# Sign Regulations in Fullerton, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fullerton, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/fullerton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-03
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/fullerton/latest/fullerton_ca/0-0-0-10569)

## At a glance

Fullerton, California regulates 31 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Pole Signs in the Central Business District (C-3) zoning district are capped at 37 feet tall and 200 square feet, with a Variable setback affects size and height bonus setback (Sec. 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020). Most commercial signs in Fullerton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 10 feet | 35 square feet | — |
| Central Business District (C-3) | 12 | 50 feet | 250 square feet | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Zone Classifications (C-G, G-C, C-M, M-P, M-G) | 19 | 50 feet | 250 square feet | — |
| Office-Professional Zone Classification (O-P) | 11 | 50 feet | 250 square feet | — |
| Residential Zone Classification (R-1, R-1P, PRD, PRD-I, R-2, R-2P, R-G, R-3R, R-3P, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-MH) | 6 | 15 feet | 30 square feet total for all signs | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Central Business District (C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign | 37 feet | 200 square feet | — | Variable setback affects size and height bonus | 1 per 300 feet of frontage | Along an arterial highway | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 200 square feet | — | Variable setback affects size bonus | 1 per 300 feet of frontage | Along a public street | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Building Sign | Cannot extend above roof line or parapet | — | — | — | Unlimited | Attached to or projecting from building wall | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Projecting Sign | Cannot extend above roof line; minimum 8 feet above public sidewalk or 12 feet above grade if no sidewalk or extends more than 2/3 distance from property line to curb | — | — | — | Unlimited | Projects perpendicular from building wall | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Freeway Sign | 50 feet | 250 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property with frontage along freeway right-of-way, viewed from freeway | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Roof Sign | 10 feet above highest point of roof line plus 1 foot for every foot of building height over 10 feet, maximum 20 feet | — | — | — | 1 | Attached to roof or projecting through roof | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| On-Site Directional Sign | 10 feet | 15 square feet | — | — | Unlimited | On-site | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Real Estate For Sale or Lease Sign | 15 feet | Unspecified | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-site | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |

### Commercial and Industrial Zone Classifications (C-G, G-C, C-M, M-P, M-G)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Service Station Pole Identification Sign | 20 feet from street grade | 50 square feet, two faces maximum | — | — | 1 | Within the corner radius landscaped area | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Service Station Monument Identification Sign | 6 feet from average grade at base, no higher than 8 feet from street grade | 50 square feet, two faces maximum | — | — | 1 | Within the corner radius landscaped area | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Service Station Fuel Pricing Sign | 6 feet if monument-type; unspecified if pole-mounted | 20 square feet, two faces maximum | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Along street frontage in approved landscape area | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Pole Sign | 37 feet | 200 square feet | — | Variable setback affects size and height bonus | 1 per 300 feet of frontage | Along an arterial highway | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 200 square feet | — | Variable setback affects size bonus | 1 per 300 feet of frontage | Along a public street | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Freeway Sign | 50 feet | 250 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property with frontage along freeway right-of-way, viewed from freeway | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| On-Site Directional Sign | 10 feet | 15 square feet | — | — | Unlimited | On-site | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Real Estate For Sale or Lease Sign | 15 feet | Unspecified | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-site | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |

### Office-Professional Zone Classification (O-P)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign | 10 feet | 50 square feet | — | At least 3 feet from property line | 1 per 300 feet of frontage | Along an arterial highway | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — | At least 3 feet from property line | 1 per 300 feet of frontage | Along a public street | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Building Sign | Cannot extend above roof line or parapet | — | — | — | Unlimited | Attached to or projecting from building wall | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Projecting Sign | Cannot extend above roof line; minimum 8 feet above public sidewalk or 12 feet above grade if no sidewalk or extends more than 2/3 distance from property line to curb | — | — | — | Unlimited | Projects perpendicular from building wall | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Freeway Sign | 50 feet | 250 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property with frontage along freeway right-of-way, viewed from freeway | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Roof Sign | 10 feet above highest point of roof line plus 1 foot for every foot of building height over 10 feet, maximum 20 feet | — | — | — | 1 | Attached to roof or projecting through roof | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| On-Site Directional Sign | 10 feet | 15 square feet | — | — | Unlimited | On-site | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |
| Real Estate For Sale or Lease Sign | 15 feet | Unspecified | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-site | — | 15.49.020 Table 15.49.020 |

## Prohibited signs in Fullerton

- Any sign that confuses traffic such as any advertising sign visible from any street that makes use of the words "STOP," "GO," "LOOK," "DANGER," and any sign that may momentarily or otherwise blind or substantially impair the vision of an operator of a motor vehicle upon any street or otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard.
- Any off-site advertising, including a billboard, or Mobile Billboard, except as provided herein for an off-site directional sign or a Freeway-Oriented Electronic Billboard pursuant to Section 15.49.120.
- A rotating sign.
- A portable sign on any property, except A-frame signs within the Central Business District. A-frame signs located within the Central Business District shall conform to adopted design criteria and shall be permitted by a special sign encroachment permit.
- Any inflatable device and sign designed to be flown, including balloons, strings of balloons, kites, and aerial signs.
- A flashing sign shall be prohibited unless approved by a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to Chapter 15.70 of this title.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fullerton

- Name plates or occupational signs not exceeding two square feet in area, containing only the name and occupation or profession of the occupants of the premises on which the sign is displayed.
- Bulletin boards or identification signs not exceeding 35 square feet in area and not exceeding ten feet in height on the premises of public, charitable or religious institutions.
- A sign relating to or identifying construction projects, during the construction period.
- Memorial signs or tablets.
- Signs located inside a building, except where the sign is painted on an exterior window or door, or so placed as to be viewed primarily from outside a building.
- Traffic, governmental and public utility signs required or authorized by law.
- Legal notices.
- Railroad crossing signs.
- A sign relating to or identifying a function sponsored by a public agency or non-profit organization, provided that the sign is not installed any earlier than 30 days prior to the event and is removed within three days after the event.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs proposed for a commercial or industrial property with multiple tenants shall be governed by Table 15.49.020 and by any sign program that has been submitted and approved by the Director of Community and Economic Development, whichever is the more restrictive.
- The Planning Commission shall have authority to grant a Variance from the design standards specified within this chapter when, because of special circumstances, the compliance with said provisions would deprive the property owner or tenant of privileges commonly enjoyed by other properties in the same vicinity and zone. In order for the Planning Commission to grant a Variance, the applicant must meet the requirements of state law pursuant to Chapter 15.68 of this title.
- A flashing sign shall be prohibited unless approved by a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to Chapter 15.70 of this title.
- Freeway-oriented electronic billboards shall be subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit and a Development Agreement.
- Off-site directional signs require approval of a Conditional Use Permit.
- Additional size or height for freeway signs requires the approval of a Conditional Use Permit.
- A flashing readerboard sign requires the approval of a Conditional Use Permit.

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

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