# Sign Regulations in Monterey Park, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Monterey Park, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/monterey-park
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43879221#43879221)

## At a glance

Monterey Park, California regulates 8 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Zones (R-S, C-S, N-S, S-C, C-P, O-P) zoning district are capped at 20 ft. tall and 120 sq. ft. per side, with a No freestanding sign can be placed within 10 ft. of a common lot line. setback (Sec. § 21.24.650, Table 21.24(A)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Central Business Zone (C-B) | 3 | 15 ft. above sidewalk elevation | 50% of 1 sq. ft. per lineal foot of building or business frontage | — |
| Commercial Zones (R-S, C-S, N-S, S-C, C-P, O-P) | 3 | 30 ft. above sidewalk elevation | 120 sq. ft. per side | — |
| Residential Zones (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 3 | 15 ft. | 75% per lineal feet of building frontage | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. in residential zones, 12 sq. ft. in all other zones | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Central Business Zone (C-B)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Wall Sign | 15 ft. above sidewalk elevation | 1 sq. ft. per lineal foot of building or business frontage | — | — | 1 | First story signage | — | § 21.24.640, Table 21.24(A) |
| Secondary Wall Sign | 15 ft. above sidewalk elevation | 50% of 1 sq. ft. per lineal foot of building or business frontage | — | — | 1 | First story signage | — | § 21.24.640, Table 21.24(A) |
| Projecting Blade Sign | — | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business | Building face | — | § 21.24.640, Table 21.24(A) |

### Commercial Zones (R-S, C-S, N-S, S-C, C-P, O-P)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Wall Sign | 30 ft. above sidewalk elevation | 1 sq. ft. per lineal foot of building or business frontage | — | — | 1 | First story signage | — | § 21.24.650, Table 21.24(A) |
| Secondary Wall Sign | 15 ft. above sidewalk elevation | 50% of 1 sq. ft. per lineal foot of building or business frontage | — | — | 1 | First story signage | — | § 21.24.650, Table 21.24(A) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft. | 120 sq. ft. per side | — | No freestanding sign can be placed within 10 ft. of a common lot line. | 2 | Street frontage >600 ft. | — | § 21.24.650, Table 21.24(A) |

### Residential Zones (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 15 ft. | 75% per lineal feet of building frontage | — | — | 1 | First story signage | — | § 21.24.655, Table 21.24(B) |
| Monument Sign - R-1 | 5 ft. | 25 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 | Street frontage 75—84 ft. | — | § 21.24.655, Table 21.24(B) |
| Monument Sign - R-2, R-3 | 7 ft. | 30 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 | Street frontage 75—84 ft. | — | § 21.24.655, Table 21.24(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Monterey Park

- It is unlawful to construct or use any permanent structure for displaying offsite commercial messages.
- All exterior signs must be permanently affixed to a building, permitted sign support, or firmly attached to the ground. Portable or moving signs with commercial copy are unlawful.
- Signs may not be supported with exposed bracing, angle iron, guy wires, cables, or similar materials.
- Signs may not include bare light bulbs over 15 watts that are visible from the front of the sign or beyond the property line.
- Signs may not be connected to visible overhead electrical power lines.
- It is unlawful to erect signs that are detrimental to public health or safety.
- It is unlawful to erect a sign within the clear-sight triangle area other than as described in this section.
- It is unlawful to display signs on public property owned by the City.
- It is unlawful to erect, allow, or maintain wind activated signs such as spinner, pennants, streamers, and balloons.
- Mobile signs are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to erect, allow, or maintain animated signs or illuminated signs that detrimentally affect surrounding property.
- It is unlawful to erect, allow, or maintain a roof sign.
- It is unlawful to erect, allow, or maintain signs with commercial messages that face any residential area.
- It is unlawful to erect, allow, or maintain a sign that blocks or shadows solar energy collection devices from direct sun exposure.
- No billboards or outdoor advertising structures shall be permitted in any zone in the City.
- Signs with commercial copy are prohibited in residential zones unless expressly allowed.
- Illuminated signs are prohibited unless expressly allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Monterey Park

- Accessory Signs in Commercial Zones or the O-P Zone.
- Barber Poles.
- Construction Project Signs.
- Directional Signs that do not include commercial copy.
- Flags and Flagpoles with noncommercial images and symbols.
- Historical Site Plaques.
- Legally Required or Authorized Signs.
- Noncommercial Group Signs.
- Noncommercial Messages—Residential Uses.
- Professional and Business Shingles.
- Public Interest Notices.
- Public Message Signs.
- Real Estate Signs.
- Special Events for Charitable and Other Noncommercial Groups and Establishments.
- Temporary Freestanding Signs.
- Temporary Real Estate Directional Signs.
- Temporary Window Signs.
- Time and Temperature Signs.
- Umbrellas with commercial or noncommercial messages.
- Warning Signs.
- Vending Machine Signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any new commercial or mixed-use project with three units or more and any existing commercial or mixed-use project with three or more units involving exterior remodeling must receive Planning Commission approval of an integrated master sign plan before the City issues a sign permit.
- The City Planner may determine that a master sign plan is needed because of special project characteristics or when unique, creatively designed signs are being proposed.
- As a part of any required conditional use permit or other discretionary permit process involving three or more separate nonresidential tenant spaces, a master sign plan must be submitted.
- All signs subsequently erected on a property for which a master sign plan was approved must conform to that master sign plan.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/monterey-park