Type 1 – Standard Channel Letter Front Lit
Bright, readable letters for busy streets.
Starting at $13 $11.70 Per Inch
Washington city guide
Storefront Signs and Channel Letters for Seattle Businesses
Seattle storefronts can order lit channel letters and window graphics from our Renton shop, see the price online, and have the sign shipped ready for a licensed Seattle installer.
- Sign permitSDCI, for signs over 5 sq ft or with power
- Electrical permitCombined with the SDCI sign permit for electric signs
- Sign codeSeattle Municipal Code ch. 23.55
- Extra reviewSpecial review districts and landmarks
How it works
Ordering a Storefront Sign for Seattle, WA
Seattle is one of the more involved places in Washington to put up a sign: the city runs its own sign permits through the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI), handles its own electrical permits, and has special review districts and landmarks where signs get an extra design review. Knowing which rules apply to your block before you order saves a redesign later.
We build and ship; a local pro installs. Your sign is made and tested in Renton, Washington and shipped to your door with a wiring diagram and install pattern. A licensed sign installer or electrician in Seattle, WA mounts and connects it. We don’t have an office or installation crew in Seattle.
Who can install it
Who Can Connect a Sign in Seattle
Installing a lit sign in Seattle follows Washington’s L&I licensing: a licensed electrical contractor with certified electricians, such as Signs (04) specialty or journey level electricians. The difference in Seattle is the permit: the City runs its own electrical permits and inspections, and for electric signs SDCI combines the electrical and sign permit into one.
| Electrical permits & inspection | City of Seattle (SDCI), 700 5th Ave, Suite 2000 (206-684-8464); combined with the sign permit for electric signs |
|---|---|
| Electrician license | Washington L&I certificate covering sign work |
Official sources
- L&I: Cities that issue their own electrical permits (Seattle)
- WAC 296-46B-920: Signs (04) specialty scope
Rules change. Always confirm with the office that issues your permit before you order.
Permits
Seattle Sign Permits (SDCI)
SDCI requires a sign permit for any sign larger than 5 square feet or connected to an electrical power source, which includes every lit channel letter sign, and for electric signs it combines the electrical and sign permit together. SDCI issues the permit after reviewing your application and plans against the Land Use Code (SMC 23.55) and the Building, Electrical and Energy Codes. Applications are made through the Seattle Services Portal.
In special review districts such as Pioneer Square, SMC 23.66.030 requires a certificate of approval from the Department of Neighborhoods before the sign permit can be issued, and the district’s board reviews the sign’s size, lighting, colors and attachment. District rules restrict some sign and lighting types, so check with the board coordinator before you order a lit sign there.
Signs that project over the sidewalk from private property, such as blade signs, under-canopy signs and awning graphics, follow SMC 15.12 and 23.55 and SDOT Director’s Rule 05-2023. Since October 13, 2023 they no longer need a separate long-term Public Space Management permit, but they still need the SDCI sign permit.
| Permit office | Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) |
|---|---|
| When needed | Signs over 5 sq ft, or connected to an electrical source |
| Sign code | SMC Chapter 23.55; special review districts also need a certificate of approval (SMC 23.66.030) |
| Over the sidewalk | SMC 15.12, 23.55 and SDOT Director’s Rule 05-2023 |
New to sign permits? Read how sign permits work and what your electrician needs.
Official sources
- SDCI Tip 126: Sign, awning and billboard permits
- Pioneer Square Preservation Board staff report on a sign (cites SMC 23.66.030 and 23.66.160)
- SDOT: Signs, awnings and graphics over the right-of-way
Rules change. Always confirm with the office that issues your permit before you order.
Delivery
Shipping to Seattle, WA
Standard shipping takes 3–6 business days in transit; 3-day, 2-day and overnight shipping are available at checkout. Every sign is made to order, and the estimated ship date for each shipping speed, including production, is shown at checkout. See shipping options and prices.
Planning for Seattle weather
Seattle’s steady rain and marine air are easy on LED letters but hard on unsealed wall penetrations, so ask your installer to seal every hole. Many Seattle storefronts sit under deep canopies or on brick facades; a raceway can keep holes in older masonry to a minimum.
Popular choices
Popular Choices for Seattle Storefronts
From street-level retail to restaurants under a canopy.
Type 4 – Hidden Back/ Halo Lit
Halo letters for brick and dark facades.
Starting at $30 $27 Per Inch
AV 4 – Frosted Vinyl (Etched)
Etched-glass look for offices and clinics.
Starting at $14.31 $13.50 per ft2
Deluxe Signicade
Sidewalk A-frames, where your block allows them.
Starting at $250.78 $219.98 per item
Questions
Seattle Storefront Sign FAQ
Do I need a permit for a channel letter sign in Seattle?
Yes. SDCI requires a sign permit for any sign connected to electricity and for signs over 5 square feet; for electric signs, the electrical and sign permit are combined into one.
Where can I find a sign installer near me in Seattle?
Look for a Seattle sign installer or electrical contractor whose electrician holds an L&I certificate covering sign work, and check the license on L&I’s lookup. We ship your finished sign to them or to you, with the wiring diagram and install pattern.
Is my Seattle sign reviewed differently in Pioneer Square or the International District?
Yes. Those are special review districts, where SMC 23.66.030 requires a certificate of approval from the Department of Neighborhoods before SDCI issues the sign permit. Check with the district’s board coordinator before you order.
Keep reading
Guides and Products
- Custom Channel LettersEvery lit style, priced online
- Channel Letter CostReal prices by style and height
- Sign BuilderDesign and price your sign
- Sign Permit HelpWhat the city and your electrician need
- Installation GuideRaceway vs. direct mount
- Banners & DisplaysGrand opening banners, flags, stands
- Washington State GuideLicensing and statewide rules
Other Washington city guides
Planning a Sign in Seattle, WA?
Send your storefront photo, logo and your landlord’s sign criteria. We’ll suggest a size and style that fits Seattle rules and give you a price before you order.
- Mon–Fri, 8:00am–5:00pm PST
- Made in Renton, WA · shipped to all 50 states