# Sign Regulations in Millbrae, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Millbrae, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/millbrae
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-16
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://ecode360.com/47417274)

## At a glance

Millbrae, California regulates 26 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial District (C) zoning district are capped at 20 feet above nearest existing curb grade tall and Each face not exceeding 60 square feet; total of all faces not exceeding 120 square feet for multifaced, with a At least 5 feet from front and side property lines for small changeable copy signs setback (Sec. § 10.10.250, § 10.10.210, § 10.10.060). Most commercial signs in Millbrae require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-1LL, R-1, R-2, R-3) | 5 | 12 feet above grade | 32 square feet | — |
| Open Space District (OS) | 4 | 12 feet above grade | 32 square feet | — |
| Commercial District (C) | 13 | 20 feet above nearest existing curb grade | Each face not exceeding 60 square feet; total of all faces not exceeding 120 square feet for multifaced | — |
| Industrial District (I) | 13 | 20 feet above nearest existing curb grade | Each face not exceeding 60 square feet; total of all faces not exceeding 120 square feet for multifaced | — |
| Planned Development Districts (PD, DTECRSP, MSAPD, MSAPS) | 13 | 20 feet above nearest existing curb grade | Each face not exceeding 60 square feet; total of all faces not exceeding 120 square feet for multifaced | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Commercial District (C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet above nearest existing curb grade | Each face not exceeding 60 square feet; total of all faces not exceeding 120 square feet for multifaced | — | At least 5 feet from front and side property lines for small changeable copy signs | 1 per parcel in single ownership; +1 for interior lots >=250 feet street frontage or corner lots >=300 feet street frontage | Entirely on private property | — | § 10.10.250, § 10.10.210, § 10.10.060 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | Not closer than 2 feet from vertical projection of curbline | 1 per marquee face | Attached to or supported by a marquee | — | § 10.10.260, § 10.10.210 |
| Projecting Sign | Not extending above roof ridge or parapet line (whichever lower) | — | — | Projection limited as above; supports on private property | No maximum | Attached to building face or wall with leading edge >18 inches from face | — | § 10.10.270, § 10.10.210, § 10.10.340(C) |
| Suspended Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per business frontage | Suspended from underside of awning, canopy, marquee or similar support | — | § 10.10.290, § 10.10.210 |
| Wall Sign | Not extending above roof ridge or parapet line (whichever lower) | — | — | — | No maximum | On, attached to or constructed on a wall or building | — | § 10.10.310, § 10.10.210 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% coverage of any glazed window or door area (permanent) | — | — | No maximum | In, on or within 2 feet of ground floor window or door area | — | § 10.10.320, § 10.10.300(A)(4), § 10.10.210 |
| Real Estate and Tract Sign (Commercial Properties) | 12 feet above grade | 32 square feet | 16 feet maximum dimension | — | 1 per parcel in single ownership other than R-1 or R-2, or 1 per 120 feet of street frontage | Private property | — | § 10.10.280 |
| On-Premises Real Estate Sign (Commercial) | 6 feet | 9 square feet | — | — | 1 per address per abutting street | On the subject property | — | § 10.10.300(A)(2) |

### Industrial District (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet above nearest existing curb grade | Each face not exceeding 60 square feet; total of all faces not exceeding 120 square feet for multifaced | — | At least 5 feet from front and side property lines for small changeable copy signs | 1 per parcel in single ownership; +1 for interior lots >=250 feet street frontage or corner lots >=300 feet street frontage | Entirely on private property | — | § 10.10.250, § 10.10.210, § 10.10.060 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | Not closer than 2 feet from vertical projection of curbline | 1 per marquee face | Attached to or supported by a marquee | — | § 10.10.260, § 10.10.210 |
| Projecting Sign | Not extending above roof ridge or parapet line (whichever lower) | — | — | Projection limited as above; supports on private property | No maximum | Attached to building face or wall with leading edge >18 inches from face | — | § 10.10.270, § 10.10.210, § 10.10.340(C) |
| Suspended Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per business frontage | Suspended from underside of awning, canopy, marquee or similar support | — | § 10.10.290, § 10.10.210 |
| Wall Sign | Not extending above roof ridge or parapet line (whichever lower) | — | — | — | No maximum | On, attached to or constructed on a wall or building | — | § 10.10.310, § 10.10.210 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% coverage of any glazed window or door area (permanent) | — | — | No maximum | In, on or within 2 feet of ground floor window or door area | — | § 10.10.320, § 10.10.300(A)(4), § 10.10.210 |
| Real Estate and Tract Sign (Industrial Properties) | 12 feet above grade | 32 square feet | 16 feet maximum dimension | — | 1 per parcel in single ownership other than R-1 or R-2, or 1 per 120 feet of street frontage | Private property | — | § 10.10.280 |
| On-Premises Real Estate Sign (Industrial) | 6 feet | 9 square feet | — | — | 1 per address per abutting street | On the subject property | — | § 10.10.300(A)(2) |

### Planned Development Districts (PD, DTECRSP, MSAPD, MSAPS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet above nearest existing curb grade | Each face not exceeding 60 square feet; total of all faces not exceeding 120 square feet for multifaced | — | At least 5 feet from front and side property lines for small changeable copy signs | 1 per parcel in single ownership; +1 for interior lots >=250 feet street frontage or corner lots >=300 feet street frontage | Entirely on private property | — | § 10.10.250, § 10.10.210, § 10.10.060, § 10.10.330 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | Not closer than 2 feet from vertical projection of curbline | 1 per marquee face | Attached to or supported by a marquee | — | § 10.10.260, § 10.10.210, § 10.10.330 |
| Projecting Sign | Not extending above roof ridge or parapet line (whichever lower) | — | — | Projection limited as above; supports on private property | No maximum | Attached to building face or wall with leading edge >18 inches from face | — | § 10.10.270, § 10.10.210, § 10.10.340(C), § 10.10.330 |
| Suspended Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per business frontage | Suspended from underside of awning, canopy, marquee or similar support | — | § 10.10.290, § 10.10.210, § 10.10.330 |
| Wall Sign | Not extending above roof ridge or parapet line (whichever lower) | — | — | — | No maximum | On, attached to or constructed on a wall or building | — | § 10.10.310, § 10.10.210, § 10.10.330 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% coverage of any glazed window or door area (permanent) | — | — | No maximum | In, on or within 2 feet of ground floor window or door area | — | § 10.10.320, § 10.10.300(A)(4), § 10.10.210, § 10.10.330 |
| Real Estate and Tract Sign (Planned Development) | 12 feet above grade | 32 square feet | 16 feet maximum dimension | — | 1 per parcel in single ownership other than R-1 or R-2, or 1 per 120 feet of street frontage | Private property | — | § 10.10.280, § 10.10.330 |
| On-Premises Real Estate Sign (Planned Development) | 6 feet | 9 square feet | — | — | 1 per address per abutting street | On the subject property | — | § 10.10.300(A)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Millbrae

- Signs on public property, except as required or permitted by ordinance or law
- Unlawful sign projection into a public right-of-way or established setback without approval
- Roof signs, except projecting signs with main supports on the roof permitted through design review
- Portable signs, advertising structures or merchandise displays on public street, sidewalk or right-of-way
- Snipe signs or sniping
- Rotating, animated, moving or flashing signs, except certain permitted through design review
- Outdoor advertising signs or structures in any zoning district, except those by public authority
- Permanent pennants, flags, balloons, streamers, spinners and ribbons, except for motor vehicle sales
- Advertising for prohibited activities under local, state or federal laws
- Signs that obstruct free ingress/egress from doors, windows or fire escapes
- Signs attached to standpipes or fire escapes
- Illuminated signs causing undue glare or reflection diminishing public safety or visual quality
- Signs at intersections obstructing vision or confusing with traffic signs/signals/devices
- Signs using words like 'STOP,' 'GO,' 'CAUTION' that may mislead traffic

## Signs exempt from permit in Millbrae

- Official public signs and notices (noncommercial) displayed by courts, public bodies or agencies on public property
- Signs erected and maintained by public authority or authorized third party on public property (may require permits for larger freestanding signs)
- Informational signs, on-premises (max 2 sq ft each, total 10 sq ft per street frontage)
- Business information signs (max 2 sq ft for hours, phone, emergency info; one per entry; 8-inch illuminated address numbers)
- Noncommercial flags (max 30 ft height, 60 sq ft area; one flagpole per address)
- Directional signs, off-premises on public property by public agency (max 2 sq ft; for public convenience/safety and noncommercial uses)
- Temporary signs not requiring design review or permit: election signs, on-premises real estate signs in R-1/R-2, off-premises portable real estate signs during open houses, temporary window signs covering 10% or less of window (30-day limit)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program is required for all new developments with more than one principal building, all new multiple tenant buildings, all new planned development projects, and existing multitenant buildings where significant facade improvements require signage removal
- A master sign program is recommended for existing sites with more than one principal building, existing multitenant buildings, and individual buildings benefiting from coordinated signage
- Approval of a master sign program allows individual signs to be approved by the community development department without waiving individual permit requirements
- Exceptions to sign regulations (height, area, location, number) may be permitted through review and approval of a master sign program by the planning commission
- A zoning variance is required for exceptions not related to a master sign program or individual sign
- Planning commission design review is required for nonexempt signs on internally illuminated canopies/awnings/fascia panels and permanent signs exceeding 50 sq ft total area

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

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