# Sign Regulations in Brentwood, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brentwood, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/brentwood
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43625156#43625156)

## At a glance

Brentwood, California regulates 4 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the DT (downtown) zone zoning district are capped at Not specified tall, Not specified, and Not specified wide (Sec. § 17.640.008A.2.a.ii, § 17.640.008A.2.d.i, § 17.640.008A.2.e.i). Most commercial signs in Brentwood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DT (downtown) zone | 2 | 8 feet | 75 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential Zoning Districts | 2 | 8 feet | 75 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | Not specified | 50 square feet or 10% of the building face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### DT (downtown) zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | — | Limited to three per establishment | On building walls | — | § 17.640.008A.2.a.ii, § 17.640.008A.2.d.i, § 17.640.008A.2.e.i |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 75 square feet | Not specified | — | One per parcel | On the ground | — | § 17.640.008A.2.a.i, § 17.640.008A.2.c, § 17.640.008A.2.e.ii |

### Nonresidential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | — | Limited to three per establishment | On building walls | — | § 17.640.008A.1.b.ii, § 17.640.008A.2.d.i, § 17.640.008A.2.e.i |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 75 square feet | Not specified | — | One per parcel | On the ground | — | § 17.640.008A.2.a.i, § 17.640.008A.2.c, § 17.640.008A.2.e.ii |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner Sign | Not specified | 50 square feet or 10% of the building face | Not specified | — | One per establishment | On the same site as the sponsoring establishment | — | § 17.640.007B |
| Temporary Sign | Not specified | 16 square feet | Not specified | — | Not specified | On all properties with owner's consent | — | § 17.640.005L |

## Prohibited signs in Brentwood

- Roof signs.
- Any signs projecting above any portion of a roof or parapet wall or above the sloping roofline of the gable end of a structure.
- Flags, pennants and similar objects designed to rotate or move with natural or mechanical wind or air, except as otherwise permitted by this chapter.
- Banners, except as otherwise permitted by this chapter.
- Signs, whether by design or lighting, that may be mistaken for traffic lights or signals.
- Signs mounted in such a manner as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape, or obstruct an outward view from any living area.
- Signs attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- Signs projecting into the right-of-way of a public street or alley, except as specifically permitted elsewhere in this chapter or in Chapter 17.645.
- Signs having less than eight feet clearance between the lowest edge of a sign projecting into a public right-of-way, any sidewalk or an area where pedestrians may walk.
- Signs having less than seventeen feet clearance between the lowest edge of that portion of the sign projecting into that part of a public street or alley area used by vehicular traffic and the street grade.
- Placards, posters, announcements and similar signs posted or attached to any fence, pole, tree, vehicle or any other object in a public right-of-way, except as specifically permitted by Chapter 17.645, or legal notices required by law or a valid court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
- Signs on any portion of a street, sidewalk or other public right-of-way, except as specifically permitted by Chapter 17.645.
- Signs that cause excessive glare on surrounding properties or conflict with the traffic regulations or traffic safety.
- Signs producing noise, odor or fumes or smoke-making devices.
- Billboards, as defined herein.
- Animated signs, as defined herein.
- Changeable copy signs, streamers, propellers, discs, and searchlights, except as otherwise permitted by this chapter.
- Signs that use lights which flash, blink, or turn on and off intermittently, unless located at the site of athletic events.
- Mobile billboards, including motorized vehicles which are used for the purpose of general advertising or advertising for hire, when parked on city-owned streets or the public right-of-way, or when traversing upon public streets over which the city has the legal right to control vehicle access.
- Private party signs posted on city-owned property or the public right-of-way, except as specifically permitted by Chapter 17.645.
- Any kind of inflatable object, including balloons, used as advertising, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter.
- Flex wing signs.
- Building-mounted cabinet signs with translucent faces, unless they must be allowed pursuant to federal or state law.
- Portable signs, except as provided herein.
- Any sign which is in conflict with the specific standards set forth in this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Brentwood

- Government Signs. Traffic control and traffic directional signs erected by the city or another governmental entity; official notices required or authorized by law; signs placed in furtherance of its governmental functions; and signs allowable under Chapter 17.640.
- Legal Nonconforming Signs. Permanent signs which were erected in the past on public property in conformance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations then in effect may remain in that same location so long as they have not been and are not expanded or moved, and are properly repaired and maintained.
- Commercial Mascots. Commercial mascots on the public sidewalk from sunrise to sunset, subject to a maximum sign area displayed of twelve square feet per person, with no special illumination and no inflatable objects.
- In areas qualifying as traditional public forums, private persons may display non-commercial message signs thereon without first obtaining a permit, provided that the signs conform to all of the following: The signs must be personally held by a person or personally attended by one or more persons; The signs may be displayed only during the time period of sunrise to ten p.m.; The maximum aggregate size of all signs held by a single person is twelve square feet; The maximum size of any one sign which is personally attended by two or more persons acting in concert is thirty-two square feet; The sign(s) shall have no more than two display faces and may not be inflatable or air-activated or produce noise, smoke or fumes; In order to serve the city's interests in traffic flow and safety, persons displaying signs under this section may not stand in any vehicular traffic lane when a roadway is open for use by vehicles, and persons displaying signs on public sidewalks must give at least five feet width clearance for pedestrians to pass by. Persons holding signs may not block the view within the visibility triangle.
- Real Estate Signs; Garage Sale Signs. Signs displaying information about real estate open house events, garage sale events, or any non-commercial messages may be displayed without a permit, subject to the following: Signs may be displayed on weekends, legal holidays and broker tour days only and shall be removed at the conclusion of the event, and in the case of real estate open house signs and non-commercial messages, at the end of the weekend, holiday or broker tour day; The total dimensions including support stake or pole shall not exceed three feet in height by three feet in width; Signs may be mounted in the public right-of-way in locations where they will not interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicle traffic, and must not block the visibility triangle. Signs may not be placed in the street median (middle of the street) or on any light standard or pole, and cannot block the view of other signs; A maximum of four signs shall be allowed for each event or message. Personal attendance is not required, and illumination is not allowed; Signs shall be temporary in physical structure and mounting method; Signs described in this subsection which are displayed in times other than the allowable hours may be summarily removed by the city.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program for any multiple occupancy commercial site or separately identifiable commercial building group (such as a neighborhood or community shopping center, or for any other contiguous sites), or for any single occupancy retail site that is located on a parcel at least two acres in size. Such a program may deviate from the provisions of this section when the following findings can be made: The program is of integrated and harmonious design and designed to be a part of or blend with the buildings proposed; The program has been prepared and endorsed by a licensed architect or building designer; The signs within the program are compatible with the surrounding area; The program is consistent with the city's Commercial and Industrial Design Guidelines, adopted by the city council, and as they may be amended over time.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Brentwood, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Brentwood+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-brentwood

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