# Sign Regulations in Del Mar, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Del Mar, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/del-mar
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Del_Mar/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=TIT23BUCO_CH23.09ADSIRE)

## At a glance

Del Mar, California regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Zones, Beach Commercial (BC), Central Commercial (CC), Professional Commercial (PC), Residential Commercial (RC), North Commercial (NC), Visitor Commercial (VC) zoning district are capped at Up to 3 ft. If building is set back 20+ ft, max 8 ft or 2/3 building height (whichever is less) tall and Counts toward a zone's per-business max, with a Building must be set back 20+ ft from property line. setback (Sec. 30.84.050(D)(3), 30.84.060). Most commercial signs in Del Mar require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones | 2 | — | 5.5 sq ft per unit (measured on one side) | — |
| Commercial Zones, Beach Commercial (BC), Central Commercial (CC), Professional Commercial (PC), Residential Commercial (RC), North Commercial (NC), Visitor Commercial (VC) | 8 | 42 in. | BC, CC, PC, RC: 40 sq ft max per business. NC, VC: 60 sq ft max per business. | — |
| Public Facility (PF) | 1 | — | On City property: 64 sq ft (4 ft x 16 ft); On street light standard: 24 sq ft (3 ft x 8 ft) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 10 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft per unit; for five or more units, an additional 12 sq ft permitted | — | — | — | At each dwelling unit, on the lot | — | 30.84.030 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 5.5 sq ft per unit (measured on one side) | — | — | — | On the property of each individual unit | — | 30.84.030; 30.84.075(D) |

### Commercial Zones, Beach Commercial (BC), Central Commercial (CC), Professional Commercial (PC), Residential Commercial (RC), North Commercial (NC), Visitor Commercial (VC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | BC, CC, PC, RC: 40 sq ft max per business. NC, VC: 60 sq ft max per business. | — | — | — | On the street facing facade | — | 30.84.040(1)(A)-(C), 30.84.050(D)(5), 30.84.060 |
| Freestanding Sign | Up to 3 ft. If building is set back 20+ ft, max 8 ft or 2/3 building height (whichever is less) | Counts toward a zone's per-business max | — | For signs >3 ft high: Building must be set back 20+ ft from property line. | — | In a landscaped area or planter | — | 30.84.050(D)(3), 30.84.060 |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft max | By calculation method per 30.84.055 | 12 ft max | — | One per street frontage | On ground, in landscaped area or planter in front of business | — | 30.84.055 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 6 sq ft per business | — | — | — | On premises of business. For outdoor sales: within perimeter of vendor stall. | — | 30.84.040(2)(B)(2); 30.84.045 |
| Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | — | Per street frontage of business | — | 30.84.040(2)(B)(1) |
| Gasoline Price Sign | — | 8 sq ft per street/alley frontage | — | — | — | Per street/alley frontage | — | 30.84.040(2)(B)(3) |
| Blade Sign | — | 6 sq ft (one side; double-sided allowed) | — | Min. 8 ft above finished grade; cannot extend within 5 ft vertically above driving surface. | One per business per street frontage | Perpendicular to exterior building wall; may hang above sidewalk | — | 30.84.040(2)(B)(4); 30.84.050(D)(1)-(2); 30.84.075(C) |
| A-Frame Sign | 42 in. | 10.5 sq ft | 36 in. | — | One per establishment | On private property, on premises of advertised business | — | 30.84.040(2)(B)(5); 30.84.050(D)(7) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | 1 sq ft max | — | — | One per street/alley frontage | On each street or alley frontage | — | 30.84.070(A) |
| Property Information Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On real property being advertised or with property owner's consent | — | 30.84.070(B) |
| Maintenance (non-structural, in-place) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30.84.071 |
| Seasonal Decoration (non-advertising) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30.84.080(I) |
| Governmental Notices and Flags | — | Flag poles are subject to Design Review Board approval; max 3 different or 1 of the same flag per lot. | — | — | — | — | — | 30.84.080(A)-(C) |
| Non-visible Interior Commercial Sign | — | 1.25 sq ft per sign, 20 sq ft total per business | — | — | — | Inside of commercial structure, commercial zones only | — | 30.84.080(G)-(H) |
| New Business Banner | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | At new business location (commercial zones) | — | 30.84.080(L) |
| City-sponsored Cultural/Community Interest Sign | — | 2 sq ft (288 sq in.) | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | 30.84.080(M) |

## Prohibited signs in Del Mar

- It is unlawful for any person to post, erect, or maintain any sign within the City except as allowed by the provisions of this Chapter.
- It is unlawful for any property owner to allow the posting, erection, or maintenance of any sign on their property that violates the provisions of this Chapter.
- It is unlawful to post, erect, or maintain any sign in the public right-of-way without first obtaining a Sign Encroachment Permit, unless otherwise authorized.
- No sign attached perpendicular to any building shall project more than 48 inches beyond the face of such building.
- No sign attached perpendicular to any building shall exceed 20 square feet in size.
- Freestanding signs greater than three feet in total height are prohibited, except under specified conditions.
- Balloons used as signs must be considered temporary, maintained for 30 days or less, have a maximum diameter of 12 inches, and cannot be released into the atmosphere.
- External light sources for signs must not be visible from adjacent properties or the public right-of-way.
- Internal illumination of a sign must not illuminate more than 25% of that sign's area.
- All signs and supporting features must be maintained in good repair.
- A-Frame signs must not have strobe, blinking, or flashing lights, electronic animation, electronic reader copy, flags, balloons, pendants, flyers, handouts or other attachments.
- A-Frame signs must not block access to parking, drive aisles, or pedestrian travel ways.
- Signs must not be posted, erected, or maintained so as to obstruct a clear view of the street from any intersecting street.
- Signs must not obstruct access to a public street from a driveway.
- Signs must not move, rotate, appear to move, shimmer, blink, change color or hue, flash, or be intermittently illuminated.
- Signs must not interfere with the effectiveness of or obscure any official notice.
- Signs must not be placed on or project above the roof of the structure on which they are constructed.
- Signs attached parallel to a building must not project more than 16 inches beyond the building face.
- Signs must not interfere with automotive or pedestrian sight lines.
- Signs must not obstruct any door or fire escape of any building.
- Signs must not obstruct free passage over any public right-of-way.
- Signs must not unreasonably obscure from public view existing, conforming signs on adjacent properties.
- Signs must not be attached to utility poles, street light standards (except when specifically authorized), or trees.
- Signs must not be posted or attached to a truck or vehicle which is parked so as to be used as a sign.
- Signs must not be located within the public right-of-way unless approved in accordance with applicable code.
- Signs must not present an off-site message except as otherwise permitted.
- It is prohibited to expand, replace, enlarge, or rebuild a nonconforming sign, except for routine maintenance as specified.
- It is unlawful to maintain, expand, or keep a sign that is considered illegal, has expired as a nonconforming sign, or is abandoned.

## Signs exempt from permit in Del Mar

- Official notices posted or issued by a court or other governmental body.
- Signs posted, erected, or maintained by the City or other governmental agencies.
- Governmental flags, provided there are not more than three different, or more than one of the same governmental flags displayed on a lot of record (flag poles require Design Review Board approval).
- Religious symbols.
- The display of merchandise within any business premises.
- Signs not visible from the public right-of-way, including signs in interior areas of shopping centers or commercial buildings.
- In all commercial zones, signs within a structure set back 36 inches or more from windows/doors/transparent surfaces through which they are visible.
- In all commercial zones, signs within a structure within 36 inches of a transparent surface, provided they are not attached to the surface, letters/numbers are no more than 0.5 inch in height/width, individual sign area is no more than 1.25 sq ft, cumulative total is no more than 20 sq ft per business, sign is not internally lit, and all other regulations are met.
- Temporary seasonal decoration not used as a display of advertising.
- Signs and banners located on City property or street light standards in specified zones for identifying Downtown Village of Del Mar or advertising a Community Event, subject to criteria in the ordinance.
- In all commercial zones, 'open/closed' signs, if the area does not exceed two square feet and internal illumination is off between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- In all commercial zones, a new-business sign provided application for permanent signage is submitted, sign is removed within 30 days of approval/installation of permanent sign (whichever is first), and area does not exceed ten square feet.
- City-sponsored Cultural/Community Interest Signs that a) provide info about a cultural/historic site/structure/amenity; b) do not include business ads; c) do not exceed two square feet; d) are weather resistant; e) are attached to a building (not freestanding/pole/monument); with administrative review.
- Performance of maintenance on a sign (not involving structural, material, or color changes) does not require a Design Review Permit or Administrative Sign Review Permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Sign Encroachment Permit is required for signs in the public right-of-way unless specifically exempted.
- A Design Review Permit or Administrative Sign Review Permit is required for installation of new or replacement signage, unless exempt under the ordinance.
- Permanent signage for outdoor sales operations requires a Design Review Permit.
- Monument signs require review through the Design Review process, in accordance with relevant regulations.
- Lighting proposed for monument signs must be included in the plans submitted for design review.
- If a monument sign will include advertisements for two or more businesses, submitted materials must include a comprehensive plan for all materials and signage to ensure consistency of design.
- A sign encroachment permit application requires submission of sufficient plans for review; public hearing and notice are required.
- All Sign Encroachment Permits must receive Design Review Board approval and City Traffic Engineer review; specific sign size, maintenance, location, and hours are to be specified.
- If special circumstances deprive a property of signage privilege, a Sign Encroachment Permit may be sought through a noticed public hearing and subject to findings.
- Blade signs that meet specific parameters in commercial zones are exempt from Sign Encroachment Permit but must still receive all other required permits (including Design Review or Administrative Design Review).
- Any proposed lighting for monument signs must be submitted as part of the required design review plans.

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

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