A. 
The number of signs permitted on individual properties varies based on several factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, zoning, type of use and site design. It is the goal of the City to allow a wide range of sign types, while also protecting the aesthetic character of the City’s various zoning districts. Signs permitted under this chapter may only list on-premise businesses, products and uses.
(Ord. 2742, 10/17/2024)
A. 
Institutional uses and multi-family complexes are allowed one flush-mounted wall sign per building and one freestanding monument-style sign for each public street that provides access to the premise.
B. 
Monument Sign Design Standards:
1. 
The area of a monument sign is limited to 30 square feet per sign face and a total of 60 square feet for all sides. Monument signs located on a premise with at least one building that is certified as LEED by the GBCI shall be permitted to be 35 square feet per face and a total of 70 square feet for all sides.
2. 
The sign shall be no taller than five feet.
3. 
Maximum width of the sign shall not exceed 15 feet.
4. 
The sign must meet sight distance triangle restrictions.
5. 
The sign shall be located in a landscaped area.
6. 
The sign may only use indirect down lighting methods except for dynamic signs as allowed under TMC Section 19.20.030.D. The lighting shall have no spillover impact on adjacent properties.
7. 
A monument sign permitted under this section is permitted to complete refaces, panel changes and copy changes without the need to obtain a new permit, provided ALL of the following criteria are met:
a. 
The monument sign was authorized by the City under a permit issued on or after August 24, 2010.
b. 
The property owner, or authorized agent of the property owner, was the applicant to secure the permit as required under this section.
c. 
The reface or copy change does not include any structural changes to the sign that result in a change of sign or message area, modification in sign height, inclusion of a dynamic sign component, or change in the monument sign’s location.
C. 
Flush-Mounted Building Signs (Wall Signs) - Design Standards:
1. 
The maximum area of any flush-mounted building sign is limited to the calculation from Table 2 in TMC Section 19.20.050; however, in no case shall the area of a flush-mounted building sign be greater than 50 square feet.
2. 
Lighting for flush-mounted building signs shall be limited to indirect, concealed and backlit devices. The lighting shall produce no spillover or glare onto adjacent properties.
D. 
Dynamic Signs in Residential Zones:
1. 
One monument sign per premise, as permitted under TMC Section 19.20.030.B, may contain a dynamic feature. The following design standards apply to all dynamic signs installed under this section:
a. 
The image of the sign may not change more frequently than once every ten seconds.
b. 
The image must appear and disappear as one image. The image may not appear to flash, undulate, pulse or portray explosions, fireworks, flashes of light, or blinking or chasing lights, or appear to move toward or away from the viewer, to expand, contract, bounce, rotate, spin, twist, scroll, travel or otherwise portray movement.
c. 
Illumination of the dynamic sign is limited to the hours of 7am to 10pm.
d. 
All signs shall have installed ambient light monitors, and shall at all times allow such monitors to automatically adjust the brightness level of the electronic sign based on ambient light conditions. Maximum brightness levels for electronic signs shall not exceed 3-foot candle above ambient light conditions, measured 100 feet from the face.
2. 
Notice of Understanding:
The owner of any dynamic sign installed per this subsection must submit a letter to the Director stating that he/she understands and agrees to abide by the above requirements.
(Ord. 2742, 10/17/2024)
A. 
Monument/freestanding signs are permitted within all commercial and industrial zones, subject to the following standards:
1. 
Design Standards:
Each premise is permitted to have one free-standing monument-style sign. Additional monument signs are permitted if the premise contains over 800 feet of linear frontage on City or quasi-public streets, per Table 1 below.
Table 1 – Design Standards for Permanent Monument Signs in Commercial and Industrial Zones
Total ROW of Premise
Allowable Sign Message Area
Total Allowable Sign Size
Maximum Height
Number of Signs
Less than 400 feet
36 square feet per side/72 square feet total
54 square feet per side/108 square feet total
6 feet
One
400-599 feet
50 square feet per side/100 square feet total
70 square feet per side/140 square feet total
7 feet
One
600-799 feet
60 square feet per side/120 square feet total
80 square feet per side/160 square feet total
7 feet
One
800-999 feet
66 square feet per side/132 square feet total
88 square feet per side/176 square feet total
8 feet
Two
1,000 feet and over
72 square feet per side/144 square feet total
96 square feet per side/192 square feet total
8 feet
One for every 400 feet of linear street frontage.
a. 
Allowable sign message area is either the face panel of the sign or, for channel letters or signs painted on seating or retaining walls, that portion of the sign devoted to the actual message, logo or business name.
b. 
Total size is the entire area of the sign, including the support structure.
c. 
Monument signs located on a premise with at least one building that is certified as LEED by the GBCI shall be permitted to have a sign message area increase and total size area increase of one percent.
2. 
Special Corner Properties or Properties with Multiple Street Frontages:
A property that borders on more than one public street, but has less than 800 total feet of linear frontage, is permitted to have one monument sign per street frontage if the following criteria are met:
a. 
The property has at least 200 feet of frontage on each public street where a sign will be placed;
b. 
Each public street provides direct access to the property; and
c. 
For each separate street frontage Table 1 shall be used to determine the design standards for any proposed monument sign.
3. 
Setback:
All monument signs shall be placed at a minimum of five feet from all property lines. No sign taller than three feet shall be placed within the sight distance triangle of an access point, unless it can be demonstrated the sign will not pose a safety issue by reducing visibility.
4. 
Maximum Width:
The maximum permitted width of a monument sign is 15 feet.
5. 
Address:
In order to facilitate emergency response, all new freestanding signs shall have the address number or address number range of the premise listed on the structure. The address shall not be counted toward the allowable sign message area limit. Address numbers must be plainly legible and visible from the street fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numerals or alphabet letters. Numbers shall be a minimum of four inches high with a minimum stroke width of 1.5 inches.
6. 
A monument sign permitted under this section is permitted to complete refaces and copy changes without having to obtain a new permit, provided ALL of the following criteria are met:
a. 
The monument sign was authorized by the City under a permit issued on or after August 24, 2010.
b. 
The property owner, or authorized agent of the property owner, was the applicant to secure the permit as required by TMC Section 19.20.040 (6)(a).
c. 
The reface or copy change does not include any structural changes to the sign that result in a change of sign or message area, modification in sign height, inclusion of a dynamic sign component, or change in the monument sign’s location.
(Ord. 2742, 10/17/2024)
A. 
Flush-Mounted Building Signs (Wall Signs):
1. 
Each separate tenant suite with an exterior public entrance is permitted to have one flush-mounted building sign per exterior public entrance. Additionally, each multi-tenant premise with one or more buildings totaling 25,000 square feet or more, but that does not qualify for the Master Sign Program and has gone through design review, is allowed one additional flush-mounted building sign of up to 50 square feet for the complex in addition to individual tenant signs. In the MIC/H zone no more than one flush-mounted wall sign shall be permitted per cardinal direction; regardless of the location of public entrances.
2. 
Buildings where multiple tenants share a common entrance may have one flush-mounted building sign per exterior public entrance.
3. 
Wall signs may only be placed within the section of exposed building face that qualifies for the placement of the building-mounted sign.
4. 
The area of the wall sign shall be a percentage of the area of exposed building face where the sign is proposed to be displayed, as calculated per Table 2.
5. 
Wall signs may not extend above the top of the parapet or eave of the roof of the wall on which they are located.
Table 2 – Allowable Message Area for Permanent Wall Signs in Commercial and Industrial Zones
Area (LxH) of Exposed Building Face (EBF) in Square Feet
Permitted Sign Area
0 - 500
EBF x .05 or 20 square feet
501 - 1,500
(EBF-500) x .04 + 25 square feet
1,501 - 3,000
(EBF-1,500) x .03 + 65 square feet
3,001 - 5,000
(EBF-3,000) x .02 + 110 square feet
Over 5,000 (except for buildings within the MIC/H District
150 square feet maximum size permitted
The additional sign allowances below shall only apply to buildings located on properties within the MIC/H District.
5,001 - 20,000
(EBF-5,000) x .015 + 150 square feet
20,001 - 50,000
(EBF-20,000) x .015 + 375 square feet
50,001 - 80,000
(EBF-50,000) x .015 + 825 square feet
80,001 - 100,000
(EBF-80,000) x .01 + 1,275 square feet
Over 100,000
1,500 square feet maximum size permitted
Notes:
(1)
Any flush-mounted (wall) sign affixed to a building certified as LEED by the GBCI shall be permitted an area increase of .5 percent of the permitted sign area from Table 2.
(2)
A fuel canopy, as defined in this title, is permitted to install one flush-mounted building sign (wall sign) on each separate elevation of the fuel canopy structure. The area of the sign shall not exceed 10 square feet or one-third the area of the surface to which the sign is attached (whichever is less); illumination of the sign is permitted.
B. 
Awning Face Sign:
An awning face sign may be substituted for a flush-mounted building sign, allowed under TMC Section 19.20.050.A, when the following standards are met:
1. 
The size of the awning face sign may be no larger than the flush-mounted sign that would otherwise be allowed per Table 2.
2. 
Awning face signs are only permitted on awnings located over a public entrance to a building. The sign area may be distributed among multiple awnings on an exposed building face.
3. 
The awning face sign may not exceed 30 percent of the total area of the awning on which the sign is located.
4. 
Only indirect lighting shall be used for awning face signs.
5. 
The sign may only consist of vinyl or paint applied directly to the awning.
6. 
In commercial zones awnings may only be constructed of canvas or nylon fabric.
C. 
Projecting Signs:
One projecting sign per separate business is permitted in addition to any other type of building-mounted sign when the following standards are met:
1. 
Projecting signs shall only be permitted for tenant spaces that have a direct ground-floor public entrance.
2. 
No portion of a projecting sign may extend above the lower sill of any second story window on the same exposed building face.
3. 
No projecting sign may exceed 20 square feet per face or a total of 40 square feet for all faces.
4. 
Projecting signs may project no more than four feet out from the façade of the building. In no case shall the sign extend beyond the sidewalk which it overhangs.
5. 
No portion of the projecting sign shall be lower than eight feet above the level of sidewalk or other public right-of-way over which it projects.
6. 
Projecting signs may utilize rotating mechanical displays.
D. 
Corner Projecting Sign:
In order to foster an urban-style environment, a corner projecting sign may be substituted for a projecting sign allowed under TMC Section 19.20.050.C, when the following standards are met:
1. 
Signs shall only be permitted in the TUC and NCC zones.
2. 
Signs are only permitted on the corners of buildings that are built to the minimum zoning setbacks of two public streets or a private street developed to public standards including sidewalks and landscaping. One corner projecting sign is permitted for each corner of a building that meets the above standards.
3. 
Public entrances must be provided directly from the adjacent public right-of-way into the tenant space in order to qualify for a corner projecting sign.
4. 
Signs shall be no taller than 25 feet from the bottom-most part of the sign to the tallest part of the sign and may not extend above the wall on which it is mounted.
5. 
Sign area is limited to 75 square feet per face or a total of 150 square feet for all faces.
6. 
Signs shall project no more than six feet from the façade of the building. In no case shall the sign extend out beyond the street edge of the sidewalk under the sign.
7. 
No portion of a sign shall be lower than 12 feet above the level of the sidewalk.
8. 
Signs may utilize the following dynamic features: neon, chasing lights, flashing lights or rotating mechanical displays. The use of strobe lights, video displays and rotating lights is prohibited.
E. 
Canopy-Edge Sign:
A canopy-edge sign may be substituted for a projecting sign, allowed under TMC Section 19.20.050.C, when the following standards are met:
1. 
Canopy-edge signs may only be permitted for canopies located above a public entrance to a business.
2. 
The sign is limited to a single row of individual letters not to exceed 12 inches in height.
3. 
The letters may not project beyond the edge of the canopy.
4. 
The length of the sign may not exceed two-thirds of the canopy length.
5. 
The letters may be illuminated.
F. 
Pedestrian-Oriented Building-Mounted Signs:
The signs listed under this section are allowed in addition to the building-mounted signs permitted under TMC Section 19.20.050.A through E.
1. 
Under-Awning/Canopy Sign:
a. 
Under-awning/canopy signs must be located adjacent to a public entrance from a public or private sidewalk into a business.
b. 
No more than one sign shall be permitted per business, per façade.
c. 
No sign may exceed three square feet in size.
d. 
No sign may project farther from the building than its associated awning or canopy.
e. 
No part of the sign may be less than eight feet above the level of the sidewalk or right-of-way over which it projects.
2. 
Awning/Canopy Side Sign:
a. 
Only awnings/canopies that are over exterior public entrances are permitted signs.
b. 
Only one awning/canopy per façade may have a sign.
c. 
Awning text and graphics may not exceed 12 inches in height with total sign area not to exceed 40 percent of the awning side area.
d. 
Canopy signs are permitted one line of lettering, not to exceed two-thirds the thickness of the canopy or 12 inches, whichever is less.
e. 
Signs shall not project beyond the edge of the associated awning or canopy.
f. 
No portion of the sign may be less than eight feet above the sidewalk or other public right-of-way over which it projects.
g. 
Awning signs may only consist of vinyl or paint applied directly to the awning.
3. 
Permanent Window Signs:
a. 
Permanent window signs are permitted to be placed within ground-floor windows that provide a direct line of sight in and out of an area open to the public. Permanent window signs are not permitted to be placed in windows located along private offices, storage space, display windows, residential units or other areas of the building that are not open to the public.
b. 
Only windows along the same façade as a public entrance to the business are eligible for permanent window signs.
c. 
No more than ten percent of the total ground-floor transparent-window area along the exposed building face of a business may be occupied by permanent window signs. Spandrel, opaque and mirrored glass do not qualify for window signage.
d. 
No individual sign may be larger than six square feet.
e. 
In no case shall the total sign area in the window, both of permanent window signs and temporary window signs, exceed 25 percent of the window area.
f. 
The letter height for window signs shall not exceed eight inches.
g. 
The signs may be made of gold or silver leaf, vinyl or paint, applied directly to the glass; etched into the glass; neon mounted or suspended behind the glass; or framed and mounted paper signs. Posters that are not framed are not considered permanent window signs and may only be permitted under TMC Section 19.24.080, “Temporary Window Signs.”
h. 
If the signs are illuminated, only exposed neon tubing is permitted.
4. 
Incentive Signage.
The allowable area of the sign allowed under this provision is 50 percent of that calculated in Table 2, “Allowable Message Area for Permanent Wall Signs in Commercial and Industrial Zones.” Businesses may be permitted additional flush-mounted building signage on walls fronting their tenant spaces that do not qualify for the signage described in TMC Section 19.20.050.A, under the following circumstances:
a. 
The business or use may not have any other building-mounted signage oriented in the same direction as the incentive sign.
b. 
Architectural interest must be provided through at least one of the following methods:
(1) 
At least 50 percent of the wall area between the height of two and seven feet must be transparent with either an unobstructed view into the business or use, or a display window with a depth of at least three feet.
(2) 
Architectural detailing consistent with the building design using changes in color, materials, texture and variations in the wall plane.
(3) 
Artwork such as mosaic, mural or sculptural relief over at least 50 percent of the wall surface.
(4) 
One or more trellises covering at least 50 percent of the wall area between the height of two and seven feet, planted with climbing vines and other plant materials in a planting bed at least two feet in width and provided with permanent irrigation.
G. 
Parking Garage Incentives:
The City desires to encourage the construction of parking garages and will permit special incentive signs for parking garage structures under the following conditions:
1. 
Signs may only be flush mounted to the walls of parking structures have two or more above-ground parking levels.
2. 
The sign must be designed to allow periodic replacement of the copy. Electronic signs are permitted as long as they are operated in a way that does not meet the definition of dynamic sign.
3. 
The sign face must be contained within a frame that is architecturally compatible with the building design.
4. 
Internally-illuminated cabinet signs are not permitted.
5. 
Each sign may be a maximum of 288 square feet in area.
6. 
One wall of the parking structure may have signage, including incentive signage and permanent channel letter signs, that does not exceed eight percent of the exposed parking structure face. All other exposed parking structure walls are permitted signage, including incentive signage and permanent channel letter signs, that does not exceed six and one-half percent of the exposed face area. Ventilation openings may be included in the parking structure face area calculation.
7. 
A maximum of two parking structure incentive signs are allowed per parking structure wall.
(Ord. 2742, 10/17/2024)
A. 
Pole banners are permitted in the Tukwila Urban Center zone and on properties that contain a Public Recreation Overlay as defined by Title 18 of the TMC.
B. 
Pole banners may only be attached to parking lot light poles on private property.
C. 
Banners may have periodic changes in copy without submittal for a new sign permit.
D. 
The maximum area per banner is 10 square feet, with a limit of 2 banners per pole.
E. 
The lower edge of the banner must be at least 12 feet above grade.
F. 
Annual renewal of the banner permit is required.
(Ord. 2742, 10/17/2024)