# Sign Regulations in Cypress, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cypress, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/cypress
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43180114#43180114)

## At a glance

Cypress, California regulates 25 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Directory Signs in the Commercial Zoning Districts zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 75 square feet (Sec. Table 3-7). Most commercial signs in Cypress require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 4 | 6 feet | 15 square feet | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts | 11 | 30 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Industrial Zoning Districts | 4 | 15 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Special Purpose and Overlay Zoning Districts | 7 | 8 feet | 75 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 30 feet | 300 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Commercial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per occupant | — | — | Table 3-7 |
| Directory Sign | 8 feet | 75 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | Table 3-7 |
| Wall or Canopy Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 per building frontage or tenant space | Each building frontage or each tenant space | — | Table 3-7 |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 feet | 75 square feet | — | — | 1 per shopping center | — | — | Table 3-7 |
| Identification Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per building frontage or tenant space | Each building frontage or each tenant space | — | Table 3-7 |
| Service Station Sign | 30 feet | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per service station | — | — | Table 3-7 |
| Canopy Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | — | 2 per service station | — | — | Table 3-7 |
| Public or Semi-Public Use Sign | 6 feet | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | Table 3-7 |

### Industrial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Canopy Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per building frontage | Side of the building facing the major street | — | Table 3-7 |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 feet | 75 square feet | — | — | 1 per parcel | — | — | Table 3-7 |
| Combined Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per parcel containing 2 or more uses | — | — | Table 3-7 |
| Public or Semi-Public Use Sign | 6 feet | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | Table 3-7 |

### Special Purpose and Overlay Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mobile Home Park Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 2 per park | — | — | Table 3-7 |
| Planned Residential Development Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 2 per development | — | — | Table 3-7 |
| Planned Community Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 2 per development | — | — | Table 3-7 |
| Public and Semi-Public Use Sign | 8 feet | 75 square feet | — | — | 1 per public street frontage (plus 1 per corner at public street intersection) | Per public street frontage | — | Table 3-7 |
| Civic Center Name Plate | — | 1 square foot | — | — | 1 per occupant | — | — | Table 3-7 |
| Planned Commercial/Light Industrial Wall or Canopy Sign | — | 75 square feet | — | — | 1 per building frontage | Each side of the building frontage | — | Table 3-7 |
| Planned Commercial/Light Industrial Freestanding Monument Sign | 4 feet | 75 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | Table 3-7 |

## Prohibited signs in Cypress

- No sign shall be erected on public property or easements except as provided for by state law and chapter 15 of the city zoning ordinance.
- No sign or part of a sign shall obstruct any fire escape, stairway, standpipe, exterior door, required exit, legally required light or ventilation.
- No sign shall be erected in a location where placement would constitute a traffic hazard so as to obstruct free and clear vision of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Signs which are lighted with an intensity equal to or exceeding the low beam of an automobile headlight and which light is so directed as to shine directly into the eyes of a vehicle operator are prohibited.
- Signs painted or imprinted upon, or attached in any way to a motor vehicle, vehicle part, or trailer that is parked or stored at all times on or within 50 feet of the city's arterial highways, and for a period in excess of 24 hours on all other public rights-of-way.
- Roof signs.
- The exhibition, posting, or displaying of any statement, symbol, or picture of an obscene nature upon any sign or wall.
- Signs painted on structures in all zoning districts except the CH (Commercial Heavy) zoning district.
- Any sign rotating or simulating movement by fluttering, spinning, or the use of reflective devices.
- Any sign blinking, flashing, or animated by lighting in any fashion.
- Canopy signs that project above the canopy.
- Signs encroaching upon or overhanging adjacent property.
- Any sign erected, constructed, enlarged, modified, or relocated within the city without a building permit.
- Any electrical sign or sign illuminated by electricity that is erected, constructed, enlarged, modified, or relocated within, without both a building permit and an electrical permit.
- Any sign that simulates or imitates in size, color, lettering, or design and traffic sign or signal, or which makes use of the words 'stop,' 'look,' 'danger,' or any other words, phrases, symbols, or characters in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic.
- Aerial signs and displays. Balloons that are 24 inches or less in diameter shall be exempt from this provision.
- Inflatable displays.
- Portable A-frame signs.
- Supergraphic sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cypress

- Real estate signs not exceeding six square feet, pertaining to the sale or rental of the property on which it is displayed, but not more than two such signs to the lot.
- Personal or professional name plates not exceeding one square foot, containing only the name and occupation of the occupant of the premises.
- Identification name plates or signs on apartment houses, boardinghouses, rooming houses or similar uses, not exceeding six square feet in area.
- Municipal signs, traffic signs, city limit signs, public building signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs and other temporary, emergency or non-advertising signs.
- Memorial signs or tablets and names of buildings and historical monuments, when such are cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other combustible material.
- Bulletin or announcement signs erected on the premises of a church or lawfully established place of public worship, not exceeding one in number per street frontage and used solely for the purpose of stating items relating to such church activities conducted on the premises.
- Temporary signs denoting the architect, engineer, contractor or lending institute when placed upon work under construction, not exceeding 32 square feet in area.
- Official notices authorized by a court, public body, or public officer.
- Directional, warning, or informational signs authorized by federal, state, or municipal authority.
- Memorial plaques and building cornerstones when cut or carved into a masonry surface, or when made of incombustible material and made an integral part of the structure.
- Commemorative symbols, plaques, or historical tablets.
- Flags, emblems, insignias, and posters of any nation, state, international organization, political subdivision, or other governmental agency; unlighted nonverbal religious symbols attached to a place of religious worship; and, temporary displays of a patriotic, religious, charitable, or civic character that are 35 feet in height or less.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The building superintendent may require the filing of plans or other pertinent information where, in his opinion, it is necessary to assure compliance with this chapter.
- New sign programs for commercial and industrial centers/complexes or substantive modifications for those programs previously approved by the staff review committee and confirmed by the council are subject to design review.
- Subsequent sign proposals within the center/complex consistent with the approved sign program shall be subject only to review and approval by the building official and the director.
- Applications for neon lighting shall be subject to design review in compliance with subsection 4.19.060 (Design review).
- An applicant proposing neon signage shall submit a sign program for the site for review by the director.

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

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