# Sign Regulations in Danville, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Danville, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/danville
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/danvilleca/latest/danville_ca/0-0-0-9633)

## At a glance

Danville, California regulates 34 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign - On-Site Residentials in the Single Family Residential District (R-6, R-7, R-10, R-12, R-15, R-20, R-40, R-65, R-100), Two Family Residential District (D-1), Multiple Family Residential District (M-30, M-25, M-20, M-13, M-8, M-35) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 6 square feet (including riders), with a 10 feet from right-of-way or edge of pavement on corners setback (Sec. 32-98.16 a). Most commercial signs in Danville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single Family Residential District (R-6, R-7, R-10, R-12, R-15, R-20, R-40, R-65, R-100), Two Family Residential District (D-1), Multiple Family Residential District (M-30, M-25, M-20, M-13, M-8, M-35) | 11 | 25 feet (pole) | 35 square feet | — |
| Light Agricultural District (A-1), General Agricultural District (A-2), Agricultural Preserve District (A-4) | 11 | 25 feet | 35 square feet | — |
| Limited Office District (O-1), Interchange Transitional District (G-1), Retail Business District (R-B), General Commercial District (C), Light Industrial District (L-I), Planned Unit District (P-1), DBD1, DBD2, DBD3, DBD4, DBD5, DBD6, DBD7, DBD8, DBD9, DBD10, DBD11, DBD12, DBD13, DBD14, DBD15, DBD16, DBD17, DBD18, DBD19, DBD20 | 16 | 15 feet | 75 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 9 feet 10 inches | 36 square feet overall; 18x48 inches per component | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Single Family Residential District (R-6, R-7, R-10, R-12, R-15, R-20, R-40, R-65, R-100), Two Family Residential District (D-1), Multiple Family Residential District (M-30, M-25, M-20, M-13, M-8, M-35)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | Not specified | Private property, not in public right-of-way | — | 32-98.8 h 1 |
| Special Event Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | Not specified | Private property, not in public right-of-way | — | 32-98.8 h 2 |
| Real Estate Sign - On-Site Residential | 6 feet | 6 square feet (including riders) | — | 10 feet from right-of-way or edge of pavement on corners | 1 per premises | On premises for sale/lease | — | 32-98.16 a |
| Off-Site Real Estate - Open House/Directional Sign - Residential | 3 feet | 4 square feet per side (double-faced) | — | Not in travel way, sidewalk, etc. | 1 per direction per company | Major arterial/collector intersections or secondary streets with permission | — | 32-98.16 b |
| Bulletin Board | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 | Site of educational or religious institution | — | 32-98.8 d |
| Flag or Emblem of Government | 25 feet (pole) | 3 feet by 5 feet | — | — | Not specified | On property | — | 32-98.8 c |
| Neighborhood Identification Sign | 7 feet | 35 square feet | — | Not in ROW, utility easement, sight triangle | 1 per street entrance, max 3 per development | Entry to subdivision, on landscape wall not soundwall | — | 32-98.14 g 4 |
| On-Site Subdivision Construction Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | Not in sight triangle | 1 per subdivision entrance | Within subdivision boundaries | — | 32-98.17 a |

### Light Agricultural District (A-1), General Agricultural District (A-2), Agricultural Preserve District (A-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | Not specified | Private property | — | 32-98.8 h 1 |
| Special Event Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | Not specified | Private property | — | 32-98.8 h 2 |
| Real Estate Sign - On-Site Residential | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | 10 ft on corners | 1 per premises | On premises | — | 32-98.16 a |
| Off-Site Real Estate - Open House/Directional Sign - Residential | 3 feet | 4 square feet per side | — | Not obstructing | Limited per intersection | Intersections with conditions | — | 32-98.16 b |
| Bulletin Board | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 | Institution site | — | 32-98.8 d |
| Flag or Emblem of Government | 25 feet | 15 square feet | — | — | Not specified | On property | — | 32-98.8 c |
| Neighborhood Identification Sign | 7 feet | 35 square feet | — | Outside sight triangle | Max 3 per development | Subdivision entry | — | 32-98.14 g 4 |
| On-Site Subdivision Construction Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | Outside sight triangle | 1 per entrance | Within boundaries | — | 32-98.17 a |

### Limited Office District (O-1), Interchange Transitional District (G-1), Retail Business District (R-B), General Commercial District (C), Light Industrial District (L-I), Planned Unit District (P-1), DBD1, DBD2, DBD3, DBD4, DBD5, DBD6, DBD7, DBD8, DBD9, DBD10, DBD11, DBD12, DBD13, DBD14, DBD15, DBD16, DBD17, DBD18, DBD19, DBD20

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 15 feet | 75 square feet | — | — | Max 2 per premises/tenant; multiple on same elevation if different visual orientation | Attached to wall, overhang, or covered walkway parallel to wall plane | — | 32-98.14 b |
| Awning Sign | 12 feet | 20 square feet per awning | — | — | 1 per elevation, max 2 per business | On flat vertical plane of awning | — | 32-98.14 d |
| Ground Sign (Freestanding) | 7 feet | 35 square feet (lots >=125 ft frontage); 20 square feet (100-124 ft frontage) | — | Not in public ROW, utility easement, sign sight triangle; min lot dimension 100 ft at street | 1 for single tenant buildings/projects | Minimum 3 ft from back of sidewalk or 2 ft from property line (greater); primary structure setback min 20 ft from ROW | — | 32-98.14 g 1 |
| Mini-Pole Sign (Freestanding) | 7 feet +1 ft decorative | 6 square feet | — | Not in public ROW or sign sight triangle | 1 per property | Min 1 ft from sidewalk or property line (greater) | — | 32-98.14 g 2 |
| Off-Site Commercial Identification Sign | 7 feet +1 ft decorative | Determined by Design Review Board | — | Not in public ROW or sign sight distance triangle | 1 per qualifying intersection side | Min 1 ft from sidewalk or property line (greater); Downtown Business District only | — | 32-98.14 g 3 |
| Temporary/Promotional Sign - A-Frame | 2.5 feet | 5 square feet | — | — | Max 2 per business at a time | Not obstructing pedestrian path or in public ROW | — | 32-98.15 b |
| Real Estate Sign - On-Site Commercial | 15 feet (wall); 7 feet (ground) or 12 feet if setback 30 ft | 32 sq ft per face (double-faced, >=125 ft frontage); 16 sq ft (>=125 ft, corner 2x16); 16 sq ft lease/rent; 8 sq ft per face corner <125 ft | — | Not encroaching pedestrian walkway or obstructing sight; ground min 30 ft setback for 12 ft height | 1 per street frontage | On premises for sale/lease/rent (multi-family investment, commercial, industrial, office) | — | 32-98.16 c |
| On-Site Nonresidential Construction Sign | 12 feet | 32 sq ft (>=125 ft frontage); 24 sq ft (<125 ft) | — | Not in public ROW; not interfering with sign sight triangles | 1 per project | Within property boundaries of construction site | — | 32-98.17 b |

## Prohibited signs in Danville

- Tethered signs
- Signs designed, placed, or oriented for freeway exposure, except for building frontages facing in the direction of the freeway
- Mobile, moving, flashing or blinking signs
- Nonaccessory signs
- Dilapidated signs
- Portable trailer signs
- Signs attached to or painted on a sound wall, fence, or vehicle parked for the purpose of advertising to the public
- Signs supported by exposed wires or cables
- Roof signs
- Electrified reader boards with a moving display
- All temporary or political signs located in the public right-of-way, fixed to any improvement, structure or landscaping located in the public right-of-way or located on any property or structure owned by the Town of Danville (with limited exception for signs tied to the Danville Oak Tree)
- Laser signs
- Advertising or promotion of any tobacco products on an advertising display sign in a publicly visible location within one thousand six hundred (1,600) feet of the perimeter of an elementary or secondary school, public park or public playground (with specified exceptions)

## Signs exempt from permit in Danville

- A sign placed by a public utility or the Town of Danville for the safety or welfare of the public, such as a sign identifying high voltage, underground cable or related to the construction of Town capital improvement projects (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- An official fire or police related sign, or a sign required to be posted and maintained by law or governmental order, such as a public health warning, traffic, parking or similar regulatory device, legal device or warning at a railroad crossing (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- A flag or emblem of a government which is smaller than three (3) feet by five (5) feet in size and displayed on a maximum twenty-five (25) foot pole (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- A bulletin board, not exceeding six (6) square feet in area and six (6) feet in height, on the site of an educational or religious institution relating to an activity conducted at, or sponsored, by the institution (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- A professional nameplate, street address or historic tablet sign less than two (2) square feet in area (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- Informational signs such as hours of operation, 'open' signs (including neon) located inside a window less than four (4) square feet, directional signs, credit cards honored or membership in civic, business or professional organizations (total not to exceed six (6) square feet in area at an individual establishment) (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- A barber pole sign not exceeding three (3) feet in height (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- Any of the following temporary signs where such signs do not exceed six (6) square feet in area and six (6) feet in height and may not be placed in the public right of way: political sign (removed within ten (10) days after election), special event sign advertising a community-wide event (placed for thirty (30) days or less), one (1) sign designating property for sale or lease, open house/directional—residential real estate signs (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- Changeable copy or message portion of a theater marquee or reader board (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- A sign placed on the interior of a building that cannot be seen by the general public from the exterior (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- Holiday decorations, light and displays, placed no more than forty-five (45) days before a holiday and removed within ten (10) days after the holiday, except the Christmas holidays where they shall be removed within thirty (30) days after Christmas (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- Construction and/or advisory signs installed by the Town of Danville (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)
- Special event signs on the Town-installed banner poles (exempt from permit but must comply with other regulations)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program permit is required to allow the owner or occupants of an individual building or group of buildings having a common architectural style (including shopping centers) to develop a comprehensive sign program for the complex
- A master sign program permit is required for all projects with internal illumination; sign programs which include internal illumination may, at the discretion of the Chief of Planning, be referred to the Planning Commission
- Internally illuminated signs require approval of a master sign program
- The master sign program permit shall be issued by the Chief of Planning after Design Review Board review and approval, or at the discretion of the Chief of Planning, the application may be referred to the Planning Commission for consideration and action
- After a master sign program permit is approved, no person shall install individual signs without first obtaining a separate sign permit, unless the master sign permit specifically allows administrative approval prior to issuance of a building permit
- Artistic sign programs that do not meet standards may require approval of an exception per subsection 32-98.7
- All exceptions to the sign standards in subsection 32-98.14 shall be reviewed by the Design Review Board per subsection 32-98.7
- Upon application, the Design Review Board or Chief of Planning may grant an exception to a regulation in this article, or at the discretion of the Chief of Planning, the application may be referred to the Planning Commission
- All permit applications for wall painted signs shall be approved by the Design Review Board
- All neon or fiber optic signs require review and approval by the Chief of Planning prior to installation
- The Chief of Planning or Design Review Board may refer an application to the Planning Commission for consideration and action

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

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