# Sign Regulations in Chino Hills, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chino Hills, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/chino-hills
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Chino_Hills/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT15BUCO_CH15.08DEDISI)

## At a glance

Chino Hills, California regulates 26 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Wall Sign (Building Tenant Sign)s in the Non-residential districts, Mixed-use districts zoning district are capped at 2 ft tall and 1 sq ft per ft linear lease space frontage (see above); height max 2 ft (Sec. 16.38.030.B, C, 16.38.032.A). Most commercial signs in Chino Hills require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | Inflatable devices: Max 20 ft height/width | — | — |
| All zoning districts | 2 | 5 ft in residential, 8 ft in other zones | 8 sq ft in residential districts, 32 sq ft in other zones | — |
| Non-residential districts, Mixed-use districts | 5 | 10 ft | Max 60 sq ft | — |
| Commercial, business park, and light industrial zoned properties | 1 | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per side or face (max 2 sides) | — |
| Commercial properties immediately adjacent to the Chino Valley Freeway (SR-71) | 1 | 100 ft | 400 sq ft per face; maximum 2 faces per sign | — |
| Single-family zoning districts | 2 | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| Multi-family zoning districts | 2 | 8 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Residential districts, Residential zone, Residential zone districts | 4 | 5 ft (single-family); 8 ft (multi-family) | 40 sq ft | — |
| Non-residential uses in residential districts | 1 | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Public and private institutional districts | 1 | 8 ft | 60 sq ft (electronic part ≤60% of area) | — |
| Single-family residential districts | 1 | 8 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Non-residential zoning districts | 3 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Multi-family districts | 2 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| All other zoning districts | 1 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### Non-residential districts, Mixed-use districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Building Tenant Sign) | 2 ft | 1 sq ft per ft linear lease space frontage (see above); height max 2 ft | — | — | 1 per business per vehicular/pedestrian frontage | Exterior of building entry oriented to vehicular way or pedestrian pathway | — | 16.38.030.B, C, 16.38.032.A |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | Max 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage; must be oriented to vehicular way. | — | 16.38.032.B |
| Project Identification Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage or entry | Street-facing entry wall | — | 16.38.032.C |
| Temporary Banner (Special Event/Promotional Event/Temporary Use) | — | 45 sq ft | — | — | 1 banner or 2 flags per business tenant street frontage | On wall or fence only of leased/owned space on private property. | — | 16.38.047 |
| Temporary Flag (Special Event/Promotional Event/Temporary Use) | 10 ft | 14 sq ft | — | — | 2 per business tenant street frontage | Front or side yard setback area (private property only). | — | 16.38.047 |

### Residential districts, Residential zone, Residential zone districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Project Identification Wall Sign (Residential) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage or entry | Entry wall to residential development | — | 16.38.032.D |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential) | 5 ft (single-family); 8 ft (multi-family) | 6 sq ft (single-family); 32 sq ft (multi-family) | — | — | 1 per property; 2 if borders 2 streets | On property for sale/lease/exchange | — | 16.38.042.B,C |
| Temporary Election Season Sign (Residential) | 5 ft | 8 sq ft per sign; 32 sq ft total per property | — | — | As fits in 32 sq ft total per property | Any location allowed in district | — | 16.38.046 |
| Temporary Residential Sign (General) | 5 ft if in yard | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per legal dwelling unit | In yard, in window, or banner on residence | — | 16.38.044 |

### Non-residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Non-residential) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property; 2 if borders 2 streets | On property for sale/lease/exchange | — | 16.38.042.C |
| Temporary Election Season Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per sign; no maximum total area | — | — | Unlimited | Any location as allowed in district | — | 16.38.046 |
| Window Sign (Non-residential) | — | 25% of exterior window/door area | — | — | — | Within and on windows/doors of establishment | — | 16.38.037 |

## Prohibited signs in Chino Hills

- No person may erect any sign regulated by this chapter without first obtaining appropriate permits, where required.
- Cabinet signs are not permitted.
- Signs may not be erected in any location where the City determines the sign may cause a safety hazard or interfere with any authorized traffic sign.
- No sign may be attached to, or painted on, natural features such as trees, shrubs or rocks.
- No sign may be attached to, or painted on, a public utility pole or street light.
- No sign may be painted on a wall, roof or door of a building.
- Signs placed on walls may not project above the roof line or extend over a sidewalk or right-of-way.
- Sign letters may not project below the façade upon which it is placed.
- No sign, or any portion thereof, may extend over the public right-of-way (except as otherwise provided for certain temporary events) or over a property line onto an adjacent property unless consent is obtained from the adjacent property owner.
- No signs may be allowed within clear sight triangles as established by Section 16.06.080 of the Municipal Code.
- All signs of a discontinued business must be removed within thirty (30) days and the underlying façade restored to its pre-sign condition.
- Signs must be cleaned and/or repaired as necessary to maintain an attractive appearance and to ensure safe operation; failure to do so is grounds for revocation of the sign's permit.
- Signs that make sounds are prohibited.
- Signs that obscure, imitate or otherwise limit the effectiveness of official traffic control signs or devices are prohibited.
- Signs that display any statement or symbol of an obscene nature as to offend the public morals or decency are prohibited.
- Tethered balloons or other inflatable devices used to draw attention to a use or event are prohibited, except as specifically provided for in conjunction with special events.
- Signs with flashing or animated elements are prohibited.
- Signs that are not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light being directed at any portion of the traveled way, or that are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair vision of drivers, or that may otherwise interfere with operation of a motor vehicle, are prohibited.
- Billboards and off-site signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chino Hills

- Signs, flags, banners, emblems or notices issued or endorsed by a constituted governmental body, public agency, court, government employee or agent or officer in performance of a public duty, including traffic or highway signs, railroad crossing signs or similar regulatory or warning devices and legal notices.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person may erect any sign regulated by this chapter without first obtaining appropriate permits, where required. Such signs must be erected in conformance with the provisions of this Code and any applicable approved sign program.
- A comprehensive sign program is required for every new and substantially remodeled commercial, business park or light industrial project to create a coordinated project theme of uniform design elements.
- A substantially remodeled project is defined as a physical change to the project façade affecting twenty-five percent or more of the entire project building façade, or a physical change to the buildings affecting twenty-five percent or more of the total project building area and requiring a building permit.
- An application for a comprehensive sign program must include a plot plan and elevations showing the location and detailed designs of all proposed signs.
- Application and processing requirements for comprehensive sign programs follow the procedures in Chapter 16.78 of the Municipal Code.
- Freeway-oriented signs require review and approval of the Planning Commission, and application and processing requirements are the same as those set forth in Chapter 16.78 of the Municipal Code.
- Certain temporary signs (such as banners and flags for special events, temporary uses, or promotional events) require a temporary banner and flag permit, displaying an approved City banner permit sticker.

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

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