary signs in the aggregate shall not exceed eight (8) square feet per building lot in neighborhood residential zones, and twenty-four (24) square feet per building lot in all other zones, except as follows: the total area allowed for noncommercial messages may increase to a maximum of eight (8) square feet per dwelling unit for use by the occupant of that dwelling unit...B.In addition to the signs described in subsection A of this section above, commercial or noncommercial messages may be displayed for a total of four (4) fourteen (14) consecutive day periods a calendar year; these additional four (4) periods are the maximum, whether the message is the same message or a different message.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Subsection A permits real estate "for sale," "for rent," and "open house" signs, contractor/architect/engineer identification signs, and noncommercial fabric, flag, or rigid signs in every zone at all times, so long as they aren't illuminated or painted with light-reflecting paint. The combined area of these signs is capped at 8 square feet per building lot in neighborhood residential zones and 24 square feet per lot in every other zone, but that allowance increases to 8 square feet per dwelling unit when the sign is for use by the occupant of that unit: a meaningful boost for apartment residents posting individual campaign signs.
Buildings with eight or more dwelling units also get a one-time 36-square-foot real estate banner allowance for a single nine-month period after a certificate of occupancy issues. Subsection B layers on four additional 14-consecutive-day display periods per calendar year for banners, streamers, pennants, flags, wind-animated objects, balloons, and vehicle-mounted portable signs, capped at 32 square feet of rigid material or 100 square feet of nonrigid material per lot (rising to 32/100 square feet per dwelling unit for noncommercial messages). 60, signs need the consent of the property occupant, planting-strip noncommercial signs are capped at 8 square feet with a 1-foot stake depth and a 24-inch height limit within 30 feet of an intersection (36 inches beyond that), and no sign may obstruct sidewalks, driveways, traffic signs, bus stops, or fire hydrants.
Violations & Fines
Signs meeting SMC 23.55.012's size, placement, and duration limits need no permit. Signs that exceed the square-footage caps, run beyond the allowed display windows, or sit on public property or a planting strip without the required consent or SDOT authorization are Title 23 land use violations, subject to a notice of violation and civil penalties under SMC 23.90.018.A of up to $150 per day for the first ten days of noncompliance and up to $500 per day after that until the sign is removed or brought into compliance; right-of-way placement is separately enforced by the Seattle Department of Transportation under subsection C.3.e.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a political yard sign be in Seattle?
Can I put a campaign sign in the planting strip?
Is there a time limit for temporary political signs?
Do I need a permit for a political sign in Seattle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seattle
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Political Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle political signs.