# Sign Regulations in Corte Madera, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Corte Madera, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/corte-madera
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Corte_Madera/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=TIT18ZO_CH18.22SI)

## At a glance

Corte Madera, California regulates 25 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 15 ft or no higher than eave/parapet (unless planning commission allows up to roof peak) tall and 100 sq ft (master identification), 40 sq ft (other freestanding), with a May not project into required rear yard or over street setback (Sec. 18.22.060). Most commercial signs in Corte Madera require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 15 ft or no higher than eave/parapet (unless planning commission allows up to roof peak) | 100 sq ft (master identification), 40 sq ft (other freestanding) | — |
| Residential Districts | 6 | 4 ft above grade | 12 sq ft | — |
| O professional and administrative office district | 3 | — | 100 sq ft max per building, 20 sq ft minimum | — |
| C-1 local shopping district | 4 | — | 100 sq ft per building/site, 10 sq ft per tenant | — |
| C-2 regional shopping district | 2 | — | 200 sq ft per building | — |
| C-3 highway commercial district, C-4 commercial service district, M light industrial district | 4 | — | 150 sq ft per building | — |
| P/SP public and semipublic facilities district | 2 | 6 ft if freestanding | 30 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political or Social Issue Sign (Residential or Public Facility District) | — | 6 sq ft per sign, 16 sq ft total per property | — | — | — | On private property | — | 18.22.040 (b)-(c) |
| Political or Social Issue Sign (Commercial, Industrial, or Office District) | — | 24 sq ft per sign, 24 sq ft total per property | — | — | — | On private property | — | 18.22.040 (b)-(c) |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft or no higher than eave/parapet (unless planning commission allows up to roof peak) | 100 sq ft (master identification), 40 sq ft (other freestanding) | — | May not project into required rear yard or over street | 1 per lot | On site; may not project into a required rear yard or into/over a street; minimum 13 ft 6 in clearance over vehicular traffic | — | 18.22.060 |
| Shingle Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | Suspended from ceiling of covered walkway | — | 18.22.070 |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residence | On site, for occupant or home occupation | — | 18.22.080(1) |
| Identification Sign (Residential Use) | 4 ft above grade | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On site, pertaining to use | — | 18.22.080(2) |
| Church Bulletin Board | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On site of church | — | 18.22.080(3) |
| Residential Neighborhood Identification Sign | — | 11 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 18.22.080(5) |
| Permitted Temporary Signs (Residential Subdivision) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.22.080(4) |
| Exempt Signs (Residential) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.22.080(6) |

### C-1 local shopping district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Master Identification Sign (C-1) | — | 100 sq ft per building/site, 10 sq ft per tenant | — | — | — | For building/site with more than one tenant | — | 18.22.100(1) |
| Wall Sign (C-1) - Building Area-Based | — | 100 sq ft per building | — | — | — | On building | — | 18.22.100(2) |
| Wall Sign (C-1) - Tenant-Based Option | — | 100 sq ft per tenant (or per two major tenants on two elevations) | — | — | — | On elevation providing primary access | — | 18.22.100(3) |
| Exempt Signs (C-1) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.22.100(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Corte Madera

- No sign shall be erected or maintained on the roof of a structure, or project above the eave or parapet line of a structure.
- Floodlights, equipment displays, blimps, balloons and objects designed to rotate or move with the wind or float in the air shall not be permitted, except that flags and banners may be permitted with design review approval.
- No signs, except barber poles, shall contain visibly moving parts or simulate movement by means of fluttering, spinning or reflecting devices.
- No sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or any other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color.
- Light sources shall not create a glare or hazard on adjoining streets, properties, or residential areas. Exterior light sources must concentrate illumination on the sign to prevent glare. No sign shall be illuminated after 11 p.m. or after business hours, whichever is later.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained which has a design or lighting such that it resembles or may be mistaken for a traffic light or signal.
- Portable advertising signs may not be placed upon or painted on a vehicle or trailer if the vehicle or trailer is not normally used for delivery and/or pick-up of merchandise or service in connection with the business or service being identified by the sign, and the sign is not normally affixed to the vehicle or trailer during the performance of that business or service.
- Outdoor displays of products raised higher than six feet above the ground and not screened from off-site viewing, and equipment raised into a display position above the peak of the roof, shall not be permitted.
- No sign shall be installed in a public right-of-way, or on trees, shrubs, or landscaped areas on public property, or on fire hydrants, street signs, traffic signals, or any wire appurtenance, or upon any fixture of the fire alarm or police system, or on any railroad trestle, public building or structure (except limited exceptions for town events/noncommercial signs as provided).
- No installation of new signs, nor modifications to existing signs, shall take place on any multitenant site where an illegal or nonconforming sign remains in use.

## Signs exempt from permit in Corte Madera

- One real estate sign not more than six square feet in area and no more than eight feet above grade, on the property being advertised for sale or lease, with certain allowances for up to three off-site directional signs on weekends.
- Names of buildings and dates of erection cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other incombustible material, not more than four square feet in area.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, railroad crossing, construction, 'danger' and other such emergency or warning signs, including wording or symbols painted on public streets under town authority.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic on private property and parking directional markings painted on the pavement when installed in accord with an approved parking lot plan; no sign over four square feet; up to twenty-five percent of each sign face may be used for business identification.
- Signs showing the location of public restrooms, telephones and underground utilities, not exceeding two square feet.
- Signs indicating business hours, emergency numbers, credit cards honored, trading stamps or association memberships, not over 1.5 square feet each and total area not over four square feet per establishment.
- Any sign, posting, notice or other indication placed or required by a public entity in carrying out responsibility to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community or as required by law.
- Street signs and address numbers less than one square foot in area.
- Holiday lights and displays not advertising any product or sale, erected no sooner than forty-five days prior and removed within fourteen days after the holiday.
- Exterior temporary signs and advertising devices on an occupant's property for up to thirty days to announce the opening of a new business, total area not exceeding that of permanent signing permitted, and not blocking or creating hazards.
- Temporary on-window signs advertising benefit activities, products, prices, special sales/service offers, for up to thirty days/year, total area not to exceed permanent signing or 25% of window area (whichever is more), not illuminated.
- Individual gasoline price signs conforming to state law and size/location constraints, total area not exceeding allowed permanent sign area.
- Political and social issue signs that conform with provisions in Section 18.22.040.
- Signs advertising town-sponsored or town-endorsed events and located on public property.
- Signs located on public property that comply with Section 18.22.050(j)(2).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be approved for a shopping center, for any site with more than one building, or for any building with more than one tenant until a master sign program has received design review approval.
- All signs, except those listed as exempt, require sign permit design review approval.
- If the zoning administrator finds that the application is for a sign which conforms to an approved master sign program, approval may be given without notice or hearing.
- For every site with an adopted master sign program, the master sign program provisions take precedence over zoning district signage requirements unless the zoning requirements are more stringent or cover additional topics.
- Shingle signs require an approved master sign program from the planning commission.
- All applications involving freestanding signs are subject to review by the planning commission.
- Refer to approved master sign programs for Town Center and the Village (C-2 districts), and use underlying ordinance regulations only if those programs do not address a specific application.

## 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 Corte Madera — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Corte+Madera+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-corte-madera

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