Opinion: Sign Sweep by City for Good Reason

Illegal portable signs, banners and A-boards left out overnight were confiscated by the City of Woodinville late on Friday, April 13. It was bad luck for many local businesses that depend on drive-by and walk-in customers, but the city has a sign code and permit system to assure that all merchants have fair and equal access to such signage.

It pays to know the rules of the road inside the city limits.

Every business is entitled to one portable sign, displayed during business hours, that is no more than 36-inches in height and six square feet per side. Companies in the industrial zones may use two A-boards. Banners are limited to 32 square feet and can be displayed for a limited time only. Handmade signs of any kind are prohibited. All portable signs require a “temporary” sign permit from the city with fees from ranging from a $27 annual renewal to an initial $183.

The only signs seized by the city were illegal in number, location and/or size, or those left out overnight. Merchants impacted may retrieve their signs from city hall after application and issuance of a temporary sign permit.

Most local sign professionals, like on NE 177th Place, keep the local code, zone map, forms and fee schedule on-hand for guests. A complete explanation and Woodinville municipal code is online: http://www.ci.woodinville.wa.us/Work/SignCodeRegulations.asp.