Create a Thriving Business District

BANNERS

The use of pole banners is an effective way to advertise upcoming events or to identify your area. Once you’ve chosen the location(s) for your banners, you will need to obtain a Street Use permit from the Seattle Department of Transportation and insurance is required. Keep the following requirements in mind:

• Banners are not allowed to span or hang over public property. For example: banners are not allowed on overpasses over roadways, between poles or over sidewalks. You may obtain a permit to hang pole banners on individual City utility poles.
• Pole banners (shown at right) should be located on metal street-light poles. Pole banners may not be hung on poles with pedestrian or traffic control devices on them.

Frequently asked questions:

Who decides if our proposed location is acceptable?

The Seattle Department of Transportation will cooperate with Seattle City Light to make a site inspection once a detailed description of the banner and location is submitted.

Can pole banners extend into the street?

Pole banners should be placed on the sidewalk side of the pole. If the pole is set back from the street, banners can extend toward the street. In certain circumstances, banners may face the street, but height restrictions will apply.

Where can we get funds for such a project?

Department of Neighborhoods’ Neighborhood Matching Funds and the Office of Economic Development’s Neighborhood Business District Funding Awards are available for district wide marketing projects like this (see the Funding Section). A large business in an area could also sponsor a banner.

Benefits and challenges of banners :

• Can promote your area or special event and build a sense of identity for your district.
• Cost less for maintenance once brackets are in place on poles and cloth banners have been made.

CHALLENGES

• Require someone to be hired (or volunteered) to put up, maintain and take down the banners, if banners are displayed only periodically.
• Must have a sufficient number of pole banners in the area to have a strong visual impact.