# Sign Regulations in Monrovia, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Monrovia, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/monrovia
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-18
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/monrovia/latest/monrovia_ca/0-0-0-72528)

## At a glance

Monrovia, California regulates 29 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Identification Monument Signs in the Neighborhood Commercial (NC); Commercial-Regional/Subregional (CRS); Office/Research and Development/Light Manufacturing (O/RD/LM); Business Enterprise (BE); Manufacturing (M); Planned Development (PD) – Nonresidential Uses; Residential High Density (RH) – Nonresidential Uses (collectively “All Others” per § 17.28.090(A)(8)) zoning district are capped at 6 ft overall (including base); base max 2 ft tall and 50 sq ft per face, with a Landscape area required, min dimension 5 ft setback (Sec. § 17.28.090(B) (Identification monument sign—All Others P); § 17.28.100(B)(1)). Most commercial signs in Monrovia require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Foothill (RF); Residential Estate (RE); Residential Low Density (RL) | 4 | — | 12 sq ft per permitted sign face | — |
| Residential Medium Density (RM); Residential Medium/Residential High (RM/RH); Residential High Density (RH); Planned Development (PD) – Residential Uses | 5 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (NC); Commercial-Regional/Subregional (CRS); Office/Research and Development/Light Manufacturing (O/RD/LM); Business Enterprise (BE); Manufacturing (M); Planned Development (PD) – Nonresidential Uses; Residential High Density (RH) – Nonresidential Uses (collectively “All Others” per § 17.28.090(A)(8)) | 18 | Up to 40 ft above ground | As per frontage schedule (one face): up to 150 ft frontage: 40 sq ft; 151–250 ft: 75 sq ft; 251+ ft: 75–100 sq ft depending on height | — |
| Planned Development (Auto Center - PD-10) | 10 | Up to 40 ft over the height of the highest building within 100 ft | Frontage-based: up to 150 ft: 40 sq ft; 151–250 ft: 75 sq ft; 251+ ft: 75–100 sq ft per height tier | — |
| Public/Quasi-Public (P/QP) | 2 | Monument sign up to 6 ft overall (including base); base up to 2 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### Residential Medium Density (RM); Residential Medium/Residential High (RM/RH); Residential High Density (RH); Planned Development (PD) – Residential Uses

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign (Residential) | — | 12 sq ft per permitted sign face | — | — | One per construction site | On the land where construction is occurring | — | § 17.28.060 (RM/RM-RH/RH/PD—Construction sign PN); § 17.28.070(A); § 17.28.080(A) |
| Identification Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per street frontage | On parcel frontage(s) | — | § 17.28.060 (RM/RM-RH/RH/PD—Identification sign P); § 17.28.070(B); § 17.28.080(B) |
| New Construction For Rent or For Sale Sign (Residential) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One | On land upon which an apartment or condominium building is under construction or site plan approved | — | § 17.28.060 (RM/RM-RH/RH/PD—New construction for rent or for sale sign PN); § 17.28.070(C); § 17.28.080(A) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | Up to 2 per lot or parcel | Must be located on the land to which the sign refers | — | § 17.28.060 (RM/RM-RH/RH/PD—Real estate signs PN); § 17.28.070(D); § 17.28.080(A) |
| Real Estate Sign – Condominiums (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per unit | On the condominium unit to which the sign refers | — | § 17.28.060 (RM/RM-RH/RH/PD—Real estate sign—condominiums PN); § 17.28.070(E); § 17.28.080(A) |

### Neighborhood Commercial (NC); Commercial-Regional/Subregional (CRS); Office/Research and Development/Light Manufacturing (O/RD/LM); Business Enterprise (BE); Manufacturing (M); Planned Development (PD) – Nonresidential Uses; Residential High Density (RH) – Nonresidential Uses (collectively “All Others” per § 17.28.090(A)(8))

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Wall Sign | — | 5% of total wall face | — | — | One per business frontage as described | On building face at front/entrance or on wall fronting a major/secondary highway | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Building wall sign—All Others P); § 17.28.100(A)(2)(a)-(b); § 17.28.120(C)-(D) |
| Projecting Sidewalk Sign | — | 4.5 sq ft per face (18 in x 3 ft) | 18 in (width); 3 ft (height) | — | One per business | Over pedestrian walkway, hanging from canopy/architectural projection | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Projecting sidewalk sign—All Others P); § 17.28.100(A)(5) |
| Identification Monument Sign | 6 ft overall (including base); base max 2 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | Landscape area required, min dimension 5 ft | One per business frontage (shopping centers and auto centers: one per street frontage—see special use categories) | At business frontage (one per street frontage for a site) | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Identification monument sign—All Others P); § 17.28.100(B)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | Up to 20–30 ft per frontage schedule; cannot exceed building height if building within 50 ft (unless building < 20 ft, then sign may be up to 20 ft) | As per frontage schedule (one face): up to 150 ft frontage: 40 sq ft; 151–250 ft: 75 sq ft; 251+ ft: 75–100 sq ft depending on height | — | Must be within landscaped area (size equal to sign area, min dimension 5 ft) | One per eligible lot or group of contiguous lots with common parking | On any one lot or contiguous lots occupied by a single business or multiple businesses sharing common parking | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Freestanding sign—All Others P); § 17.28.100(C)(2)(a)-(b) and schedule; Foothill Blvd note in § 17.28.100(C)(2)(a) |
| Freestanding Public Service Sign (Option) | 35 ft | 125 sq ft per face | — | — | One per site (if approved) | Freestanding on site | — | § 17.28.100(C)(2)(b)2 |
| Balloon Sign (Non–Auto Center) | Up to 40 ft above ground | — | — | 50 ft minimum from front and rear property lines | One per retail site | On parcels fronting a dedicated street | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Balloon sign—All Others P); § 17.28.100(E)(1)(a) |
| Sidewalk Sign (Freestanding) | 4 ft | 3 sq ft per face (18 in x 24 in) | — | Within 2.5 ft of building face (unless DRC approves otherwise) and ADA clearance maintained | One (per freestanding type); restaurants: one freestanding and one wall type | On sidewalk near building face | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Sidewalk sign—All Others P); § 17.28.100(E)(2)(a)-(j), (k) |
| Sidewalk Wall Sign | — | 3 sq ft | 18 in | — | One; restaurants: one in addition to freestanding type | On building wall at eye level | — | § 17.28.100(E)(2)(g), (j), (k) |

### Planned Development (Auto Center - PD-10)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Wall Sign | — | 5% of total wall face | — | — | One per applicable frontage | On building face at front/entrance or wall fronting a major/secondary highway | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Building wall sign—Auto Center P); § 17.28.100(A)(2) |
| Identification Monument Sign | 6 ft overall (including base); base max 2 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | Landscape area required (min dimension 5 ft) | One per street frontage | Auto center street frontage | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Identification monument sign—Auto Center P); § 17.28.100(B)(1)(a)-(b) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20–30 ft per frontage schedule; cannot exceed height of nearest building within 50 ft (unless building < 20 ft, then sign may be up to 20 ft) | Frontage-based: up to 150 ft: 40 sq ft; 151–250 ft: 75 sq ft; 251+ ft: 75–100 sq ft per height tier | — | Landscape area required (min dimension 5 ft); no projection into public way | One per eligible lot or group of contiguous lots with common parking | On any one lot or contiguous lots occupied by a single business or multiple businesses sharing common parking | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Freestanding sign—Auto Center P); § 17.28.100(C)(2)(a)-(b) and schedule |
| Balloon Sign (Auto Center) | Up to 40 ft over the height of the highest building within 100 ft | — | — | At least 50 ft from any street | One per dealership building | On auto center property; no less than 50 ft from any street | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Balloon sign—Auto Center PN); § 17.28.100(E)(1)(b) |
| Temporary Display Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | One | On site promoting special sales/openings | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Temporary display sign—Auto Center PN); § 17.28.100(E)(3) |
| Directional/Instructional Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | On site | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Directional/instructional sign—Auto Center P); § 17.28.100(G)(2) |
| Construction Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | One | On the construction site | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Construction sign—Auto Center PN); § 17.28.100(G)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | Up to 2 per street frontage; plus one additional per frontage if 200 ft separation | On the land to which the sign refers | — | § 17.28.090(B) (Real estate sign—Auto Center PN); § 17.28.100(G)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Monrovia

- All signs not described in the ordinance as permitted for specific zones, uses, or areas are prohibited (unless treated as a special advertising device by the Development Review Committee).
- Advertising structures, billboards, and outdoor advertising signs are not permitted citywide.

## Signs exempt from permit in Monrovia

- Official notices issued by any court or public body or officer, and directional warning or information signs or structures required or authorized by law, are excluded from the definition of 'signs' and are exempt from these regulations.
- Traffic and similar signs erected by order of the City Council, Chief of Police, Director of Public Works, or Fire Chief are not subject to this chapter.
- Theater marquees and similar signs designed for replaceable copy do not require a sign permit when the replaceable copy is changed (owner remains responsible for compliance and maintenance).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require Development Review Committee (DRC) approval of design, size, material, and placement unless expressly excepted.
- Multiple-tenant complexes (shopping centers and similar) must obtain approval of a comprehensive sign plan prior to any individual sign approvals.
- Residential identification signs may be approved at a larger size using the minor exception procedure if findings of architectural harmony and need are made.
- Nonresidential signs may be approved at a larger size using the minor exception procedure under Chapter 17.52 if findings are made.
- The DRC is empowered to interpret the ordinance; appeals of DRC interpretations follow §§ 2.56.050–2.56.060.
- Electronic message boards for certain uses in the P/QP zone and educational institutions require a minor conditional use permit from the DRC and must be incorporated into a monument sign.

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

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