# Sign Regulations in Los Gatos, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Los Gatos, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/los-gatos
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Los_Gatos/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH29ZORE_ARTIINGE_DIV3SI)

## At a glance

Los Gatos, California regulates 13 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Directional Sign (Vehicular)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 10 ft. tall and 6 sq. ft. (Sec. Sec. 29.10.130(1)). Most commercial signs in Los Gatos 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 | 4 | 10 ft. | 18 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential zones | 5 | — | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| Nonresidential zones | 2 | — | — | — |
| Planned development overlay zone (PD zone) | 1 | — | — | — |
| C-2 zone | 1 | — | Event sign: not to exceed calculation of total sign area permitted for the business; see also general C-2 area chart. | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (Vehicular) | 10 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | At least 100 ft apart from any other directional sign | Must be located on an arterial street and at least 100 ft. from any other directional sign. | — | Sec. 29.10.130(1) |
| Directional Sign (Pedestrian) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | One per entrance | At each customer entrance | — | Sec. 29.10.130(2) |
| Bulletin Board | 6 ft. | 18 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On premises of and used for church, school, or public building. | — | Sec. 29.10.130(3) |
| Community Bulletin Board/Kiosk | — | — | — | — | — | Public property, with approval | — | Sec. 29.10.130(4) |

### Residential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Family, Less than 10 units) | — | 18 sq. ft. | — | — | One per lot frontage | One per lot frontage | — | Sec. 29.10.135(b)(1)a |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Family, 10 units or more) | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | One per lot frontage | One per lot frontage | — | Sec. 29.10.135(b)(1)b |
| Ground Sign (Authorized Nonresidential Uses) | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | One per parcel | One per parcel | — | Sec. 29.10.135(b)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Authorized Nonresidential Uses) | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | One per lot frontage | One per lot frontage | — | Sec. 29.10.135(b)(2) |
| Ground Sign (Neighborhood Identification Sign) | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | Number subject to determination | Number and location subject to determining body; only for neighborhoods 3 acres or more. | — | Sec. 29.10.135(b)(3) |

### Nonresidential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Sign (Wall/Projecting/Roof Signs) - Rule 1 | — | — | — | — | Limited by area formula | On any wall; see formula for area | — | Sec. 29.10.135(c), Rules 1, explanation paragraph |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign) | — | — | — | — | See table and project specifics | — | — | Sec. 29.10.135(c), Table, Rules 3, 6, 7 |

## Prohibited signs in Los Gatos

- Lighted signs that flash on and off, fluctuate or appear to move (Sec. 29.10.115(1)).
- Signs that rotate or move in any fashion, except barber poles (Sec. 29.10.115(2)).
- Lighted signs whose brightness is detrimental to the reasonable enjoyment of surrounding property or are a traffic hazard (Sec. 29.10.115(3)).
- Signs which prevent free use of a door, window or fire escape, or obstruct the view from any living area in the building to which the sign is attached (Sec. 29.10.115(4)).
- Signs attached to a standpipe or fire escape (Sec. 29.10.115(5)).
- Signs located so as to obstruct the view of a traffic sign, signal, or device (Sec. 29.10.115(6)).
- Signs which might be mistaken for or confuse the viewers of a traffic light or a signal (Sec. 29.10.115(7)).
- Signs, placards, posters, announcements and similar signs erected on any fence, pole, tree, pavement, wall, bus stop, bench, or any other object in a public thoroughfare, except those defined in section 29.10.110(11) or permitted in accordance with section 29.10.120(4) (Sec. 29.10.115(8)).
- Portable signs and signs erected on parked vehicles or trailers, when such vehicles or trailers are parked in a manner that is clearly intended to advertise the services of a business (Sec. 29.10.115(9)).
- Signs erected for the dominant purpose of being seen by travelers on a freeway (Sec. 29.10.115(10)).
- Off-premises signs, except as specifically authorized (Sec. 29.10.115(11)).
- Signs containing matter that is obscene under State law (Sec. 29.10.115(12)).
- Signs flashed or projected onto walls or other structures by means of a projector or other device (Sec. 29.10.115(13)).
- Billboards (Sec. 29.10.115(14)).
- Temporary signs on public property and in the public right of way, with limited exceptions (Sec. 29.10.115(15)).
- Any sign not specifically authorized in sections 29.10.110, 29.10.120, and 29.10.130 (Sec. 29.10.115(16)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Los Gatos

- House numbers, street names, signs warning against danger, railroad crossing signs, authorized traffic or parking signs and rural delivery boxes (Sec. 29.10.110(1)).
- Nameplates not over 1.5 square feet, affixed flat against the wall, showing occupant name/address, up to 6 plates per building (Sec. 29.10.110(2)).
- Building directories for buildings with more than six tenants, up to 9 square feet, affixed flat against the wall (Sec. 29.10.110(3)).
- Solid metal plaques or cut inscriptions by recognized historical agencies or showing the building name/date, not to exceed 4 square feet (Sec. 29.10.110(4)).
- Temporary, nonilluminated 'for sale or lease' signs on each street frontage of a property, within area limits and only while premises are for sale or lease (Sec. 29.10.110(5)a).
- Nonilluminated, off-site, portable signs at intersections or on parcels, subject to area, height, and removal conditions (Sec. 29.10.110(5)b).
- Interior signs (not visible from outside) (Sec. 29.10.110(6)).
- Convenience signs not exceeding 2 square feet and providing directions only (Sec. 29.10.110(7)).
- No trespassing/dumping signs not exceeding 3 square feet (Sec. 29.10.110(8)).
- Window signs not exceeding 25% of window area (Sec. 29.10.110(9)).
- One parking control sign per entrance not exceeding 2 square feet (Sec. 29.10.110(10)).
- Notices posted by a public officer, for legal notice, warnings, or informational signs required or authorized by governmental regulation (Sec. 29.10.110(11)).
- Recycling and vending facility signs within formula area limits (Sec. 29.10.110(12)).
- Street signs, traffic signs, emergency warnings, etc., erected by a public agency (Sec. 29.10.110(13)).
- Any sign permitted by a special event permit (Sec. 29.10.110(14)).
- Temporary signs on private property (see Section 29.10.110(15) including yard signs), subject to area, duration, and removal requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permits must be obtained before erection of all signs, except as provided in section 29.10.110 (Sec. 29.10.105(c)).
- A building permit may be required by another ordinance (Sec. 29.10.105(c)).
- Signs for shopping centers or multi-tenant buildings must use coordinated design elements for all signs—at least four of six specified elements (Sec. 29.10.125(4)).
- The signs shown on the official development plan referred to in division 2 of article VIII may be erected in the PD (Planned Development) zone (Sec. 29.10.135(d)).
- No sign is to be erected without express permission of the landowner (Sec. 29.10.105(e)).
- Sign plans (master sign plans) for coordinated design may be required for shopping centers or planned developments but are not explicitly named as such; compliance is enforced by requiring uniformity and reference to official plans (Sec. 29.10.125(4), Sec. 29.10.135(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 5 zoning districts in Los Gatos — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Los+Gatos+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-los-gatos

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