Kennewick, WA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage cap
- 33% of wall or window area
- Permit status
- Exempt from building permit
- Sign classification
- Treated as a graphic sign
- Applies citywide
- Same cap in Tables A and B
Summary
Kennewick treats window signs as graphic signs, capping coverage at 33 percent of the window or wall area under the Sign Table, while exempting window signs from the building-permit requirement.
(30)Window Sign. Window sign is a sign located on or within three feet of a window of a building, and visible from the exterior of a building. Window signs are graphic signs unless they qualify as auxiliary signs. ... Graphic-window Maximum building height 33% of applicable wall area or applicable window area ... (h)Window signs.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Under KMC 18.24.020(30), a window sign, one located on or within three feet of a window and visible from outside, is classified as a graphic sign. Sign Table A (general commercial/industrial districts) and Table B (CBD/UMU) both cap the graphic-window sign type at 33 percent of the applicable wall area or window area, whichever governs, with no cap on maximum height beyond the building itself. Because window signs are common and low-impact, KMC 18.24.060(2)(h) exempts them outright from the Chapter's building-permit requirement, unlike freestanding, wall, projecting, and rooftop signs, which do require one.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 33-percent coverage cap on a graphic-window sign, or treating a window display as exempt from other Chapter 18.24 rules like illumination and maintenance, can trigger a Planning Department correction notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a window sign in Kennewick?
How much of my storefront window can a sign cover?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kennewick
Compare Kennewick to another location·View the Washington sign regulations overview
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