# Sign Regulations in Lafayette, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lafayette, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/lafayette
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Lafayette/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT6PLLAUS_PT5SIOUAD)

## At a glance

Lafayette, California regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercially zoned district zoning district are capped at 8 ft from ground tall and 25 sq ft per side unless otherwise permitted (Sec. Section 6-2554, 6-2523(c)). Most commercial signs in Lafayette require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercially zoned district | 6 | 8 ft from ground | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residentially zoned district | 3 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft permanent, aggregate all signs 80 sq ft per parcel | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 25 ft (pole height) | 60 square inches | — |
| Office building, Mixed use building, Mixed use office complex | 5 | — | 25 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Commercially zoned district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Varies by principal business frontage (e.g., 24 feet = 20 sq ft, 70+ feet = 100 sq ft) | — | — | — | Attached parallel to and flat against exterior wall on principal business frontage | — | Sections 6-2503, 6-2521, 6-2522, 6-2553, 6-2560 |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft from ground | 25 sq ft per side unless otherwise permitted | — | — | One per street frontage | Must be located in a landscaped area or planter, one per street frontage | — | Section 6-2554, 6-2523(c) |
| Window Sign | — | 20 sq ft (exempt per Section 6-2521(o) if on principal business frontage) | — | — | — | On, or visible through, the window from outside | — | Section 6-2521(o), 6-2560 |
| Temporary Commercial Realty Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per site | On owner's property or with consent on another | — | Section 6-2569 |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage of project | — | Section 6-2571(b) |
| Banner Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Section 6-2523(a) |

### Residentially zoned district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Sign - Permanent | 6 ft | 32 sq ft permanent, aggregate all signs 80 sq ft per parcel | — | — | — | On property containing residential use | — | Section 6-2565(a),(b) |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign (Residential) | 6 ft | Each up to 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On residential property | — | Section 6-2565(c) |
| Temporary Residential Realty Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign (unimproved lot: 16 sq ft; subdivision: 16 sq ft) | — | — | One per property | One per property (or with consent of others); visible from public | — | Section 6-2568 |

### Office building, Mixed use building, Mixed use office complex

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Master Identification Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | One per adjacent street | At each adjacent street | — | Section 6-2562(b)(1) |
| Directory Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | Onsite | — | Section 6-2562(b)(2) |
| Individual Office Sign | — | 2 sq ft per tenant | — | — | One per tenant | On office | — | Section 6-2562(b)(3) |
| Wall Sign (Ground Floor Business with Direct Entry) | — | Based on principal business frontage (see table Section 6-2560) | — | — | — | On principal business frontage with direct public entry | — | Section 6-2562(b)(4), 6-2560 |
| Wall Sign (Upper Floor Business with Exterior Entry) | — | 20 sq ft max | — | — | — | On principal business frontage with independent exterior entry | — | Section 6-2562(b)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Lafayette

- A sign which is unsafe, dilapidated or obsolete.
- A sign located less than the legal distance from a communication or electric facility or placed in a manner that conflicts with a rule, regulation or order of the California Public Utilities Commission.
- A sign on a tree, shrub or other natural object.
- A sign placed across or in the public right-of-way, utility easement or on public or publicly maintained property without an encroachment permit approved by the city council, except for specific notices of public hearing and city-owned banner signs as detailed.
- A sign which violates a condition imposed as part of a sign permit.
- A flashing, internally or externally illuminated, moving, rotating, animated or inflated sign except as permitted in this chapter.
- A sign with flags, flyers, pennants, pinwheels or which utilizes two or more light bulbs on a wire string.
- A sign which causes an unsafe condition by interfering with the vision of a motorist or which interferes with the safe and convenient passage of pedestrians.
- A projecting sign, except for a shingle sign, under-marquee sign or projecting banner sign, which complies with Section 6-2552.
- A sign which extends higher than the upper roof line, ridge line or parapet of a building to which it is attached.
- A portable, mobile or A-board sign, except as permitted by Section 6-2568.
- An off-site commercial sign except as permitted by this chapter.
- A residential business sign or home occupation sign.
- A sign advertising tobacco products that is prohibited under Section 5-511.
- A mural, except as permitted by Chapter 6-26.
- All other signs not permitted in this chapter.
- It is unlawful to install, place, move, alter, replace, suspend or attach a sign (except for maintenance purposes) without a sign permit unless the sign is exempt from permit requirements.
- No building permit may be issued for a sign until a sign permit is issued.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lafayette

- A flag not exceeding 20 square feet in area and attached to a pole not exceeding 25 feet in height.
- Governmental sign not exceeding 15 square feet in area and six feet in height.
- Information, safety, directional or convenience sign not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Mailbox or address identification sign not exceeding 60 square inches in area unless regulations require larger.
- One official state inspection sign for each type of inspection service offered on a site, located flat against a building and not exceeding four square feet in area.
- A permanent noncommercial sign not exceeding three square feet in area.
- Service club shield, two square feet in area or less when placed on a service club sign.
- Service club sign.
- Service station price, information, safety, directional, convenience or island identification sign which complies with Section 6-2570.
- Temporary light bulbs on a wire string.
- Temporary construction sign which complies with Section 6-2571.
- Temporary commercial sign which complies with Section 6-2563.
- Temporary noncommercial sign less than six square feet in area or less than 12 square feet in area which complies with Section 6-2565.
- Temporary realty sign which complies with Section 6-2568 or 6-2569.
- Window sign.
- A commercial sign attached to a wall, or sign painted directly on an existing awning, provided that: (1) the sign is on a principal business frontage, (2) is not internally or externally illuminated, and (3) total area with other permitted signs does not exceed 20 square feet.
- City-owned banner signs placed on city-owned lampposts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each building, addition or complex which contains two or more business or office uses may have an approved master sign plan applicable to each sign in the building complex (Section 6-2540).
- An application for a master sign plan is subject to review by the design review commission (Section 6-2541).
- A sign conforming to an approved master sign plan may be permitted with a simplified permit application under Section 6-2524(a)(5) and may not need separate design review commission approval (Section 6-2542).
- Variance requests for height, area, location or number of signs must be reviewed by the design review commission per Section 6-2527.
- A master sign plan must meet the applicable sign requirements of this chapter, including design review criteria in Section 6-2526.

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

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