# Sign Regulations in Fontana, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fontana, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/fontana
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Fontana/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH3ADSI)

## At a glance

Fontana, California regulates 28 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Awning Signs in the Commercial Zoning Districts (C-1, C-2), Mixed Use Zoning Districts (RMU), Form-Based Code Zoning Districts (FBC) zoning district are capped at Awning shall not extend above eave line tall and 25% of surface area of awning, including all valances, with a Minimum 2 ft from edge of awning to curb setback (Sec. Table 30-743.A; Sec. 30-743, 30-746(a)). Most commercial signs in Fontana require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 6 | 5 ft (includes decorative base and cap) | 30 sf | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts (C-1, C-2), Mixed Use Zoning Districts (RMU), Form-Based Code Zoning Districts (FBC) | 10 | 50 ft (includes decorative base and cap; up to 75 ft w/ city flag test) | 300 sf | — |
| Industrial Zoning Districts (M-1, M-2) | 9 | 50 ft (includes decorative base and cap; up to 75 ft w/ city flag test) | 300 sf | — |
| Public and Quasi-Public Zoning Districts (P-PF, P-UC, OS-N, OS-R) | 2 | 5 ft (includes decorative base and cap) | 24 sf | — |
| Downtown Boundary | 6 | Must be below eave line; clearance min 8 ft from grade | 25% of total first floor window glass area (including glass doors) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 10 ft | 30 sf or 10% of business frontage on which banner is placed, whichever is greater | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Single-Family Residential Subdivision Development) | 5 ft (includes decorative base and cap) | 30 sf | — | — | 1 per major neighborhood entrance | Permitted only at major neighborhood entrances | — | Table 30-742.A; Sec. 30-742 |
| Monument Sign (Multiple-Family Uses) | 5 ft (includes decorative base and cap) | 24 sf | — | — | 1 per street frontage with entrance | Permitted only at major neighborhood entrances | — | Table 30-742.A; Sec. 30-742 |
| Wall Sign (Multiple-Family Uses) | Shall not be displayed above second story and shall not extend above eave line | 16 sf | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Shall not be displayed above second story and shall not extend above eave line | — | Table 30-742.A; Sec. 30-742 |
| Driveway/on-site traffic directional sign | 4 ft | 8 sf | — | — | 1 per driveway | Permitted only for developments with more than 12 dwelling units | — | Table 30-742.A; Sec. 30-742 |
| Yard Signs (on private property for temporary sale events) | 4 ft | 6 sf | — | — | 1 per street frontage of the property | On private property; 1 per street frontage | — | Table 30-721.A; Sec. 30-721(2)(a); Sec. 30-750 |
| Yard Signs (for sale/lease/rental) | 4 ft | 6 sf (on lots <2 acres); 24 sf (on lots >=2 acres) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On residential property offered for sale/lease/rental | — | Table 30-721.A; Sec. 30-721(2)(b), Sec. 30-750 |

### Commercial Zoning Districts (C-1, C-2), Mixed Use Zoning Districts (RMU), Form-Based Code Zoning Districts (FBC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | Awning shall not extend above eave line | 25% of surface area of awning, including all valances | — | Minimum 2 ft from edge of awning to curb | N/A | Limited to building frontages on ground floor | — | Table 30-743.A; Sec. 30-743, 30-746(a) |
| Canopy Sign | 24 inches (from lowest point on sign) | 25% of surface area of canopy | — | Minimum 2 ft from edge of canopy to curb | Single Tenant: 1 per building frontage; Multiple Tenant: 1 per tenant space | Limited to building frontages on ground floor | — | Table 30-743.A; Sec. 30-743, 30-746(b) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft (includes decorative base and cap) | 45 sf | — | Minimum 5 ft from any property line; see above for other spacing | 1 for each 200 ft of street frontage | As near to middle of street frontage or at major driveway entrance | — | Table 30-743.A; Sec. 30-743, 30-746(d) |
| Pylon Sign | 25 ft (includes decorative base and cap) | 100 sf | — | Minimum 5 ft from any property line; see spacing above | Single Tenant: 1 per street frontage with min 165 ft street frontage; Multiple Tenant: 1 per street frontage. Street frontages of 300 ft or greater may have a second pylon sign. | As near to the middle of street frontage or major driveway entrance; see Additional Requirements | — | Table 30-743.A; Sec. 30-743, 30-746(e) |
| Wall Sign (Business frontage < 100 ft) | Shall not extend above eave line | 1 sf per lineal foot (max 100 sf) | — | — | 1 primary wall sign per business frontage | Flat against the wall; cannot project more than 12 in. | — | Table 30-743.A; Sec. 30-743, 30-746(f) |
| Wall Sign (Business frontage ≥ 100 ft) | Shall not extend above eave line | 1 sf per lineal foot (max 150 sf combined); secondary ≤40% of total | — | — | 1 primary wall sign + 2 secondary wall signs per business frontage | Flat against the wall; cannot project more than 12 in. | — | Table 30-743.A; Sec. 30-743, 30-746(f) |
| Freeway Sign (Buildings < 250,000 sf) | 50 ft (includes decorative base and cap; up to 75 ft w/ city flag test) | 150 sf | — | Minimum 5 ft from any property line | 1 per parcel (min 800 ft freeway frontage) | For parcels with min 800 ft freeway frontage; within 400 ft of freeway right-of-way | — | Table 30-743.A; Sec. 30-743, 30-746(c) |
| Freeway Sign (Buildings ≥ 250,000 sf) | 50 ft (includes decorative base and cap; up to 75 ft w/ city flag test) | 300 sf | — | Minimum 5 ft from any property line | 1 per parcel (min 800 ft freeway frontage) | For parcels with min 800 ft freeway frontage; within 400 ft of freeway right-of-way | — | Table 30-743.A; Sec. 30-743, 30-746(c) |

### Industrial Zoning Districts (M-1, M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | Awning shall not extend above eave line | 25% of surface area of the awning, including all valances | — | Minimum 2 ft from edge of awning to curb | N/A | Limited to building frontages on ground floor | — | Table 30-744.A; Sec. 30-744, 30-746(a) |
| Canopy Sign | 24 in. (from lowest point on sign) | 25% of surface area of canopy | — | Minimum 2 ft from edge of canopy to curb | 1 per building frontage | Limited to building frontages on ground floor | — | Table 30-744.A; Sec. 30-744, 30-746(b) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft (includes decorative base and cap) | 1 sf per lineal foot (max 60 sf) | — | Minimum 5 ft from any property line; see other spacing requirements above | 1 for each 200 ft of street frontage | As near to the middle of the street frontage or at major driveway entrance | — | Table 30-744.A; Sec. 30-744, 30-746(d) |
| Pylon Sign | 25 ft (includes decorative base and cap) | 100 sf | — | Minimum 5 ft from any property line; see other spacing requirements | Single Tenant: 1 per street frontage with min 165 ft street frontage; Multiple Tenant: 1 per street frontage; street frontages of 600 ft or greater may have a second pylon sign | As near to the middle of the street frontage or at major driveway entrance | — | Table 30-744.A; Sec. 30-744, 30-746(e) |
| Wall Sign (Street Facing) | Shall not be displayed above second story and shall not extend above eave line | 2 sf per lineal foot (max 200 sf) | — | — | One per street frontage and/or at public entrance facing parking lot | Street facing; or at public entrance facing parking lot | — | Table 30-744.A; Sec. 30-744, 30-746(f) |
| Wall Sign (Service and Delivery Entrances) | Shall not be displayed above second story and shall not extend above eave line | 10 sf | — | — | 1 per service or delivery entrance | Within 10 ft of delivery entrance | — | Table 30-744.A; Sec. 30-744, 30-746(f) |
| Freeway Sign (Buildings < 250,000 sf) | 50 ft (includes decorative base and cap; up to 75 ft w/ city flag test) | 150 sf | — | Min 5 ft from property line | 1 per parcel (min 800 ft freeway frontage) | Min 800 ft freeway frontage; within 400 ft of freeway right-of-way | — | Table 30-744.A; Sec. 30-744, 30-746(c) |
| Freeway Sign (Buildings ≥ 250,000 sf) | 50 ft (includes decorative base and cap; up to 75 ft w/ city flag test) | 300 sf | — | Min 5 ft from property line | 1 per parcel (min 800 ft freeway frontage) | Min 800 ft freeway frontage; within 400 ft of freeway right-of-way | — | Table 30-744.A; Sec. 30-744, 30-746(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Fontana

- Sign types not expressly permitted are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Exposed raceways are prohibited.
- General advertising signs (billboards) are prohibited except as provided by Division 8.
- Illegal signs are prohibited.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Portable (A-frame) signs and projecting signs are prohibited except as permitted by Table No. 30-721.A within the downtown boundary.
- Roof signs are prohibited except as permitted for roof signs on mansard roofs where no other usable sign area is available.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited.
- Signs may not be placed on public property except as required or authorized by a governmental agency, and except as permitted by Division 8 and Division 9.
- Signs may not be attached to trees.
- Signs may not be placed on any private property without the permission of the property owner.
- Signs may not be located so as to interfere with building access, including ingress and egress or emergency exit routes, interfere with pedestrian movement within the public right-of-way, and/or block view of traffic control devices.
- Signs containing lighting devices with intermittent, flashing, blinking, or varying intensity or light or color where the message is displayed for fewer than eight seconds before changing to another message are prohibited.
- Signs that simulate in color or design a traffic sign or signal, or which make use of words, symbols, or characters to interfere with, mislead, or confuse pedestrian or vehicular traffic are prohibited.
- Signs which emit sound, odor, or smoke are prohibited.
- Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
- Private parties may not display or post signs on public property or in the public right-of-way except as expressly allowed.
- Signs may not be placed in public right-of-way except as provided by Division 9.
- Any sign posted on public property or the public right-of-way in violation of the article is declared to be a trespass and a public nuisance, may be summarily removed, and responsible parties may be charged for removal costs.
- Reflective materials shall not be included on signs.
- All permanent signs must be firmly anchored and comply with all safety codes and requirements.
- Nonconforming signs shall not be changed to another nonconforming sign, altered unless to reduce/eliminate nonconformity, enlarged, or moved/replaced unless required by the City.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fontana

- Commemorative signs installed by the City or recognized historical organizations not larger than six square feet, or signs authorized and installed by government agencies on public lands are exempt from design review sign requirements.
- Equipment signs incorporated into allowed displays, machinery, or equipment by a manufacturer, distributor, or vendor and identifying or advertising only the product or service dispensed by the machine or equipment are exempt from design review sign requirements.
- Interior graphics or signage within a structure not visible from any public right-of-way or publicly accessible area are exempt from design review sign requirements.
- Any permitted sign may substitute any commercial message or constitutionally protected noncommercial message without additional approval or permitting, as long as it complies with applicable requirements.
- Devices excluded from the definition of a 'sign' (see Section 30-783) are exempt.
- Official non-internally illuminated (unless required by law) notices, signs, or postings required or installed by government agencies for public health/safety, legal notices, traffic/parking signs, address numerals, and similar are exempt from design review sign requirements.
- Certain types of signs with limitations (see Table No. 30-721.A) are exempt from design review sign requirements if they meet specified size, height, duration, and other requirements; otherwise, design review is required.
- Traffic control and directional signs erected by government agencies, official notices required by law, signs placed by the City, and signs with an encroachment permit from the City of Fontana are exempt from the general ban on private party signs on public property.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Design review sign applications are required for specific sign types in compliance with Division 4.
- A design review permanent sign approval is required to erect, move, alter, replace, suspend, display, or attach a permanent sign (general sign, freeway sign, and electronic message sign), unless exempted.
- A design review temporary sign approval is required to erect, move, alter, replace, suspend, display, or attach a temporary sign, unless exempted.
- A design review creative sign (minor) application may be submitted for permanent signs exhibiting extraordinary aesthetic quality, creativity, or innovation in specified areas.
- A design review creative sign (PC) application may be requested for on-site permanent creative signs in specified areas and allows for greater deviation from standards when approved by the Planning Commission.
- Comprehensive sign program applications (design review sign programs) are allowed for new or existing shopping centers with a site area of six acres or more, mixed-use or commercially zoned properties, or properties with frontage on specified major streets.
- Sign programs require Planning Commission approval and must specify site plans, total sign area, individual sign areas, maximum number and height, lighting, construction materials, and sign dimensions.
- A sign variance application, including a public hearing by the Planning Commission, is required if a deviation from sign standards is requested due to unique hardship and must meet specified findings.
- A design review sign application is required subsequent to City Council approval of a general advertising sign (billboard) relocation agreement.
- Design review sign applications for signs on public property (e.g., bus shelters) must be approved before construction of general advertising signs on public property proceeds.
- An encroachment permit is required for any sign that proposes to project into the public right-of-way or onto public property.

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

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