# Sign Regulations in Brisbane, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brisbane, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/brisbane
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Brisbane/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=TIT9PUPEMOWE_DIVVCOPR_CH9.34POSIWAEFALDUPR)

## At a glance

Brisbane, California regulates 27 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Monument (less than 6 ft. in height)s in the Nonresidential Districts zoning district are capped at <6 ft. tall and See Figure 17.36.020A (Sec. Table 17.36.020). Most commercial signs in Brisbane require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 4 | — | 6 sq. ft. | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 16 | <6 ft. | Up to 100 sq. ft. (greater allowed by sign program only). See Figure 17.36.020A for smaller frontages. | — |
| Residential Districts (Multifamily Residential Uses) | 1 | 4 ft. max for freestanding signs | 10 sq. ft. (frontage <100 ft); 20 sq. ft. (frontage ≥100 ft); 8 sq. ft. for secondary frontage | — |
| Residential Districts (Nonresidential Uses in Residential Districts) | 1 | — | 20 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | Up to 100 sq.ft. | — |
| General Plan Subareas (Southeast Bayshore), General Plan Subareas (Northeast Bayshore), General Plan Subareas (Northwest Bayshore north of Main Street), General Plan Subareas (Beatty), General Plan Subareas (Baylands), General Plan Subareas (Southwest Bayshore) | 2 | — | See Figure 17.36.020A for size by frontage | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sale or Rental Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per unit | On site of the residential unit | — | Table 17.36.020 |
| Off-Site Open House Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Off-site | — | Table 17.36.020 |
| Identification Sign | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per unit | On unit | — | Table 17.36.020 |
| Residential Home Occupation Sign | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per permit | On-site for home occupation | — | Table 17.36.020 |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sale or Rental Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per unit | On site of nonresidential property | — | Table 17.36.020 |
| Wall Sign | — | Up to 100 sq. ft. (greater allowed by sign program only). See Figure 17.36.020A for smaller frontages. | — | — | — | Parallel and attached to wall of building | — | Table 17.36.020, Figure 17.36.020A |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq. ft. (sign area measured for one side only) | — | — | 1 per site | Projected from wall; public right-of-way | — | Table 17.36.020 |
| Awning Sign | — | See Figure 17.36.020A (area measured for front and one side only) | — | — | — | On surface of awning covering | — | Table 17.36.020 |
| Window Sign (Permanent - more than 1 sq. ft.) | — | See Figure 17.36.020A | — | — | — | Affixed on or within window | — | Table 17.36.020 |
| Window Sign (Permanent - 1 sq. ft. or less) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On or within window | — | Table 17.36.020 |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument (less than 6 ft. in height) | <6 ft. | See Figure 17.36.020A | — | — | — | Freestanding on property | — | Table 17.36.020 |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument (6 ft. or more in height) | 6 ft. or more | See Figure 17.36.020A | — | — | — | Freestanding on property | — | Table 17.36.020 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | Up to 100 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per site | On site under construction | — | Table 17.36.020 |
| Subdivision Sale Sign | — | 40 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per major entrance | At each major entrance to subdivision | — | Table 17.36.020 |
| Sign Programs | — | Variable (see program) | — | — | — | — | — | Table 17.36.020, 17.36.050 |
| Off-site Directional Sign | — | See Figure 17.36.020A for size by frontage | — | — | — | Off-site; to direct to local business only | — | Table 17.36.020 |

## Prohibited signs in Brisbane

- No advertising sign shall be erected, installed, altered or maintained in any zoning district in the city except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
- No person shall place, erect, install, alter or maintain any sign in the city without first obtaining a sign permit pursuant to this chapter unless specifically exempted.
- All advertising signs shall be located on the same site as the use they identify or advertise, except for off-site directional signs and off-site open house signs.
- Nonappurtenant advertising structures are prohibited in all districts.
- All projecting signs must have a clearance of not less than eight feet or the distance required by the Uniform Sign Code, whichever is greater.
- It is unlawful for any person who is not the owner or legal occupant of private property to place any sign on such property without authorization by the owner or legal occupant.
- Nothing in this chapter authorizes or permits the placement of any sign on public property.
- A nonconforming sign shall not be replaced, altered, redesigned, reconstructed or relocated unless or until the sign is made to conform with the provisions of this chapter.
- Any sign erected, constructed, altered, enlarged or maintained in violation of this chapter is unlawful and a public nuisance.
- No sign for which a sign permit has been issued shall be altered or changed without the prior approval of the permitting authority, except for face changes not altering the structure or characteristics.

## Signs exempt from permit in Brisbane

- The ordinance does not apply to any signs owned by the city, wherever located.
- The ordinance does not apply to any signs placed on private property by the property owner or with such owner's consent, which have been expressly authorized to be located thereon by resolution of the city council.
- Identification signs may be installed without obtaining a sign permit if they fully comply with applicable requirements.
- Off-site open house signs may be installed without obtaining a sign permit if they fully comply with applicable requirements.
- Residential home occupation signs may be installed without obtaining a sign permit if they fully comply with applicable requirements.
- Sale and lease signs may be installed without obtaining a sign permit if they fully comply with applicable requirements.
- Temporary window signs may be installed without obtaining a sign permit if they fully comply with applicable requirements.
- Window signs less than one square foot in area may be installed without obtaining a sign permit if they fully comply with applicable requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign program is required for lots with a primary frontage of more than 100 feet where signage in excess of 100 square feet is requested.
- A sign program is required for lots with a combined primary and secondary frontage of more than 100 feet where excess secondary frontage signage is requested.
- A sign program is required for lots with primary frontage less than 100 feet but having multiple tenants or occupants where excess signage is requested.
- A sign program is required for lots with multiple nonresidential uses located in residential districts where signage in excess of 20 square feet is requested.
- A sign program is required for property subject to a specific plan adopted pursuant to Sections 65450-65457 of the Government Code.
- A sign program is required for property subject to a planned development permit issued pursuant to Chapter 17.28.
- Sign programs are subject to review and approval by the planning commission, which may impose additional or modified requirements to achieve ordinance purposes.
- The city may, on its own initiative by resolution of the planning commission and after a public hearing, adopt a sign program for any zoning district or geographic area to establish a consistent and uniform signage plan.

## 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 6 zoning districts in Brisbane — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Brisbane+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-brisbane

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