In the new Food Safety Rating System, restaurants are required to post their window sign. Since every restaurant is different, Food Inspectors will work with restaurants to find the best place to post the window sign in accordance to the code of the King County Board of Health.

According to the code of the King County Board of Health window signs must be clearly visible to passersby.

Each window sign must be posted:

Within five feet of the main public entrance so the sign is clearly visible to people passing by or entering the establishment; or



In a conspicuous location at the establishment as approved by the Food Inspector to ensure the sign is clearly visible to people passing by or entering the establishment.

If window signs are not correctly posted according to the rules above, a penalty fee can be charged. Penalty fees are a percentage of a business' annual permit fee. The penalty fee grows incrementally and with each offense.

Offense (in 2-year period) Penalty fee 1st offense 50% of permit fee* 2nd offense 100% of permit fee 3rd and subsequent offenses 200% of permit fee

* Applying a fee that is % of permit cost is more equitable because it is relative scale to the business size.

The above code was passed by the Board of Health on January, 19, 2017. Watch a video of the recorded meeting.