Sign Code Updates Q2 2025

Bothell

Seattle King County REALTORS® has successfully collaborated with the Bothell City Council to modernize the city’s sign regulations, ensuring alignment with recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings. This important update removes content-based distinctions in signage laws, strengthening compliance.

Previously, the city’s code limited on-premises temporary signs—such as for-sale yard arm signs—to just 2 square feet, far smaller than the industry standard of 5 square feet. Through SKCR’s efforts, the city has increased the size allowance, bringing it in line with common practice. Additionally, Bothell will continue to permit four open house A-board signs, preserving an essential tool for real estate professionals.

“The Bothell City Council and City staff are outstanding partners to SKCR. They understand the needs of the real estate industry and recognize the critical role that adequate housing supply plays in affordability. They’ve been early and enthusiastic adopters of middle housing, and they were terrific collaborators on the sign code update,” said Randy Bannecker, SKCR Housing Specialist.

Lake Forest Park

In the City of Lake Forest Park, SKCR secured an increase in the proposed size of on-premises yard arm sign and off-premises open house A-board sign to conform with industry standards.

Maple Valley

The city of Maple Valley has adopted permanent sign code regulations supported by Seattle King County REALTORS®.

After months of evaluating temporary sign code regulations that had been approved on an interim basis, the Maple Valley City Council voted unanimously to give permanent final approval to regulations that will protect the ability of sellers, buyers, and REALTORS® to utilize open house signs, and on-site for sale real estate yard signs, in connection with residential real estate transactions.

Maple Valley Deputy Mayor Dana Parnello, and City Councilmember Syd Dawson—both of whom are REALTORS® and agents in the John L. Scott Covington office—served a critically important role in helping city officials to understand the importance of real estate signs for efficient transactions that produce real estate excise tax (REET) revenues for the city, facilitate Fair Housing, and assist buyers, sellers, and REALTORS®.

The City Council’s final approval (making the interim residential real estate sign code regulations permanent) authorizes:

• 5 off-site OPEN HOUSE signs per open house event, and
• 1 on-site FOR SALE sign per street frontage (or public entrance if there is no street frontage) on the property listed for sale.
• Additionally, temporary on-site real estate signs of up to six-square-feet are allowed on properties with commercial zoning.

Pending Updates

Sign code updates remain in play in the cities of Bellevue and Duvall. SKCR is working to maintain the members’ ability to post on-premise for sale signs and off-premise open house A-Boards, placed in the right-of-way during open house hours.