# Sign Regulations in Hemet, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hemet, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/hemet
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Hemet/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH90ZO_ARTXXXVISIGE)

## At a glance

Hemet, California regulates 22 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Agricultural Use)s in the Residential Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 16 sq ft per sign (Sec. Sec. 90-1250(a)(1)). Most commercial signs in Hemet require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | Not to extend beyond top of wall or structure | Limited by building frontage; any lettering/identification limited to 6% of gross mural area or 100 sq ft, whichever is less | — |
| Residential Zones | 6 | 8 ft for freestanding | 100 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zones, C-1, C-2, C-M | 10 | 25 ft or height of the building, whichever is less | 200 sq ft | — |
| Church Zone (S-1), Public Institutional Zone (P-I), Residential Zones (church, public facility, or institutional uses) | 5 | 25 ft or the height of the building, whichever is less | 100 sq ft | — |
| Manufacturing Zones (M-1, M-2) | 5 | 25 ft or height of building, whichever is less | 100 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Zones (D-1, D-2) | 2 | — | 25% of each window pane (opaque materials) | — |
| Planned Community Development (PCD), Planned Development Overlay District (PUD), Specific Plan (SP) | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Agricultural Use) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per parcel | On each parcel in agricultural use | — | Sec. 90-1250(a)(1) |
| Nameplate (Dwelling) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per single-family dwelling | One per single-family dwelling unit | — | Sec. 90-1250(a)(2) |
| Identification Sign (Multiple-family, clubs, lodges) | 6 ft for freestanding | 32 sq ft total per separate street frontage | — | — | Total sign area per street frontage | On property used for multiple-family dwellings, clubs and lodges; one or more per street frontage (up to total) | — | Sec. 90-1250(a)(3) |
| Identification Sign (Office Uses) | 8 ft for freestanding | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Per frontage | — | Sec. 90-1250(a)(4) |
| Neighborhood/Community Identification Sign | 6 ft for freestanding | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per major street entrance | Each major street entrance to neighborhood/community | — | Sec. 90-1250(b) |
| Security Warning Sign | 6 ft for freestanding | 7 sq ft | — | — | 1 per major street entrance | At each major street entrance to neighborhood; may be in public right-of-way with encroachment permit | — | Sec. 90-1250(c) |

### Commercial Zones, C-1, C-2, C-M

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Signs (General) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Each business/building frontage | — | Sec. 90-1251(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft or height of the building, whichever is less | — | — | — | — | Lot frontage 60 ft or greater | — | Sec. 90-1251(3)(a) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 per commercial frontage | Setback areas; restrictions on corner/driveway visibility | — | Sec. 90-1251(3)(d) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business/tenant/public street frontage | Over public property: max 3 in/linear foot of building frontage; max 6 ft projection; 2 ft back from curbline; 20% increased projection on corner properties | — | Sec. 90-1251(3)(f) |
| Marquee/Under-canopy Sign | 1 ft | Not included in total sign area | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | Sec. 90-1251(3)(b) |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 20% of window area or 25 sq ft | — | — | — | Window | — | Sec. 90-1251(3)(e) |
| LED Display Board Sign (as part of Freestanding or Monument Sign) | — | — | — | — | 1 per commercial center | As part of freestanding sign (in commercial center with master sign program) or monument sign (for individual commercial pad) | — | Sec. 90-1251(3)(g) |
| Minor Identification Sign (Wall/Window) | — | In addition to other signage allowances | — | — | 1 per business | Wall or window | — | Sec. 90-1251(3)(c) |

### Church Zone (S-1), Public Institutional Zone (P-I), Residential Zones (church, public facility, or institutional uses)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Signs (General) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Each separate frontage | — | Sec. 90-1255(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft or the height of the building, whichever is less | — | — | — | — | Lot frontage 60 ft or greater | — | Sec. 90-1255(2)a-b |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 90-1255(2)b |
| Monument Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 90-1255(2)b |
| Bulletin Board Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 90-1255(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Hemet

- It is unlawful to place, erect, structurally or electrically alter, change any commercial message, move or display any temporary or permanent sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the department, except as expressly provided (Sec. 90-1244(a)).
- No sign may be located upon or project over a public right-of-way, except as specifically provided (Sec. 90-1247(a)(1)).
- No sign may extend above the eave line or parapet or the lowest point on the sloping roof of the building on which it is located. Roof signs may not extend above the highest point on the building. No wall sign may extend beyond or project above the vertical or horizontal line of any exterior wall or portion of the structure (Sec. 90-1247(a)(2)).
- Signs must not interfere with the unobstructed clear view of the public right-of-way and nearby traffic regulatory signs or any pedestrian, bicyclist or motor vehicle driver (Sec. 90-1247(a)(3)).
- No sign may be erected within six feet horizontally or 12 feet vertically of overhead electric conductors energized in excess of 750 volts (Sec. 90-1247(a)(5)).
- No sign over 42 inches in height may be erected at the intersection of any street or within 30 feet back from curb line intersections (Sec. 90-1247(a)(6)).
- All permanent signs must be constructed of durable materials and may not contain more than five colors (Sec. 90-1248(1)).
- Sign illumination must be shielded to minimize light spillage and avoid traffic hazards; no excessive glare (Sec. 90-1248(4)).
- Permanent signs may not have an exposed back (Sec. 90-1248(5)).
- All signs and their parts must be maintained in good repair and kept clean, painted, and free from rust/damage; failure to maintain can result in required repairs within 15 days following city notice (Sec. 90-1248(6)).
- Signs that no longer identify a place of business or occupancy must be removed or covered within 60 days; building/grounds must be repaired and restored within 30 days of sign removal (Sec. 90-1248(7)).
- The following signs are prohibited in all zones (Sec. 90-1280): Temporary signs, except as specifically permitted in sections 90-1245 and 90-1275; devices projecting/reproducing a sign’s image on any surface/object; general outdoor advertising signs (except legal nonconforming as permitted); inflatable signs (except balloons as specifically permitted); mobile signs; moving/flashing signs; off-site signs (except off-site directional real estate signs as permitted); portable commercial signs (except as specifically permitted); roof signs; signs that constitute a potential traffic hazard or obstruct authorized traffic signs or signals or resemble/conflict with traffic control signs; signs emitting sounds, odors or particulate matter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hemet

- Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public officer (Sec. 90-1242, definition of 'sign').
- Traffic, directional, warning or information signs authorized by federal, state or municipal authority (Sec. 90-1242, definition of 'sign').
- The official flag, emblem or insignia of a government, public school or religious group or agency (Sec. 90-1242, definition of 'sign').
- Memorial plaques or tablets, or cornerstones indicating the name of a building and date of construction, when cut or carved into masonry or made of bronze/incombustible material and integral to the building (Sec. 90-1242, definition of 'sign').
- Signs within a building (except for window signs permitted under subsection 90-1275(c)(4) and banners in automobile service bays per subsection 90-1275(c)(1)(g)(ii)) (Sec. 90-1242, definition of 'sign').
- Signs on public school property (Sec. 90-1242, definition of 'sign').
- Signs on street legal vehicles, license plates/frames, registration insignia (including noncommercial and certain business messages related to the use of the vehicle) when the vehicle is primarily used as an instrument/tool of the business and not mainly for advertising (Sec. 90-1242, definition of 'sign').
- The following sign types do not require a sign permit and their area is excluded from the maximum allowed sign area (Sec. 90-1245): Campaign signs, construction signs, hand-held noncommercial signs, incidental signs (max 2 sq ft per use/occupancy), minor identification signs, real estate signs, temporary freestanding noncommercial signs under 90-1275(a)(5), window signs, portable menu signs, promotional posters within permitted frames, temporary window signs under 90-1275.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Master sign program: Directional signs for multi-tenant commercial centers require approval through the amendment of an existing or creation of a new master sign program (Sec. 90-1249(1)(a)).
- Large scale development projects in Planned Community Development (PCD), Planned Development Overlay District (PUD), and Specific Plan (SP) zones may have uniform sign programs; such uniform sign programs take precedence over other standards (Sec. 90-1246(d)(1)).
- A group of three or more contiguous commercial uses occupying a site of less than five acres, or a group of three or more uses on common frontage, may (where appropriate) submit an overall integral sign theme (i.e., a special sign program); these programs must be approved by the director (Sec. 90-1246(d)(2)).
- Revisions or alterations to any previously approved sign program must be resubmitted and approved prior to the issuance of any permits (Sec. 90-1246(d)(2)).
- Modifications (up to 10% from standards for sign area, height, or setback) may be granted by the director on certain findings (Sec. 90-1246(d)(3)).
- Variances from sign standards may be granted by the planning commission following the variance procedures in Article II, Sec. 90-44 of Chapter 90 (Sec. 90-1246(d)(4)).
- Approval of an LED display board in a commercial center requires an approved master sign program pursuant to Sec. 90-1246(d) (Sec. 90-1251(3)(g)).

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

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