# Sign Regulations in Mill Valley, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mill Valley, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/mill-valley
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44319190#44319190)

## At a glance

Mill Valley, California regulates 4 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Not included in maximum sign area permitted by Section 20.74.060 (Sec. § 20.74.030(B)). Most commercial signs in Mill Valley require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | Not included in maximum sign area permitted by Section 20.74.060 | — |
| Non-Residential Zones | 3 | 10 feet (4.5 feet in Lytton Square/Town Center) | One square foot for each linear front foot, max 75 sq. ft. | — |
| All Residential Zones | 1 | — | Max. 16 sq. ft. per lot | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | Not included in maximum sign area permitted by Section 20.74.060 | — | — | Unlimited except total sign area not exceed 16 sq. ft. | Private property | — | § 20.74.030(B) |
| Permanent Sign | — | Varies by sign type | — | — | — | Varies by sign type | — | § 20.74.040 |

### Non-Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | Max. 16 sq. ft. per business | — | — | Unlimited | Private property | — | § 20.74.030(B) |
| Wall Sign | — | One square foot for each linear front foot, max 75 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On or attached to a wall of a building | — | § 20.74.040(A) |
| Ground Sign | 10 feet (4.5 feet in Lytton Square/Town Center) | — | — | — | One per building | Ground | — | § 20.74.040(B) |

### All Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | Max. 16 sq. ft. per lot | — | — | Unlimited | Private property | — | § 20.74.030(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Mill Valley

- Signs on public property or in the public right-of-way.
- Signs projecting above the eave line or parapet.
- Portable signs including 'A Frame' and 'sandwich' signs.
- Signs which move or have moving parts, or have flashing illumination, or contain reflective material.
- Signs which produce light by the application of electric current to an inert gas light source such as neon.
- Obstructing signs.
- Signs imitating official traffic signs or signals.
- Off-site signs.
- All other signs not mentioned in Sections 20.74.030, 20.74.040 and 20.74.050, including banners not completely attached to a structure, balloons, inflated signs, pennants, streamers, festoons and searchlights.
- Signs in a single family residential district except professional nameplates, real estate, political, or governmental signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mill Valley

- Temporary signs placed on private property are allowed in all zoning districts in compliance with specified standards.
- Customer service information signs no greater than two square feet advertising credit cards accepted, days and hours of operation, and business affiliations.
- Plaques identifying a building name and/or date which are an integral part of the structure and no greater than five square feet.
- One nameplate, no greater than one square foot, for each business entrance.
- One on-site directional sign no greater than five square feet.
- Governmental signs.
- A change in business name in the same color and style on any existing conforming or nonconforming sign.
- On-site fuel price signs maintained at a service station in accordance with state law.
- Barber poles with no moving parts.
- Signs no greater than 11 inches by 17 inches on newsracks installed in accordance with Chapter 11.32 of the Mill Valley Municipal Code.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign program is a coordinated plan for all signs in a multiple tenant building or building complex.
- The Planning Commission and City Council may modify the provisions of Chapter 20.74 upon approval of a comprehensive signing program when such a program is part of the Planned Unit Development permit application.
- No shopping center identification signs shall be permitted unless a use permit is first secured, and the total signing plan for the shopping center shall be reviewed.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Mill Valley, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Mill+Valley+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-mill-valley

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