# Sign Regulations in Fremont, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fremont, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/fremont
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-03
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/CA/Fremont/#!/Fremont18/Fremont18.html)

## At a glance

Fremont, California regulates 18 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Signs in the Transit Neighborhood Zone (TN) zoning district are capped at 6 ft, or 8 ft with minimum 18-inch high decorative base tall and 0.5 x SF, max 130 sq ft, with a 3' from street, 5' from other property lines setback (Sec. 18.193.550 (City Center and Downtown), 18.193.490(a)). Most commercial signs in Fremont require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Transit Neighborhood Zone (TN) | 7 | Flag pole: up to allowed building height in TN zone (~145 ft, see building regulations) | No more than 20% of window area | — |
| Urban Office Zone (UO) | 7 | Flag pole: up to allowed building height (UO: 120 ft max per 18.43.100, but higher per code for architectural elements) | No more than 20% of window area | — |
| Urban Neighborhood Zone (UN) | 7 | Flag pole up to allowed building height (UN: 75 ft, 110 ft for architectural element per 18.43.110) | Up to 20% of window area | — |
| Commercial  Office District (C-O), Commercial  Neighborhood District (C-N), Commercial  General District (C-G), Commercial  Regional District (C-R), Mixed-Use District (MX), Town Center  Pedestrian District (TC-P), Town Center  Transitional District (TC-T) | 6 | Flag pole up to allowed building height (see Table 18.45.020 for specific zone max) | Up to 20% of window area | — |
| Service and Tech Industrial, Innovation Center, General Industrial, Industrial Sites with Freeway Frontage | 4 | See 18.193.640; Freeway-oriented: up to 72' high, 50' wide, 20' deep (parallel to freeway) | Under 1 acre: 45 sq ft; 1-10 acres: 72 sq ft; over 10 acres: 150 sq ft (one side per frontage) | — |
| Open Space Land Use Designation | 4 | 8 ft above grade | 130 sq ft | — |
| Residential Land Use Designation | 4 | Pole max 30 ft above grade | 60 sq ft per building, 130 sq ft per complex | — |
| Downtown District, Centerville Town Center, Irvington Town Center, Mission San Jose Town Center, Niles Town Center, Warm Springs Town Center | 6 | 12 ft | Up to 20% of window area | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | If freestanding: 6 ft; construction sites: 8 ft | 64 sq ft (max 25% of BPA) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Transit Neighborhood Zone (TN)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Cannot extend higher than the building wall; not on roof/mansard | 1.3 x BF, max 200 sq ft | 75% of wall length to which the sign is attached | — | 1 per tenant space/frontage; bonus sign for buildings with 3+ stories, 1 additional sign on top floor | Flat against building wall; 1 per tenant or building frontage | — | 18.193.550, Table 18.193.550 (City Center and Downtown), 18.193.490(b); 18.43.090 (building placement, physical character, signage notes) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 6 ft, or 8 ft with minimum 18-inch high decorative base | 0.5 x SF, max 130 sq ft | — | 3' from street, 5' from other property lines | 1 per building frontage | Setback at least 3 ft from street frontage line and at least 5 ft from other property lines; 1 per building frontage; not transferable between frontages | — | 18.193.550 (City Center and Downtown), 18.193.490(a) |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | 12 feet | — | — | — | — | On vertical edges of awning/canopy | — | 18.193.550 (City Center and Downtown), 18.193.490(c) |
| Projecting or Suspended (Blade) Sign | — | Max 9 sq ft per face (projecting sign); Max 3 sq ft per face (suspended/blade) | — | — | One projecting or blade sign per tenant | One per tenant; projecting sign permitted if per master sign program; suspended sign must be under awning/canopy/covered walkway | — | 18.193.550 (City Center and Downtown), 18.193.490(d), (e) |
| Marquee Sign or Digital Sign (Assembly Use Only) | 4 ft vertical dimension (or up to 6 ft for theaters/convention centers w/MSP) | Per master sign program and BPA | — | — | 1 per site | One per site, only for assembly venues (theater, convention hall, etc.) | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(f) |
| Window Sign - Permanent (Business) | Not above 2nd story | No more than 20% of window area | — | — | — | Painted or adhered inside or outside the window | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(g) |
| Flag | Flag pole: up to allowed building height in TN zone (~145 ft, see building regulations) | Lots under 1 acre: 45 sq ft; 1-10 acres: 72 sq ft; over 10 acres: 150 sq ft (per street frontage, measured one side) | — | — | Max 3 flag poles per frontage | One flag pole per 30 ft of street frontage, up to 3 poles per frontage | — | 18.193.500 |

### Urban Office Zone (UO)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Cannot extend higher than the building wall; not on roof/mansard | 1.3 x BF, max 200 sq ft | 75% of wall length | — | 1 per tenant space/frontage; bonus sign for buildings with 3+ stories (top floor) | Flat against building wall; 1 per tenant or building frontage; multi-story: 1 extra for top floor with 3+ floors | — | 18.193.550 (City Center and Downtown), 18.193.490(b); 18.43.100 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 6 ft, or 8 ft with 18-inch high decorative base | 0.5 x SF, max 130 sq ft | — | 3' from street, 5' from other property lines | 1 per building frontage | Setback 3' from street; 5' from other property lines; 1 per building frontage | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(a) |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | 12 feet | — | — | — | — | On vertical edges of awning/canopy | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(c) |
| Projecting or Suspended (Blade) Sign | — | Projecting: max 9 sq ft per face; Suspended/Blade: max 3 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per tenant | One per tenant or building frontage; projecting sign via master sign program; blade/suspended under awning/canopy/covered walkway | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(d), (e) |
| Marquee Sign or Digital Sign (Assembly Use Only) | 4 ft (up to 6 ft for theaters per MSP) | Per master sign program, BPA applies | — | — | 1 per site | One per site, only for assembly venues (theater, convention hall, etc.) | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(f) |
| Window Sign - Permanent (Business) | Not above 2nd story | No more than 20% of window area | — | — | — | Painted/adhered inside/outside window | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(g) |
| Flag | Flag pole: up to allowed building height (UO: 120 ft max per 18.43.100, but higher per code for architectural elements) | Lots under 1 acre: 45 sq ft, 1-10 acres: 72 sq ft, over 10 acres: 150 sq ft (measured one side per frontage) | — | — | Max 3 flag poles per frontage | Max 3 flag poles per street frontage | — | 18.193.500 |

### Urban Neighborhood Zone (UN)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Cannot extend higher than the building wall; not on roof/mansard | 1.3 x BF, max 200 sq ft | 75% of wall length | — | 1 per tenant space/frontage; bonus sign for buildings with 3+ stories (top floor) | Flat against building wall; 1 per tenant or building frontage; multi-story: extra sign for top floor (3+ floors) | — | 18.193.550 (City Center and Downtown), 18.193.490(b); 18.43.110 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 6 ft, or 8 ft with 18 inch base | 0.5 x SF, max 130 sq ft | — | 3' from street, 5' from other property lines | 1 per building frontage | Setback at least 3' from street and 5' from other property lines; 1 per building frontage | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(a) |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | 12 feet | — | — | — | — | On vertical edges of awning/canopy | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(c) |
| Projecting or Suspended (Blade) Sign | — | Projecting: 9 sq ft per face; suspended/blade: 3 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per tenant | One per tenant/building frontage; projecting sign via master sign program; blade sign under awning/canopy; min 8' clearance above sidewalk | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(d, e) |
| Marquee or Digital Sign (Assembly Use Only) | 4 ft (up to 6 ft for theaters per MSP) | Per master sign program, within BPA | — | — | 1 per site | Only for assembly uses/theaters, 1 per site | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(f) |
| Window Sign - Permanent (Business) | Not above 2nd story | Up to 20% of window area | — | — | — | Painted or adhered on window | — | 18.193.550, 18.193.490(g) |
| Flag | Flag pole up to allowed building height (UN: 75 ft, 110 ft for architectural element per 18.43.110) | Under 1 acre: 45 sq ft; 1-10 acres: 72 sq ft; over 10 acres: 150 sq ft per street frontage (one side) | — | — | Up to 3 flag poles per street frontage | Up to 3 poles per street frontage | — | 18.193.500, 18.43.110 |

## Prohibited signs in Fremont

- No wall-mounted digital signs, A-frames, bunting, pennants, balloons, commercial mascots, portable signs, hand-held signs and other similar devices are allowed (18.193.190(a)).
- No new billboards or billboard vehicles may be constructed, erected, or used, and billboard vehicles are prohibited on city streets or public parking spaces (18.193.190(b)).
- Billboards as defined are prohibited on city property (18.194.130(a)).
- Signs may not be placed in median strips or islands, on retaining walls, bridges, benches, traffic signals, poles or utility equipment, street lighting, or utility poles or on traffic signs, poles, guy wires, or terrain (18.193.410).
- No sign shall be affixed to or cut into any tree or other living vegetation; terrain signs (cut, burned, marked on cliffs or hillsides) are prohibited except for the existing Niles hillside sign (18.193.410(b)-(c)).
- No sign may block or impede normal pedestrian use of sidewalks; at least 4 feet of sidewalk width must be maintained (18.193.360).
- No sign may constitute a safety hazard, impede public use of the right-of-way, or obstruct vision at intersections (18.193.350, 18.193.370).
- No sign may be configured to be confused with traffic signs or signals (18.193.380).
- No sign may emit any sound, smoke, or vapors (18.193.420).
- Flashing or blinking signs, signs with varying intensity of light or color, are not allowed (18.193.430(a)).
- Light sources for signage must be concealed or shielded, must not cause glare or annoyance, and must not spill onto adjacent properties (18.193.430(b)-(c)).
- Signs in residential land use designations may not display general advertising for hire, messages outside First Amendment protection, be illuminated (with specific exceptions), be animated, or contain commercial messages except real estate and garage sale signs (18.193.730).
- Off-site commercial and general advertising for hire message types are prohibited in open space land use designations; illuminated and freestanding pole signs are also prohibited (18.193.680).
- No sign may be placed, mounted, or erected in a way which obstructs the use of any door, window, or fire escape (18.193.390).
- No permanent sign shall be erected without a permit unless specifically exempted (18.193.110).

## Signs exempt from permit in Fremont

- Signs required by law or governmental order, rule, or regulation, with a total surface area not exceeding 10 square feet per lot or parcel unless a larger size is required by law, are exempt from sign permit requirements (18.193.200(b)).
- Various devices and objects not considered signs under the definitions (18.25.2600(kkk)) are exempt from sign permit requirements (18.193.200(a)).
- Signs which cannot be seen from a public street or adjacent properties (e.g., within a ball park or similar private recreation use) are exempt (18.193.200(c)).
- On-site advisory and warning signs less than two square feet in area unless required to be larger by state or federal law (18.193.200(e)).
- Development review courtesy notices required by the city on property under development review (18.193.200(f)).
- Real estate open house signs that comply with specific regulations are exempt (18.193.200(g), 18.194.120(d)).
- Governmental traffic control and official governmental signs are exempt on city property (18.194.120(a)).
- Permanent signs on city property erected in the past in conformance with then-applicable laws (i.e. legal nonconforming) may remain if maintained and not expanded or moved (18.194.120(b)).
- Private party signs located on city property pursuant to a lease or contract (18.194.120(c)).
- Personally held or attended noncommercial message signs in traditional public forum areas during approved hours (18.194.140) do not require a permit, if they are held or attended, not inflatable, do not produce smoke, noise, glare or fumes, and do not block pedestrian/vehicular access.
- Address indicators and warning signs for residential buildings are exempt (Table 18.193.700).
- Signs containing maps that identify unit locations within multi-unit residential developments are exempt (Table 18.193.700).
- Holiday and cultural observance decorations on private residential property, on display in season for not more than 45 days per year and not including commercial messages (18.25.2600(kkk)(8)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program is required for multi-tenant buildings to allocate sign location and appearances among tenants, and must address future tenant changes (18.193.580, 18.193.630).
- Master sign programs allow exceptions from some standard numerical regulations (e.g., number, area, height, placement), but may not permit sign types that are otherwise expressly prohibited (18.193.740).
- Master sign programs are to be reviewed and approved by the zoning administrator and require specific findings such as compatibility with building architecture, other signs, and proportionality (18.193.760).
- Applications for a master sign program must include maps, elevations of buildings, and details about both proposed and existing signs (18.193.750).
- Signs such as marquees, digital signs (for assembly use), certain signs in special districts, or for sites with multi-story buildings may be permitted only with an approved master sign program (see Table 18.193.550; 18.193.450 for digital signs).
- Neighborhood identification signs require master sign program approval (18.193.725).

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

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