# Sign Regulations in Glendale, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Glendale, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/glendale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43351069#43351069)

## At a glance

Glendale, California regulates 16 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Accessory Ground Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft in C1 and East Broadway district of DSP; 8 ft in C2; 25 ft in other zones tall, 40 sq ft in C1 and East Broadway district of DSP; 75 sq ft in C2; 200 sq ft in other zones, and 20 ft wide, with a 25 ft from intersection property lines setback (Sec. § 30.33.140.A-G).

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 17 ft above ground if projecting over traffic way | 100 sq ft; 300 sq ft for theaters | — |
| Cemetery Overlay Zone (CEM) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial District (C1, C2, C3, CH, CA) | 3 | 17 ft above ground if projecting over traffic way | 40 sq ft in C1; 75 sq ft in C2; 200 sq ft in other zones | — |
| Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) | 3 | 17 ft above ground if projecting over traffic way | 40 sq ft in East Broadway district; 75 sq ft in C2; 200 sq ft in other zones | — |
| Transit Oriented Development (TOD) | 3 | 17 ft above ground if projecting over traffic way | 40 sq ft in East Broadway district; 75 sq ft in C2; 200 sq ft in other zones | — |
| Industrial District (IND) | 2 | 17 ft above ground if projecting over traffic way | 40 sq ft in C1; 75 sq ft in C2; 200 sq ft in other zones | — |
| Integrated Mixed Use (IMU, IMU-R) | 2 | 17 ft above ground if projecting over traffic way | 40 sq ft in C1; 75 sq ft in C2; 200 sq ft in other zones | — |
| Single Family Mixed Use (SFMU) | 2 | 17 ft above ground if projecting over traffic way | 40 sq ft in C1; 75 sq ft in C2; 200 sq ft in other zones | — |
| Medical Service (MS) | 3 | 17 ft above ground if projecting over traffic way | 40 sq ft in C1; 75 sq ft in C2; 200 sq ft in other zones | — |
| Commercial Retail (CR) | 2 | 17 ft above ground if projecting over traffic way | 40 sq ft in C1; 75 sq ft in C2; 200 sq ft in other zones | — |
| East Broadway District of the DSP | 1 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Colorado Street and Glendale Avenue frontages of the East Broadway district | 1 | 25 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Advertising Sign Overlay Zone (ASOZ) | 6 | 16 ft | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 17 ft above ground if projecting over traffic way | 20 sq ft minimum | — | — | One per wall facing a dedicated street, alley, mall, or parking area | Attached to building walls with vertical plane angle < 20 degrees | — | § 30.33.120.A.1-7 |
| Accessory Ground Sign | 6 ft in C1 and East Broadway district of DSP; 8 ft in C2; 25 ft in other zones | 40 sq ft in C1 and East Broadway district of DSP; 75 sq ft in C2; 200 sq ft in other zones | 20 ft | 25 ft from intersection property lines | One per dedicated street frontage, max two per lot | Not nearer the street than the building setback line | — | § 30.33.140.A-G |
| Marquee Sign | 2 ft above canopy or marquee | 100 sq ft; 300 sq ft for theaters | — | — | One per ground floor occupancy | Attached to marquees or canopies with vertical plane angle < 20 degrees | — | § 30.33.160.A-F |
| Under-Marquee Sign | 2 ft; clearance not less than 8 ft above grade | 6 sq ft | 6 inches thickness | — | One per ground floor entrance | Under a marquee | — | § 30.33.170.A-F |
| Projecting Sign | Minimum clearance of 8 ft | 6 sq ft; 12 sq ft in IMU-R, SFMU, TOD, DSP zones | 6 inches thickness; 12 inches in IMU-R, SFMU, TOD, DSP zones | — | One per ground floor occupancy | Attached to building | — | § 30.33.180.A.1-6 |
| Directional and Informational Sign | 3 ft above ground; 9 ft for gas stations | 4 sq ft; 8 sq ft per pump island for gas stations | — | — | Two informational per entrance; one directional per entrance/exit | On pump island or perimeter of site | — | § 30.33.190.A-F |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft for residential real estate; 12 ft for construction, commercial, industrial real estate | 6 sq ft for residential real estate; 32 sq ft for construction, commercial, industrial real estate | — | — | One per street frontage | On-site | — | § 30.33.200.A-B |
| Awning Sign | 1 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per awning | On awning | — | § 30.33.210.A.1-5 |

### Commercial District (C1, C2, C3, CH, CA)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Wall Sign | 17 ft above ground if projecting over traffic way | 20 sq ft minimum | — | — | One per wall facing a dedicated street, alley, mall, or parking area | Attached to building walls with vertical plane angle < 20 degrees | — | § 30.33.120.A.1-7 |
| High Rise Wall Sign | Not lower than the sixth story | — | — | — | Not more than one per wall | At or above the sixth floor | — | § 30.33.130.A-F |
| Accessory Ground Sign | 6 ft in C1; 8 ft in C2; 25 ft in other zones | 40 sq ft in C1; 75 sq ft in C2; 200 sq ft in other zones | 20 ft | 25 ft from intersection property lines | One per dedicated street frontage, max two per lot | Not nearer the street than the building setback line | — | § 30.33.140.A-G |

### Advertising Sign Overlay Zone (ASOZ)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Installed parallel to the face of the building | — | § 30.26.050.C |
| Animated Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Wall, freestanding, or marquee signs | — | § 30.26.050.D |
| Banner Sign | 16 ft | — | 3 ft | — | — | — | — | § 30.26.050.E |
| Ground Sign | 16 ft | — | 3 ft | — | — | May be located in public right-of-way | — | § 30.26.050.F |
| Marquee Sign | 13 ft above canopy | — | 2 ft | — | — | May be located in public right-of-way | — | § 30.26.050.G |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | — | 5 ft | — | — | Only on private property | — | § 30.26.050.H |

## Prohibited signs in Glendale

- Animated signs, except as permitted as an approved creative sign or as permitted in Chapter 30.26.
- Wind signs, except as permitted as an approved creative sign.
- String lights, other than holiday decorations displayed between November 1st and January 15th, used in connection with a commercial premises for commercial purposes.
- Banners, flags and pennants, except as permitted as an approved creative sign or as permitted in Chapter 30.26.
- Signs erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision.
- Portable signs, except pedestrian signs as defined herein.
- Signs made of material not permitted or prescribed for the intended use under the building code.
- Signs and/or sign structures other than those permitted by Section 30.33.040 or as posted in Chapter 30.26 that are posted, painted, printed, nailed, tacked, erected, placed, fastened, maintained or otherwise affixed upon or over any public street or public property within the city.
- Signs that are posted, painted, printed, nailed, tacked, erected, placed, fastened or otherwise affixed upon any private property without the written consent of the owner.
- Signs that are erected or maintained in such a manner that any portion of their surfaces or support will interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape, exit, stairway or fire equipment or obstruct any required ventilator, door or stairway.
- Signs for home occupations.
- Roof signs, except as permitted as an approved creative sign.
- Signs which do not have lawful clearance from existing overhead electric conductors.
- Non-accessory signs and sign structures, except as permitted in Chapter 30.26.

## Signs exempt from permit in Glendale

- Temporary signs other than temporary banners.
- Identification signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
- The changeable copy such as is found on theater marquees and similar changeable copy signs.
- Non-illuminated window signs.
- Accessory signs located more than 100 feet from the property line at the street and on which the lettered or pictorial matter thereon is directed primarily to persons on the premises and is not visible by the public from off the premises.
- Political campaign signs.
- Pump top signs at gas stations.
- Changes to non-temporary banners for vehicle sales, leasing and rental agencies in the CA zone, other than size and location, after the initial sign permits are issued for those banners.
- Outdoor vending machine signs which are integrated into the machine.
- Signs for carts.
- Residential noncommercial signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign programs shall be required for lots or sites where new nonresidential buildings or additions of nonresidential floor area are approved for construction after July 25, 2000 and where there are at least two separate nonresidential occupancies on the lot or site.
- Sign programs shall be required for lots or sites where new nonresidential occupancies are proposed for buildings approved for construction after July 25, 2000.
- Sign programs shall be required for lots or sites for proposed alternative accessory wall signs pursuant to Section 30.33.120(D).

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

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