# Sign Regulations in Dana Point, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dana Point, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/dana-point
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/42941475#42941475)

## At a glance

Dana Point, California regulates 16 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Construction Signs in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 32 sq. ft. (Sec. §9.37.150(a)(1)). Most commercial signs in Dana Point require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 6 | 6 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed-use Districts | 6 | 6 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Non-residential Districts | 6 | 6 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Public/quasi-public Uses | 2 | 4 feet | 1 square foot per lineal foot of street frontage not to exceed 50 square feet per street | — |
| Service Stations | 4 | 10 feet | 20 square feet if sign contains only identification and no changeable copy panels for pricing. If price information is incorporated in the identification sign, the total square footage may be 32 square feet. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 4 feet | 2½ sq. ft. per sign | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 6 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building site or street frontage | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(a)(1) |
| Future Facility | 6 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building site or street frontage | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(a)(2) |
| Open House Sign | 4 feet | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | One sign per corner per direction, plus one sign per site | Freestanding | — | §9.37.150(a)(3) |
| Remodeling Sign | 6 feet | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building site | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(a)(4) |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 feet | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(a)(5) |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | 4 feet | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | One per intersection; maximum of four signs | Wall, Window or Freestanding | — | §9.37.150(a)(6) |

### Mixed-use Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 6 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building or leased parcel, or one per street frontage | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(c)(1) |
| Future Facility | 6 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building or street frontage | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(c)(2) |
| Future Tenant | 6 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building site or street frontage | Freestanding | — | §9.37.150(c)(3) |
| Real Estate | 6 feet | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(c)(4) |
| Special Event Sign | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | One per site or as deemed appropriate with a special event permit | Wall | — | §9.37.150(c)(5) |
| Remodeling Sign | 6 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | One per building site | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(c)(6) |

### Non-residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 6 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building or leased parcel, or one per street frontage | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(c)(1) |
| Future Facility | 6 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building or street frontage | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(c)(2) |
| Future Tenant | 6 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building site or street frontage | Freestanding | — | §9.37.150(c)(3) |
| Real Estate | 6 feet | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(c)(4) |
| Special Event Sign | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | One per site or as deemed appropriate with a special event permit | Wall | — | §9.37.150(c)(5) |
| Remodeling Sign | 6 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | One per building site | Freestanding or Wall | — | §9.37.150(c)(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Dana Point

- Flashing, moving, animated and intermittently lighted signs and advertising devices including animals and human beings, excluding public service signs such as time and temperature signs and traditional barber shop poles.
- Roof signs as defined in Section 9.37.020(r).
- Signs which project over public right-of-way or adjacent private property.
- Changeable copy signs with the exception of signs intended for the advertisement of civic activities and menu board signs.
- Banners, flags, pennants, balloons, and other temporary signage except as may be permitted by Section 9.37.160 in conjunction with a Temporary Site Development Permit or Section 9.37.110(k).
- Off-site signs and other similar signs installed for the purpose of advertising a project, subject, or business, unrelated to the premises upon which the sign is located, inclusive of 'snipe' signs and billboards, but exclusive of garage/yard sale and open house signs.
- Vehicular signs including signs attached by any means to automobiles, trucks, trailers, or other vehicles on private or public property for the purpose of advertising, identifying, or providing direction to a use or activity not related to the lawful use of the vehicle for rendering service or delivering merchandise.
- Obscene or unlawful signs.
- Signs in the public right-of-way and public property except those signs that are provided for in this Chapter.
- Permanent pole signs exceeding five feet in height, not including flag signs, with open space from ground level to the bottom of the sign exceeding 35% of the overall height.
- Audible signs or advertising devices.
- Inflatable signs and advertising devices.
- Canned monument signs.
- Portable signs which include A-frame or sandwich board signs.
- Internally illuminated monument signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dana Point

- Directional or informational signs each no more than two and one-half (2½) square feet in area, contain no advertising message, and are located entirely on the business premises.
- Four Real Estate Open House or Garage Sale directional signs per intersection each no more than four square feet in area, contain no advertising message, are located entirely on private property, and not in excess of one per public street corner, per direction.
- Signs for the convenience of the public, such as signs identifying restrooms, public telephones, walkways, and similar features or facilities, each no more than one and one-half (1½) square feet in area, contain no advertising message, and are located entirely on the business premises.
- Memorial signs on tablets or plaques, including names of buildings or sites, and dates of erection when cut into or attached to the surface or the facade of the building.
- Signs exclusively regulated by the state, traffic or municipal signs, signs required by law, railroad crossing signs, legal notices, and emergency or danger notices, shall not exceed 12 square feet in area unless otherwise specified by law, contain no advertising message, and shall not be more than one sign per street frontage unless otherwise required by law.
- Emergency, temporary, and non-advertising signs as may be authorized by the City Council, including City-sponsored seasonal and promotional banners.
- Signs of public utility companies and private contractors indicating danger or which serve as an aid to public safety, or which show the location of underground facilities.
- One real estate sign per street frontage located entirely on the property offered for sale or lease; or on private property, does not exceed six feet in height, does not exceed four square feet in area, and is removed upon the close of escrow or when the rental or lease has been accomplished.
- Street addressing, house numbers, nameplates, 'No Trespassing,' 'No Parking,' and other warning signs consistent with City Codes, do not exceed two and one-half (2½) square feet in area, and are located entirely on-site.
- Signs located in the interior of any building which are not visible from any public or private right-of-way.
- One of each of the following flags: United States of America, State of California, and one other flag.
- Temporary, removable non-illuminated, window signs with provisions such as not exceeding 25% of the total exposed window area, complementing the building and permanent signage, and limiting the use of fluorescent, day-glo, and neon colors.
- Traditional Christmas signs and lights within any commercial and residential zone displayed only between November 1st and January 10th, inclusive.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Sign Program shall be required for any new or upgrading center with two or more tenants on a site; for any new or upgrading single enterprise which proposes three or more signs on a site; for any new multiple-unit residential project (attached or detached) which proposes two or more signs on the project site; or for any sign proposal deemed necessary by the Director of Community Development and in the interest of the public health, safety and general welfare.
- Any proposed sign which deviates from any development standard set forth in this Chapter, except as may be permitted through a Sign Program pursuant to Section 9.37.070, shall require approval of a Variance in accordance with Chapter 9.67 of the Dana Point Municipal Code.

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

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