Bellingham, WA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Window sign threshold
- exempt only if 12+ inches inside window
- Temporary building sign cap
- 32 sq ft
- Real estate sign
- 1 per frontage, unlighted, 32 sq ft max
- Off-premises/pole/inflatable signs
- prohibited
- Applies only in
- Barkley urban village
- Governing code
- BMC 20.37.680(B)(4), (C)(9)-(10)
Summary
In the Barkley urban village, BMC 20.37.680 treats any interior sign within 12 inches of a window as a regulated sign, exempting only signage placed more than 12 inches inside the glass. The same section caps temporary building signs at 32 square feet and limits real estate signs to one per street frontage, unlighted and no larger than 32 square feet.
A. General Provisions. All signage in Barkley Village shall comply with the provisions herein. B. Exemptions. The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this title: ... 4. Interior signs that are more than 12 inches inside a window. C. Standards. ... 9. Temporary building signs shall not exceed 32 square feet. 10. Real estate signs are limited to one sign per street frontage, shall be unlighted, and shall not exceed 32 square feet.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-06-015, passed June 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040. ' These sit alongside Barkley's other numeric standards in the same subsection, including a 32-square-foot building-identification cap per facade, a 60-square-foot, six-foot-tall monument sign per development site, and a 100-square-foot cap on building-mounted tenant signage (50 square feet per elevation, per tenant). 040 per (C)(11).
Violations & Fines
Barkley Village signage is enforced through the same citywide framework as the rest of Title 20: a violation of BMC 20.37.680 is punishable under Chapter 20.52 BMC, with a first offense treated as a civil infraction carrying a fine up to $500, a second offense up to $1,000, and a third or later offense charged as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bellingham regulate signs displayed in a store window?
How big can a temporary sign be in Barkley Village?
Can a real estate sign in Barkley Village be lighted?
Does this window sign rule apply citywide?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellingham
Compare Bellingham to another location·View the Washington sign regulations overview
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