# Sign Regulations in Morgan Hill, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Morgan Hill, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/morgan-hill
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Morgan_Hill/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT18ZO_DIVIZOCO_CH18.88SI)

## At a glance

Morgan Hill, California regulates 9 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Neighborhood Form-Based (FB-N) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 0.5 sq ft/linear ft of property street frontage, max 50 sq ft, with a 6 ft min from vehicle access ways and 3 ft min from property lines setback (Sec. Table 18.29-8; Section 18.29.080.F). Most commercial signs in Morgan Hill require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Neighborhood Form-Based (FB-N) | 9 | 35 ft | 25% of the window to which attached (includes painted & perforated vinyl signs) | — |
| Corridor Form-Based (FB-C) | 9 | 35 ft | 25% of the window to which attached (painted/perforated vinyl included in this total) | — |
| Urban General Form-Based (FB-UG) | 9 | 35 ft | 25% of the window to which attached (painted/perforated vinyl included in this total) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Neighborhood Form-Based (FB-N)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 2/3 of awning valance area and 15% of awning face, or 25 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | — | May only be mounted on the wall area below the second floor | — | Table 18.29-4; Section 18.29.080.F; Section 18.88.100.A |
| Blade Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Must be mounted perpendicular to the building face or corner | — | Table 18.29-5; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Canopy Sign | 20 ft | 1 sq ft per linear foot of canopy width | No greater than 60% of width of canopy | — | 1 per tenant space | Placed above the doors and windows of the ground floor of a building | — | Table 18.29-6; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Marquee Sign | 35 ft | — | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed above the primary public entrance | — | Table 18.29-7; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 0.5 sq ft/linear ft of property street frontage, max 50 sq ft | — | 6 ft min from vehicle access ways and 3 ft min from property lines | 1 per street frontage or 1 per vehicle access point | 1 per street frontage or vehicle access from street | — | Table 18.29-8; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Perpendicular from wall of building | — | Table 18.29-9; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Suspended Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Suspended below ground-level awning, canopy, or arcade ceiling | — | Table 18.29-10; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed the top of the parapet of the building wall to which attached | See formula | — | — | 1 per building frontage (single-tenant); 1 per tenant space (multi-tenant) | Attached to building wall of the associated use | — | Table 18.29-11; Section 18.29.080.F |

### Corridor Form-Based (FB-C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 2/3 of awning valance area and 15% of awning face, or 25 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | — | May only be mounted on the wall area below the second floor | — | Table 18.29-4; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Blade Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Must be mounted perpendicular to the building face or corner | — | Table 18.29-5; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Canopy Sign | 20 ft | 1 sq ft per linear foot of canopy width | No greater than 60% of the width of the canopy | — | 1 per tenant space | Placed above the doors and windows of the ground floor of a building | — | Table 18.29-6; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Marquee Sign | 35 ft | — | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed above the primary public entrance (restricted to theaters, auditoriums, indoor amusement/entertainment facilities) | — | Table 18.29-7; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 0.5 sq ft/linear ft of property street frontage, max 50 sq ft | — | 6 ft min from vehicle access ways and 3 ft min from property lines | 1 per street frontage or 1 per vehicle access point | 1 per street frontage or 1 per vehicle access from street | — | Table 18.29-8; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Perpendicular from wall of building | — | Table 18.29-9; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Suspended Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Shall be suspended below a ground-level awning, canopy, or arcade ceiling | — | Table 18.29-10; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed the top of the parapet of the building wall to which attached | See formula | — | — | 1 per building frontage (single-tenant); 1 per tenant space (multi-tenant) | Attached to building wall of the associated use; for multi-tenant, at location of business | — | Table 18.29-11; Section 18.29.080.F |

### Urban General Form-Based (FB-UG)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 2/3 of awning valance area and 15% of awning face, or 25 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | — | May only be mounted on the wall area below the second floor | — | Table 18.29-4; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Blade Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Must be mounted perpendicular to the building face or corner | — | Table 18.29-5; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Canopy Sign | 20 ft | 1 sq ft per linear foot of canopy width | No greater than 60% of the width of the canopy | — | 1 per tenant space | Placed above the doors and windows of the ground floor of a building | — | Table 18.29-6; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Marquee Sign | 35 ft | — | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed above the primary public entrance (restricted to theaters, auditoriums, indoor amusement/entertainment facilities) | — | Table 18.29-7; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 0.5 sq ft/linear ft of property street frontage, max 50 sq ft | — | 6 ft min from vehicle access ways and 3 ft min from property lines | 1 per street frontage or 1 per vehicle access point | 1 per street frontage or 1 per vehicle access from street | — | Table 18.29-8; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Perpendicular from wall of building | — | Table 18.29-9; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Suspended Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Shall be suspended below a ground-level awning, canopy, or arcade ceiling | — | Table 18.29-10; Section 18.29.080.F |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed the top of the parapet of the building wall to which attached | See formula | — | — | 1 per building frontage (single-tenant); 1 per tenant space (multi-tenant) | Attached to building wall of the associated use; for multi-tenant, at location of business | — | Table 18.29-11; Section 18.29.080.F |

## Prohibited signs in Morgan Hill

- No sign permit shall be issued for a sign type or feature prohibited by Section 18.88.050 (Prohibited Signs), including but not limited to: banners and pennants (except as temporary signs), beacon/searchlight signs, inflatable balloon signs, off-site signs (except for specifically allowed exceptions), pole signs, portable signs, roof signs, abandoned signs, and murals/decoration that advertise products or services.
- Signs shall not be attached to or placed adjacent to any utility pole, parking meter, traffic signpost, tree, or any other traffic control device.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained with horizontal or vertical clearance from overhead utilities less than required by state agencies.
- Signs installed without permission of the property owner are prohibited.
- Signs mounted or attached to vehicles parked for advertising purposes are prohibited.
- Signs blocking fire escapes, exits, stairways, doors, ventilators, or windows, or that interfere with required building or fire code safety measures are prohibited.
- Signs that interfere with visibility at intersections, public rights-of-way, driveways, or points of ingress/egress are prohibited.
- Highly reflective, fluorescent, animated, flashing, blinking, changing-color/intensity (except allowed readerboards), sound-emitting, odor-emitting, or moving signs are prohibited.
- Signs that constitute traffic hazards due to high reflectivity or simulate official traffic control signs are prohibited.
- Signs advertising illegal or unlawful activities, containing obscene or indecent content, containing defamation, incitement to lawless action, or presenting a clear and present danger due to confusing official safety information, or advertising uses that have ceased for 90 days or more, are prohibited.
- Signs that are not maintained in a state of good repair, or have become a public nuisance or hazard due to inadequate maintenance, are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained that violates the Building or Electrical Codes.
- Signs may not emit sound, odor, or visible matter.
- Freestanding signs within designated scenic gateway areas must be non-illuminated or indirectly illuminated by exterior lighting sources only.
- The use of visible guy wires, angle irons, and iron frame structures in signs is prohibited.
- No sign shall utilize visible guy wires, angle irons, or iron frame structures.
- Sign illumination sources may not be exposed (bulbs must be shielded).
- No outdoor sign may obstruct or interfere with required landscaping, parking, or access required for the site.
- Murals and decorations that do not advertise a product, business, or service are not considered signs; but those that do are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Morgan Hill

- Signs specifically listed in Section 18.88.040 (Signs Allowed Without Permits) are exempt from sign permit requirements. These include: alley and service area signs (up to defined size), commemorative plaques, non-commercial holiday and cultural decorations, on-site directional signs, directory signs, flags (within permitted number and size), government signs, house numbers and nameplates, informational signs for safety/convenience, signs not visible from public right-of-way, 'No Trespassing' signs, non-commercial bulletin boards, real estate listings posted inside office windows, restaurant menu signs (small size), temporary signs as governed by Section 18.88.120, official traffic-control devices.
- Changes to the sign face that do not structurally alter or enlarge a legally established sign are exempt from permit requirements.
- Routine painting, cleaning, repair, and normal maintenance of a legally-established sign are exempt from permit requirements.
- Murals and decorations that do not advertise a product, business, or service are not considered signs for zoning purposes and are exempt.
- Window signs are allowed in form-based zoning districts without a sign permit, so long as they comply with applicable window sign size and placement standards (see 18.29.080).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program is required for: (1) multifamily developments with more than one permanent sign; (2) any non-residential development with four or more tenants; and/or (3) any building containing more than one business or tenant in the Downtown Specific Plan overlay zone.
- A master sign program requires Planning Commission approval of a sign permit (Section 18.88.110).
- All master sign programs must specify materials, color, size, type, placement, and general design of signs for the project/property.
- A master sign program may allow deviations (with Planning Commission approval) from typical sign height, number, area, and type, but may not authorize prohibited signs.
- All subsequent permanent signage in a development subject to a master sign program must comply with the approved program.
- Signs allowed under an approved master sign program are permitted with an administrative sign permit.
- Sign permits are required for all signs unless specifically exempted in Section 18.88.040 (Signs Allowed Without Permits).
- Sign standards applicable in form-based zoning districts (Chapter 18.29, Subsection 18.29.080.F) reference that all permanent signs require a sign permit except window signs (which are permitted without a permit), with additional allowance for master sign programs and for adjustment to sign standards under 18.88.070.
- Approval of adjustments to sign standards (height, area, number, or specific temporary sign requests) requires Planning Commission approval of a sign permit and specific findings per 18.88.070.

## Full detail

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

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