Kitsap County, WA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Permanent window signage
- 50% max coverage per window
- Temporary window signage
- 25% max coverage per window
- Allowed zones
- All zoning districts
- Permit status if compliant
- Conditionally exempt, § 17.510.060(D)
- Last amended
- Ord. 641 (2025) § 18
Summary
Window signs in unincorporated Kitsap County are capped by Section 17.510.100(I): permanent window signage can cover up to 50 percent of a window's area, while temporary window signs are limited to 25 percent, in any zoning district, with no permit needed if compliant.
I. Window Sign.
Window Sign: Definition
A sign that is painted on, attached to, or suspended directly behind a window, the glass portion of a door, or a space providing visual access to the interior of a building (i.e., open garage bays).
Allowable in the Following Zones
All zones.
Size
Sign Area (B x C), per Window: Permanent signage, 50% max. Temporary signage, 25% max.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4864424; v0 updated 2025-12-08; through 12-08-2025).
Full Breakdown
" The standard is allowed "in all zones" and measures sign area as the window's B x C dimensions: permanent signage may cover up to 50 percent of that area, while temporary signage, such as sale banners taped to the inside of the glass, is capped at 25 percent. 060(D), a window sign that conforms to this detail sheet is conditionally exempt from the sign permit process altogether; only a sign exceeding the coverage caps or otherwise deviating from the standard requires a permit application.
070(D), two square feet per lineal foot of facade width, capped at one hundred square feet, can trigger a separate violation even where the single-window percentage is met. This section was most recently amended by Ordinance 641 (2025) § 18. 510, these standards reach only unincorporated Kitsap County storefronts, not Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, or Bainbridge Island.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 50 percent permanent or 25 percent temporary window coverage cap, or pushing a building's total attached-sign area above the aggregate limit in Section 17.510.070(D), converts a conditionally exempt window sign into a code violation. Violations are a Class I civil infraction under Section 17.610.020, with each day counted separately and processed under Chapter 2.116.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can I cover with a permanent sign in unincorporated Kitsap County?
What's the limit for temporary window signs, like sale banners taped inside the glass?
Do I need a permit for a compliant window sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kitsap County
Compare Kitsap County to another location·View the Washington sign regulations overview
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