# Sign Regulations in Albany, California

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Albany, California, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Albany, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/albany
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/37927750#37927750)

## At a glance

Albany, California regulates 12 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestandings in the Commercial Mixed Use (CMX) zoning district are capped at Not to exceed maximum height for zoning district tall (Sec. § 20.32.080A, § 20.32.085 Table 1). Most commercial signs in Albany require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 1 | — | 8 square feet | — |
| Solano Commercial (SC) | 7 | — | — | — |
| San Pablo Commercial (SPC) | 7 | — | — | — |
| Commercial Mixed Use (CMX) | 9 | Not to exceed maximum height for zoning district | — | — |
| Waterfront (WF) | 2 | 10 feet | — | — |
| Public Facilities (PF) | 9 | 10 feet | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 16 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Solano Commercial (SC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | On building | — | § 20.32.075B, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Banner | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.055, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | On building | — | § 20.32.075B, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | On building | — | § 20.32.075B, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | On building | — | § 20.32.075B, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Window Sign, Permanent | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | On building | — | § 20.32.075B, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Window Sign, Temporary | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.030B, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |

### Commercial Mixed Use (CMX)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.075D, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Banner | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.055, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Freestanding | Not to exceed maximum height for zoning district | — | — | — | — | On property | — | § 20.32.080A, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.075D, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.075D, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.075D, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Window Sign, Permanent | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.075D, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |

### Public Facilities (PF)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Banner | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.055, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Freestanding | Not to exceed maximum height for zoning district | — | — | — | — | On property | — | § 20.32.080A, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Monument Sign | 10 feet | — | — | — | — | On property | — | § 20.32.080B, § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.085 Table 1 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 20.32.085 Table 1 |

## Prohibited signs in Albany

- It shall be unlawful for any person to mutilate, remove, deface, destroy, tamper with or cause to be mutilated, removed, defaced, destroyed or tampered with any notice, sign or placard lawfully placed upon public or private property by any officer of the City.
- Fully animated signs are not allowed.
- Dilapidated or abandoned signs are not allowed.
- Off-premises signs are not allowed.
- Pennants or streamers are not allowed.
- Billboards are not allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Albany

- Banners as defined by this section are permitted for up to 30 days.
- Commercial or identifying nameplates not to exceed 1 square foot in area.
- Development sign as defined by this section. Such signs may be erected and maintained for the duration of construction and shall not exceed a total area of 20 square feet.
- Flags as defined in this section.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and dates of erection, when cut into masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other combustible materials.
- Murals as defined by this section.
- Real estate signs as defined by this section.
- Directional signs located within parking lots identifying the entrance and exit and other directional information, except in residential districts. Not more than 4 directional signs shall be posted in 1 parking lot. Such signs in total shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, railroad crossing signs, danger, and such temporary emergency signs as may be approved by the City Engineer.
- Window sign, temporary, as defined by this section.
- Temporary noncommercial sign as defined by this section.
- Yard sign as defined by this section.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program shall be required for all multi-tenant projects, shall be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and shall apply to the entire property.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 7 zoning districts in Albany — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Albany+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-albany

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