# Sign Regulations in El Monte, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** El Monte, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/el-monte
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/El_Monte/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT10VETR_APPENDIX1964ED_ARTVTUMO_S5.1AUPLRETUSI)

## At a glance

El Monte, California regulates 26 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Wall Sign (Nonresidential Uses)s in the Residential zoning district zoning district are capped at For 1-story buildings: no higher than the parapet height or the floor line of the 2nd story (whichever is lower). For 2nd story tenants: no higher than the parapet height or floor line of the 3rd story (whichever is lower) tall, 24 sq. ft. per sign or maximum in Table 17.80-1, whichever is less, and 70% of the horizontal wall/tenant length (whichever is less) wide, with a minimum 50 ft. setback from residential zone setback (Sec. 17.80.060(B)(1), Table 17.80-1, Table 17.80-2). Most commercial signs in El Monte require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning district | 4 | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign or maximum in Table 17.80-4, whichever is less | — |
| Nonresidential zoning district, Multiuse zoning district, Commercial zoning district, Manufacturing zoning district, General Commercial (C-3), Manufacturing (M-1 and M-2) | 9 | 25 ft. (signs greater require Design Review approval) | Signs with valance: 80% of the valance area; Barrel awnings: 60% of the bottom 2 ft. | — |
| Downtown Main Street Specific Plan, Gateway Specific Plan, Main Street Subarea of the Downtown Specific Plan | 8 | Max 12 ft. or parapet wall height, whichever is lower; min vertical clearance 8-9 ft. | Max 25% of any individual window; Max 15% of total window area per façade | — |
| Auto District | 3 | 100 ft. above grade of closest freeway travel lane | Table 17.80-1/2 or 150 sq. ft. (greater) for one building; up to 5 supplemental signs max 35% of wall sign area | — |
| Billboard Overlay Zone | 1 | 75 ft. from nearest freeway lane grade (may exceed for good cause at city's discretion) | — | — |
| Special Sign District (Overlay Zone) | 1 | — | — | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### Residential zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Multiple-family Residential Uses) | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | Maximum 2 per property | Flat against building, mounted on block wall, or erected as freestanding monument sign | — | 17.80.060(A) |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | For 1-story buildings: no higher than the parapet height or the floor line of the 2nd story (whichever is lower). For 2nd story tenants: no higher than the parapet height or floor line of the 3rd story (whichever is lower) | 24 sq. ft. per sign or maximum in Table 17.80-1, whichever is less | 70% of the horizontal wall/tenant length (whichever is less) | Illuminated signs: minimum 50 ft. setback from residential zone | 1 per building façade | Building façade facing street or on-site parking area | — | 17.80.060(B)(1), Table 17.80-1, Table 17.80-2 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign or maximum in Table 17.80-4, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per street frontage > 50 ft | Each street frontage greater than 50 linear feet | — | 17.80.060(B)(2) |
| Directory Wall Sign (Multiple-tenant buildings, Nonresidential) | — | 2 sq. ft. per tenant; 10 sq. ft. max per sign | — | — | 1 per ground floor entrance/staircase | At each ground floor entrance/staircase for tenants without an exterior entrance | — | 17.80.070(E) |

### Nonresidential zoning district, Multiuse zoning district, Commercial zoning district, Manufacturing zoning district, General Commercial (C-3), Manufacturing (M-1 and M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 1-story: no higher than parapet or 2nd story floor line (whichever is lower); 2nd story tenants: no higher than parapet or 3rd story floor line (whichever is lower) | Per Table 17.80-1 formula | 70% of horizontal tenant/wall length (whichever is less) | Illuminated signs: minimum 50 ft. from residential zone | 1 per tenant per façade | Building façade facing street, on-site driveway, or parking area | — | 17.80.070(B), Table 17.80-1, Table 17.80-2 |
| Marquee or Projecting Sign | Shall not extend above parapet; maintain 8 ft. vertical clearance | 24 sq. ft. | 8 ft. projection from building face, maintaining 2 ft. setback from street curb/driveway | — | 1 | Projecting from building façade | — | 17.80.070(C), Table 17.80-2 |
| Canopy or Awning Sign | Not higher than 2 ft. above 1st story windows; maintain 8 ft. vertical clearance | Signs with valance: 80% of the valance area; Barrel awnings: 60% of the bottom 2 ft. | 70% of horizontal length of awning or tenant (multitenant, whichever is less) | — | 1 per business or tenant | On awning/canopy | — | 17.80.070(C), Table 17.80-2 |
| Hanging Sign | Maintain 8 ft. vertical clearance | 12 sq. ft. | May project up to 50% of walkway width | — | 1 per business or tenant | Above pedestrian walkway | — | 17.80.070(C), Table 17.80-2 |
| Building Identification/Major Tenant Sign | If above entrance: between 2nd story floor and parapet (up to 3 stories); if >3 stories: below parapet; one sign per façade, max 3 per building | Counts towards total signage per Table 17.80-1; additional 50 sq. ft. or 75 sq. ft. for specific cases | — | — | Max 1 per facade, 3 per building | Building façade | — | 17.80.070(G) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 8 ft. | ¼ sq. ft. per 1 ft. of street frontage or 30 sq. ft. (greater); all signs on property: ¾ sq. ft. per 1 ft. of frontage | — | 25 ft. from any residential zone; 50 ft. from another freestanding sign; 10 ft. triangle from any street corner/driveway | Per Table 17.80-3, depends on property frontage | See Table 17.80-3 for number allowed per frontage | — | 17.80.080, Table 17.80-3, Table 17.80-4 |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign | 25 ft. (signs greater require Design Review approval) | For all signs: ¾ sq. ft. per 1 ft. linear street frontage; single pylon: ½ sq. ft. per 1 ft. street frontage | — | 50 ft. from any residential zone; 50 ft. from another freestanding sign; 10 ft. triangle from any street corner/driveway | Per Table 17.80-3, depends on property frontage | See Table 17.80-3 for number allowed | — | 17.80.080, Table 17.80-3, Table 17.80-4 |
| Directory Wall Sign (Multi-Tenant) | — | 2 sq. ft. per tenant; 10 sq. ft. max per sign | — | — | One per EF entrance/staircase | At each ground floor entrance and staircase for tenants without an exterior entrance | — | 17.80.070(E) |

### Downtown Main Street Specific Plan, Gateway Specific Plan, Main Street Subarea of the Downtown Specific Plan

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pedestrian-oriented Building Sign | — | — | — | — | Min 1 per eligible business | For each business with separate street entrance | — | 17.80.090(B) |
| Marquee or Projecting Sign (Pedestrian-oriented) | Max 12 ft. or parapet wall height, whichever is lower; min vertical clearance 8-9 ft. | — | — | — | — | Street entrance; pedestrian-oriented | — | 17.80.090(B)(1) |
| Outdoor A-Frame Sign (Food & Beverage, includes Sandwich Board) | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. per side (single or double-sided) | — | — | Max 2 per business | Main entrance facing public street; second sign allowed if secondary public entrance faces alley or parking area | — | 17.80.090(D) |
| Painted Wall Sign | — | 20% of rear building façade area | — | — | — | Limited to Downtown Specific Plan | — | 17.80.090(C) |
| Monument Sign (Freestanding) | — | As per Tables 17.80-3/4 (outside restricted corridors) | — | — | — | Only permitted along other streets within SP boundaries | — | 17.80.090(E)(3) |
| Window Sign (Permanent, SP) | — | Max 25% of any individual window; Max 15% of total window area per façade | — | — | — | Within window | — | 17.80.090(F) |
| Freestanding Sign - Pylon | — | — | — | — | Prohibited | — | — | 17.80.090(E)(1) |
| Freeway Oriented Building Signage (Gateway SP) | — | — | — | — | — | Freeway-facing building walls | — | 17.80.090(G) |

## Prohibited signs in El Monte

- No sign shall be erected or maintained anywhere in the city except in conformity with this chapter.
- Signs not expressly permitted or exempted from the regulations set forth in this chapter are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Can or box signs are prohibited, except for registered trademarks and legal nonconforming signs (which may be repaired or have faces changed).
- Outdoor advertising signs are prohibited, except those permitted in Billboard Overlay Zone and Outdoor Advertising Structures chapters.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except those permitted in 17.80.090(A).
- Pole signs are prohibited, except legal nonconforming pole signs may be repaired or have faces changed.
- Roof signs are prohibited, except as permitted in 17.80.100(G).
- Signs with exterior or exposed raceways or conduit (except neon signs), awnings that are back-lit (internally illuminated), and unshielded light bulbs over 25 watts (except neon signs) are prohibited.
- Signs that are painted (except as permitted in 17.80.090(A)), or that use foam, plywood, MDO, MDF, paper, foam, or similar material using chalk, felt pen, fluorescent paint, or similar medium are prohibited.
- Signs attached to vehicles are prohibited, except those permanently or magnetically affixed that do not render the vehicle immobile.
- Signs that produce noise or emissions (smoke, vapors, particles, odors, audible noise at property line) are prohibited, except as permitted in 17.80.090(B).
- Signs in the public rights-of-way are prohibited, except those permitted in 17.80.030(F).
- Signs simulating traffic or emergency devices, or posing a traffic or pedestrian hazard, are prohibited.
- Windblown devices and balloon signs are prohibited.
- It shall be illegal to install, mount, display, use, occupy or maintain signs in violation of this chapter.
- Violations or failures to comply with the provisions of this chapter constitute a misdemeanor, a separate violation for each day each sign is in violation.

## Signs exempt from permit in El Monte

- Address signs with a height less than one foot and name plates with a height less than one foot and area less than six (6) square feet.
- Barber poles up to two (2) feet in height.
- Equipment signs.
- Garage or yard sale signs (subject to requirements of Chapter 5.44).
- Interior graphics or signs (minimum three (3) feet from a door or window).
- Government and quasi-government signs.
- Public carrier signs.
- Real estate signs (maximum two per property; 8 sq ft in residential, 16 sq ft in nonresidential; removed within 15 days after sale/lease).
- Security or privacy signs not exceeding 6 sq ft.
- Non-illuminated temporary noncommercial signs (with limits: 6 sq ft/4 ft height in residential, 12 sq ft/5 ft height in nonresidential).
- Unlimited noncommercial temporary signs permitted for 60 days before and 15 days after elections.
- Window signs limited to address, open/closed, hours, occupancy, emergency info, not exceeding 4 sq ft.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program shall be required for: (i) new or remodeled nonresidential projects with 3+ tenants, (ii) new nonresidential building identification or major tenant sign, (iii) all new buildings within the Gateway Specific Plan, (iv) drive-thru businesses, hotels/motels, K-12 private schools, live/work units, theatres and concert venues, vehicle sales and lease, vehicle service stations, vehicle washing facilities, mixed-use and urban housing, and (v) as conditioned by the City Council, Planning Commission, Zoning Review Committee or Community Development Director.
- Projects with 6+ tenants must be named and the name placed on all freestanding signs under the master sign program requirements (at least 20% of sign area).
- All buildings in the Gateway Specific Plan require a Master Sign Program, including residential-only, nonresidential, or mixed-use buildings.
- Drive-thru businesses require a Master Sign Program.
- Hotels and motels require a Master Sign Program.
- All K-12 private schools require a Master Sign Program.
- Live/work units require a Master Sign Program.
- Theatres and concert venues require a Master Sign Program.
- Vehicle sales and lease establishments require a master sign program.
- Vehicle service stations require a master sign program.
- Vehicle washing facilities require a master sign program.
- Special sign districts are established by ordinance and all development standards are determined at the time the district is established.
- Freestanding signs taller than 25 feet require Design Review approval as per Chapter 17.122.
- Billboard Overlay Zone: Billboards require execution of a development agreement and design review approval. No billboard shall be approved or modified without required application, design review, and development agreement.

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

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