# Sign Regulations in Carpinteria, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Carpinteria, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/carpinteria
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Carpinteria/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT14ZO_CH14.58SIRE)

## At a glance

Carpinteria, California regulates 12 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freeway Signs in the CPD (commercial planned development), M-RP (industrial/research park) zoning district are capped at Monument: 20 ft tall and Monument: 100 sq ft per face, 2 faces max; Wall: 1 sq ft per ft frontage, max 100 sq ft (Sec. 14.58.100(2)(e), 14.58.070(4)). Most commercial signs in Carpinteria require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CB (central business district), M (general industry district) | 1 | — | 80 sq ft per frontage (aggregate of all signs) | — |
| CPD (commercial planned development), M-RP (industrial/research park) | 5 | Monument: 20 ft | Monument: 100 sq ft per face, 2 faces max; Wall: 1 sq ft per ft frontage, max 100 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### CB (central business district), M (general industry district)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs (Aggregate Cap) | — | 80 sq ft per frontage (aggregate of all signs) | — | — | — | On same property as permitted use; applicable per frontage. | — | 14.58.080 |

### CPD (commercial planned development), M-RP (industrial/research park)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground (Monument) Sign (Planned Sign Program) | 8 ft | 80 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | On premises, landscaped area. | — | 14.58.100(2)(a) |
| Directory Sign (Planned Sign Program) | — | 2 sq ft per business | — | — | — | On site; typically for multi-tenant developments. | — | 14.58.100(2)(b) |
| Projecting Sign (Planned Sign Program) | — | — | — | — | — | On building; min 8 ft clearance, not above roof line (see Section 14.58.070(3)b) | — | 14.58.100(2)(c), 14.58.070(3)b |
| Wall Sign (Planned Sign Program) | — | 80 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall, not above junction of wall and roof (see 14.58.070(3)a) | — | 14.58.100(2)(d), 14.58.070(3)a |
| Freeway Signs | Monument: 20 ft | Monument: 100 sq ft per face, 2 faces max; Wall: 1 sq ft per ft frontage, max 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 monument sign per freeway frontage; 1 wall sign per frontage | Freeway frontage | — | 14.58.100(2)(e), 14.58.070(4) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (General) | — | — | — | — | — | On wall of building or significant structure feature. | — | 14.58.070(3)a |
| Projecting Sign (General) | — | — | — | — | — | Minimum 8 ft clearance between ground and bottom; must not extend above juncture of wall and roof. | — | 14.58.070(3)b |
| Freeway Monument Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — | — | 1 per freeway frontage | Freeway frontage; subject to review. | — | 14.58.070(4)(a) |
| Freeway Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per freeway frontage | On wall, facing freeway frontage. | — | 14.58.070(4)(b) |
| Banner (Temporary Event Promotion) | — | 30 sq ft per banner | — | — | 1 per business at a time | On building or site of event. | — | 14.58.070(5) |
| Portable Sign (e.g., Sandwich Board) | — | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per business | On premises | — | 14.58.070(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Carpinteria

- Animated signs are prohibited throughout the city.
- Open and/or unshielded light bulb signs are prohibited throughout the city.
- Roof signs, or any signs extending above the primary roof line or roof eve, are prohibited unless no other location exists on the site for proper identification.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited throughout the city.
- Pole signs are prohibited throughout the city.
- Mobile signs are prohibited throughout the city.
- Tethered inflatable advertising is prohibited throughout the city.
- Signs shall not be erected which obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window or door.
- No sign shall interfere with any opening required for ventilation.
- Signs must not obstruct visibility for ingress and egress from a public right-of-way or endanger pedestrians, motorists, or the public.
- All signs must comply with applicable provisions of the Uniform Building Code, Uniform Sign Code, and the city's construction standards.

## Signs exempt from permit in Carpinteria

- Traffic and directional signs placed by the city or state (excluding 'No Trespassing,' 'No Parking,' 'Tow Away,' etc., signs that would reduce or restrict public access or public parking near the shoreline and along the coast).
- "Open," "Closed," "For Rent," "Vacancy," "No Vacancy," and similar signs: one per legal parcel, not more than six square feet, located on private property.
- Incidental signs such as 'Open House' or 'Garage Sale' and political campaign signs, not exceeding six square feet, with owner or tenant's permission, on private property and removed after the event/election within specific timeframes.
- Real estate and construction signs for sale of property or work under construction, collectively not exceeding sixteen square feet in area.
- Window signs inside or painted on window glass of a business, not exceeding six square feet in total and not more than two at any one time.
- Signs required by federal, state, or city statute, at minimum size required.
- Temporary balloon displays.
- Banners not exceeding thirty square feet, for no more than five days (or part thereof) per calendar month.
- Repainting of signs without design change, identical panel replacement, message changes on an approved marquee or changeable copy sign, or cleaning of a sign, provided no structural change is made.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign plan (planned sign program) is required for three or more (multitenant) uses that share the same lot/building and use common access and parking facilities (Section 14.58.100).
- New planned sign programs, signs proposed as an integral part of a development plan, signs requiring a modification from standard regulations, and signs on freeway frontage must be submitted for architectural review (Section 14.58.060).
- For parcels with freeway frontage that also fall under the requirements of a planned sign program, freeway signs must be reviewed as part of the sign program (Section 14.58.070 (4)).
- All signs located in commercial planned development (CPD) and industrial/research park (M-RP) zones relating to multitenant uses must comply with the planned sign program (Section 14.58.090).
- A request for modification (variance) from signage standards must be submitted as part of the sign application. Such modifications are subject to review by the architectural review board or community development department.

## Full detail

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

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