(The Center Square) – Seattle officials are considering changes to city rules that allow limited upper-level commercial signage downtown as part of a broader effort to support the area’s economic revitalization.
Seattle Municipal Code generally limits commercial signs over 65 feet above sidewalk grade in downtown zones, with exceptions limited to hotels and civic uses. By contrast, neighboring zones such as South Lake Union and the University District already permit upper-level signage.
A draft ordinance, first identified by The Urbanist Reporter Ryan Packer on social media, would relax restrictions on upper-level signage in downtown zones as a tool to support economic revitalization. City planners say such signage can affect corporate visibility, competitiveness, and perceptions of the business climate. Under the proposal, limited commercial signage can be electric, illuminate, or use video.
The proposal originates from the Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development, which is currently conducting an environmental review and soliciting public input on the topic and is not pursuing transmission of legislation to the Seattle City Council as of now.
“Whether we do so depends on results of the current comment period and other direction from decisionmakers,” OPCD Executive Assistant Jane Klein told The Center Square in an email.
Downtown Seattle vacancy rates have climbed above 30%, while street-level activity remains below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, according to the draft ordinance.
As part of its exploration into whether limited signage changes could help attract tenants, OCD convened an Upper-Level Signage Advisory Group in early 2025. According to Klein, the group’s feedback directly informed the draft proposal.
“Input from the group resulted in a draft proposal that is very cautious with strict limits. The group did not unanimously recommend pursuing an upper-level signage allowance,” Klein said. “They did give clear advice that if the city were to pursue a change to its regulations that it should employ strict limits and a careful review process.”
Based on that guidance, the draft proposal would exclude historic districts, limit signage to one sign per building, restrict eligibility to large-scale employers rather than residential or retail tenants, require a placement near the upper tier of tall structures, and subject applications to discretionary, multi-departmental design review.
The draft ordinance argues that the absence of an upper-level commercial signage allowance places downtown Seattle at a disadvantage compared to both other employment centers in competing cities in the region and elsewhere on the West Coast, where upper-level signage for major tenants is often allowed. OPCD reviewed other cities’ detailed sign size and placement regulations. The draft ordinance suggests more modest and limited allowances than the other peer cities reviewed, according to Klein.
Upper-level commercial signs could present negative effects on aesthetics, views and the overall visual environment of downtown Seattle.
“OPCD discussed that there could be some adverse visual impacts but also noted that aesthetic impacts are subjective in nature,” Klein said.
The draft proposal seeks to mitigate the potential for impact with limits on the types of buildings that are eligible, and the requirement that the sign be associated with a large-scale on-site tenancy of at least 75,000 square feet.
OPCD also proposes a time-limited application window for any new signage, allowing the city to evaluate the policy’s effects before considering permanent changes.
