Federal Way, WA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Max exempt coverage
- 25% of window area
- Permit needed above cap
- Yes, under FWRC 19.140.040
- Allowed content
- On-site products, ID, hours, address, emergency info
- 3-foot rule
- Commercial signs within 3 ft of window count as window signs
Summary
Federal Way exempts window signs from permitting only when they cover no more than 25 percent of the window area and advertise on-site products, business identification, hours, address, or emergency information; beyond that they need a sign permit.
(n) Window signs not exceeding 25 percent of the window area only to advertise products, goods or services for sale on site, business identification, hours of operation, address, and emergency information.
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
060(1)(n), window signs are listed among the permanent signs exempt from the chapter's permit requirement, but the exemption is conditional: coverage is capped at 25 percent of the window area, and content is limited to advertising products, goods, or services sold on site, business identification, hours of operation, address, and emergency information. 065. 060(1)(c) specifies that a sign not visible from a location designed for public travel or gathering is exempt from the chapter altogether, except that any commercial sign placed within three feet of a window is treated as window signage regardless of visibility, pulling it into the 25 percent cap. 70 FWRC). No fee applies to signs that qualify for the exemption because no permit is required for them in the first place.
Violations & Fines
A window sign covering more than 25 percent of the window area, or one carrying off-site advertising or other content outside the exempt list, no longer qualifies for the exemption in FWRC 19.140.060(1)(n) and must obtain a sign permit under FWRC 19.140.040; operating without the required permit is enforceable as a code violation under Chapter 19.140 FWRC's general sign enforcement provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can I cover with a sign in Federal Way?
Do I need a permit if my window sign covers more than 25 percent of the glass?
Does a poster placed just inside the glass count as a window sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Federal Way
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Window Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle window signs.