# Sign Regulations in Malibu, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Malibu, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/malibu
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44338849#44338849)

## At a glance

Malibu, California regulates 43 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Real Estate Advertising Signs in the Residential Land Use Districts zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 6 square feet, with a Minimum 5 feet from sidewalk or property line setback (Sec. § 17.52.050D.2.c).

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 28 feet | 16 square feet | — |
| Residential Land Use Districts | 6 | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — |
| Multiple Residential Districts | 7 | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — |
| Commercial Land Use Districts | 23 | 6 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Commercial and Business Complex Center or Park | 3 | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — |

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

### Residential Land Use Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per dwelling | Street frontage | — | § 17.52.050D.2.a |
| Agricultural Use Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | One per use | Fence or stake | — | § 17.52.050D.2.b |
| Real Estate Advertising Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from sidewalk or property line | One per premises | Premises being offered for sale or rent | — | § 17.52.050D.2.c |
| Open House Sign | 4 feet | 3 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from sidewalk or property line | One per open house | Premises being offered for sale or rent | — | § 17.52.050D.2.d |
| Special Event Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One per event | Premises | — | § 17.52.050D.2.e |
| Garage Sale Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | One per garage sale | Premises | — | § 17.52.050D.2.f |

### Multiple Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Identification Sign - Apartments | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from property line | One per complex | Public street frontage | — | § 17.52.050D.3.b |
| Directory Sign - Apartments | 5 feet | 1 square foot per apartment | — | — | One per building wall | Building wall facing public street | — | § 17.52.050D.3.b |
| Monument Identification Sign - Condominiums | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from property line | One per complex | Public street frontage | — | § 17.52.050D.3.c |
| Interior Directional Sign - Condominiums | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | As approved by director | Visible from public right-of-way | — | § 17.52.050D.3.c |
| Monument Identification Sign - Other Permitted Uses | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from property line | One per use | Public street frontage | — | § 17.52.050D.3.d |
| Real Estate Advertising Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | One per unit | Unit being offered for sale, lease or rent | — | § 17.52.050D.3.e |
| Special Event Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One per event | Premises | — | § 17.52.050D.3.f |

### Commercial Land Use Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Sign - Business Park and Retail Uses | — | 50 square feet | — | — | One per business | Primary frontage | — | § 17.52.070A.2.a |
| Freestanding Monument Sign - Single Business | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way | One per business | Minimum 5 feet from any public or private right-of-way | — | § 17.52.070A.2.c |
| Freestanding Monument Sign - Office Building | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way | One per office building | Minimum 5 feet from any public right-of-way | — | § 17.52.070A.3.c |
| Complex Identification Sign | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way | One per 1,000 feet of public right-of-way | Minimum 5 feet from any public right-of-way | — | § 17.52.070A.5 |
| Address Monument Sign | 5 feet | 16 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way | One per main driveway, not to exceed one per 500 feet of public right-of-way | Minimum 5 feet from any public right-of-way | — | § 17.52.070A.5 |
| Combined Complex/Address Sign | 5 feet | 16 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way | One per main driveway, not to exceed one per 500 feet of public right-of-way | Minimum 5 feet from any public right-of-way | — | § 17.52.070A.5 |
| Gasoline or Fuel Price Sign | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Ground or pole | — | § 17.52.070A.14.a |
| Sale, Lease and Rental Sign | 6 feet | 15 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Premises | — | § 17.52.070A.17 |

## Prohibited signs in Malibu

- Outdoor advertising displays, structures or signs
- Portable signs
- Exposed neon, flashing or scintillating signs, except for public service time and temperature signs, which shall not be flashing, animated or revolving in nature
- Revolving signs
- Devices dispensing bubbles and free floating particles of matter
- Any notice, placard, bill, card, poster, sticker, banner, sign, advertising or other device affixed or attached to or upon any public street, walkway, crosswalk, other rights-of-way, curb, lamppost, hydrant, tree, telephone booth or pole, lighting system or any fixture of the police or fire alarm system
- Devices projecting or otherwise producing the image of an advertising sign or message on any surface or object
- Projecting signs
- Signs which project or encroach into any existing or future street right-of-way
- Automatic changing signs or electronic message center signs, except for public service time and temperature signs, except as otherwise provided allowed by the Malibu Middle and High School Campus Specific Plan
- Streamers, banners, balloons, flares, flags, pennants, propellers, twirlers, and similar attention-getting display or device with exceptions
- Freestanding or pole signs, except for on-site directional signs
- A vehicle-related portable freestanding sign or any sign placed within, affixed or attached to any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way, or on public or private property, for the purpose of advertising an event or attracting people to a place of business, unless the vehicles or trailer is used in its normal business capacity and not for the primary purpose of advertising an event or attracting people to a place of business
- Signs or sign structures which by color, wording or locations resemble or conflict with traffic control signs or devices
- Signs that create a safety hazard by obstructing the view of pedestrian or vehicular traffic
- Sign structures and supports no longer in use, for a period of 60 days by the owner, tenant, or lessee
- Signs painted directly on an exterior wall, fence, fascia or parapet
- Signs that display a message or graphic representation that is lewd, indecent, or offensive to public morals
- Signs for the purpose of commercial advertising created by the arrangement of vegetation, rocks, or other objects such as on a hillside visible to pedestrians or motorists
- Roof signs
- Combination signs
- Signs which are enacted after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter that do not conform to the provisions of these section are prohibited

## Signs exempt from permit in Malibu

- One identification sign not exceeding two square feet in area displaying only the name and/or address of the owner, occupant or use, except that agricultural uses may have one identification sign not exceeding six square feet in area
- Directional or safety signs required by law
- One each national, state, and local governmental flag properly displayed upon a maximum of one per pole, not to exceed 28 feet in height
- Holiday decorations, in season, displayed for an aggregate period not exceeding 60 days in any one calendar year
- Religious, charitable, civic, home-owners association, educational or cultural posters, affixed to a building wall or window area, not exceeding 16 square feet in area which are installed in a temporary condition
- Utility and telephone pay station signs
- Official traffic, fire and police related signs, temporary traffic control signs used during construction, utility facilities and substructure location and identification signs and markers required to protect the facilities, and other signs and markers required or authorized by the city, the State Department of Transportation, or any other public agency
- Notices required to be posted by law
- Signs for Public or Quasi-Public Use. Directional and public convenience signs for public and quasi-public uses may be permitted on public property

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for the first new sign in a commercial or business complex, center or park shall be accompanied by a sign program for the entire complex, center or park in order that all future signs are uniform and consistent with the requirements of this chapter

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

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