# Sign Regulations in Newark, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Newark, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/newark
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Newark/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_TIT6AN_CH6.28REEN_6.28.180LIMAIGPOREWH)

## At a glance

Newark, California regulates 30 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial and Mixed Use Districts (NC, CMU, CR, CC, RC) zoning district are capped at 20 ft (NC/CMU/CR), 40 ft (one in CC), 100 ft (one in RC), 20 ft (all others) tall and 100 sq ft (NC/CMU/CR), 150 sq ft (CC), 250 sq ft (RC), with a Min 5 ft from any building, 20 ft from residential lot line, half of sign height from other lot lines. setback (Sec. 17.25.090.B). Most commercial signs in Newark require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 30 ft (flagpole) | 32 sq ft (per flag) | — |
| Commercial and Mixed Use Districts (NC, CMU, CR, CC, RC) | 10 | 20 ft (NC/CMU/CR), 40 ft (one in CC), 100 ft (one in RC), 20 ft (all others) | 100 sq ft (NC/CMU/CR), 150 sq ft (CC), 250 sq ft (RC) | — |
| Employment Districts (OP, BTP, LI, GI) | 9 | 30 ft (one), 20 ft (others) | 100 sq ft | — |
| Public and Semi-Public Districts (PF, TS, PK, OS) | 7 | 15 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Resource Production District (RP) | 3 | 10 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (RS, RL, RM, RH) | 9 | 10 ft (main sign); 6 ft (unit sign) | 20 sq ft | — |

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

### Commercial and Mixed Use Districts (NC, CMU, CR, CC, RC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On private property directly in front of the business it identifies. | — | 17.25.070.A & 17.25.090.E |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | 14 ft | 10 sq ft or 25% of awning area, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per establishment/entrance | Mounted on awning/canopy over entrance/service area. | — | 17.25.090.A |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft (NC/CMU/CR), 40 ft (one in CC), 100 ft (one in RC), 20 ft (all others) | 100 sq ft (NC/CMU/CR), 150 sq ft (CC), 250 sq ft (RC) | — | Min 5 ft from any building, 20 ft from residential lot line, half of sign height from other lot lines. | One per 50 ft street frontage | Freestanding on lot; not included in aggregate sign area. | — | 17.25.090.B |
| Projecting or Shingle Sign | 15 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per building frontage/tenant space | Horizontally projects from building or suspended beneath marquee/canopy | — | 17.25.090.C |
| Wall Sign | — | Determined by Table 17.25.070.B (2 sq ft/linear ft frontage NC/CMU/CR; 3 sq ft/linear ft CC/RC) | — | — | One per building frontage/tenant | Attached/pinned against wall | — | 17.25.090.D |
| High-Rise Building Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft/linear ft of building frontage | — | — | 1 per street frontage (building 4+ stories) | Located on upper-most story | — | 17.25.090.F |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per street frontage | — | 3-10 sq ft: min 5 ft; 10+ sq ft: min 10 ft | — | Placement depends on size: 3-10 sq ft signs min 5 ft from property lines; 10+ sq ft min 10 ft setback. | — | 17.25.090.G.3 |
| Menu/Order Board Sign (Drive-Thru/Walk-up) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 (drive-thru), 1 (walk-up) | Adjacent to drive-thru aisle or walk-up window. | — | 17.25.080.C |

### Employment Districts (OP, BTP, LI, GI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | 14 ft | 10 sq ft or 25% of awning area, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per establishment | On awning/canopy | — | 17.25.090.A |
| Freestanding Sign - OP | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft from building, 20 ft from residential, half sign height from other property lines | 1 per 50 ft street frontage | On property, not in setback. | — | 17.25.090.B |
| Freestanding Sign - BTP | 8 ft (up to 2 signs per street entrance), 3 ft (others) | 60 sq ft | — | — | Up to 2 at each street entrance at 8 ft | At street entrance or elsewhere on property | — | 17.25.090.B |
| Freestanding Sign - LI/GI | 30 ft (one), 20 ft (others) | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | On property, not in setbacks | — | 17.25.090.B |
| Projecting or Shingle Sign | 15 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage/tenant | Projects from or under building marquee/canopy | — | 17.25.090.C |
| Wall Sign | — | OP/LI/GI: 1 sq ft/linear ft of frontage (plus 1 sq ft/4 ft street frontage for multi-tenant); BTP: 10 sq ft/tenant | — | — | 1 per building frontage/tenant | Attached against wall | — | 17.25.090.D |
| High-Rise Building Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft/linear ft of building frontage | — | — | 1 per street frontage (if 4+ stories) | Uppermost story on building (min 4 stories) | — | 17.25.090.F |
| Temporary Sign - RC, BTP, LI, GI | 10 ft | 64 sq ft per street frontage | — | 3-10 sq ft: min 5 ft; 10+ sq ft: min 10 ft | — | 3-10 sq ft signs min 5 ft from lines; 10+ sq ft min 10 ft setback. | — | 17.25.090.G.4 |

### Residential Districts (RS, RL, RM, RH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Developments, Option 1) | 4 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage in residential development of 2+ units/lots | — | 17.25.080.A |
| Wall Sign (Residential Developments, Option 2) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage in residential development of 2+ units/lots | — | 17.25.080.A |
| Awning and Canopy Sign (Non-Residential Use) | — | 6 sq ft or 25% of awning surface area, whichever is less | — | — | — | On permitted awning/canopy | — | 17.25.080.B.1 |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-Residential Use) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 17.25.080.B.2 |
| Projecting and Shingle Sign (Non-Residential Use) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 17.25.080.B.3 |
| Window Sign (Non-Residential Use) | — | 15% of window area | — | — | — | — | — | 17.25.080.B.4 |
| Temporary Sign (RS, RL) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per street frontage | — | Signs >3 sq ft: 5 ft min from property lines. | — | — | — | 17.25.090.G.1 |
| Temporary Sign (RM, RH) | 10 ft (main sign); 6 ft (unit sign) | 20 sq ft per street frontage; each ground floor unit 1 sign up to 6 sq ft & 6 ft high; upper floor unit 1 sign up to 3 sq ft, at/below eave/parapet | — | 3-10 sq ft: 5 ft; 10+ sq ft: 10 ft | — | — | — | 17.25.090.G.2 |

## Prohibited signs in Newark

- Animated, flashing, blinking, reflecting, revolving, or other similar signs with visibly moving or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement of any kind, unless expressly permitted by another section.
- Balloons, inflatable signs, streamers, pennants, and other attention-getting devices made of lightweight fabric or similar material, designed to rotate or move with the wind, that direct, promote, or that are otherwise designed to attract attention, except when used in conjunction with outdoor automobile sales.
- Internally lit cabinet and can signs.
- Temporary signs that publicize or promote other businesses or causes using advertising methods (general advertising for hire).
- Any sign carried or conveyed by a vehicle for the primary purpose of general advertising for hire (mobile billboard advertising), except displays related to the goods or services provided by the vehicle owner/operator or public transit/carrier graphics on properly licensed vehicles.
- Attached signs that extend above the roofline or parapet of a building with a flat roof; attached signs that extend above the deck line of a mansard roof; signs on rooftop structures, such as penthouse walls or mechanical enclosures.
- Searchlights and Klieg lights used as attention-attracting devices for commercial uses.
- Inanimate signs placed in or projecting into the public right-of-way or on public property, other than official government or required warning signs, unless authorized by an encroachment permit.
- Signs affixed to or cut into any tree or other living vegetation.
- Signs cut, burned, marked, or displayed in any manner on a street, sidewalk, cliff, or hillside.
- Signs made of lights, roofing, siding, paving materials, flora, balloons, or any other similar building, landscaping, or decorative component.
- Signs placed or located in a manner that constitutes a safety hazard or impedes public use of the right-of-way; obstructs doors, windows, or fire escape; blocks or impedes pedestrian use of sidewalks; creates a traffic hazard or obstructs views/signals/devices; produces confusion with traffic controls; or is installed in the visibility triangle at intersections.
- Signs displaying a commercial message promoting a business that is a prohibited use and has not been established as a legal nonconforming use.
- Signs that produce visible smoke, vapor, particles, odor, noise, or sounds that can be heard at the property line, excluding voice units at menu boards and drive-up devices for customer service windows.
- Signs must be constructed of sturdy, durable materials; paper, cardboard, and other rapid-deterioration materials are limited to temporary signs. Fabric is limited to awnings, canopies, flags, and temporary signs.
- Cabinet signs are prohibited.
- General advertising (advertising for hire, except as provided for outdoor advertising structures oriented toward freeways with a conditional use permit) is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Newark

- Required address identification signs in conformance with the building code.
- Displays on vehicles related to the goods or services of the vehicle owner/operator and public transit/public carrier graphics on properly licensed vehicles.
- Commercial mascot signs (with limitations: only 2 per business, max area 6 sq ft each, in commercial/mixed-use districts, only when the business is open).
- Directional and informational signs (not more than 6 sq ft) for direction/convenience of the public.
- Up to four off-site signs (max 4 sq ft area, 3 ft high) for open house events, placed only on private land, and limited to display times.
- Flags (location/setback, max 30 ft pole, 2 per lot in residential, 3 in other districts, max flag 32 sq ft).
- Official government signs, notices, or signs required by law.
- Historic plaques, memorial signs, commemorative signs indicating name/date (max 4 sq ft) attached/cut into buildings.
- Signs located in interior areas of a building or site, at least 3 feet from a window, door, or exterior opening, not visible from the public right-of-way.
- Signs fixed to mobile vending vehicles identifying/advertising the vendor (max 8 sq ft per vehicle).
- One nameplate per tenant/occupancy not exceeding 2 sq ft, indicating occupant/tenant name.
- Off-site signs no more than 6 sq ft in size.
- Nothing in the chapter prohibits persons holding signs while picketing or protesting on public property determined to be a public forum, provided they do not block ingress/egress or create safety hazards.
- Display of registered marks, trademarks, service marks, trade names, or corporate names as registered by the USPTO, provided the mark is displayed as registered.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program is required for: (a) projects with four or more non-residential tenants, (b) multi-unit developments of fifty or more units, and (c) whenever five or more signs are proposed for a building or site.
- A master sign program application must include all written and graphic information needed to describe the program, including sign locations, dimensions, color schemes, font types, materials, attachment/support methods, and illumination details, as well as calculations of allowed and proposed sign area.
- A master sign program may provide for deviations from the standards of this chapter.
- All master sign programs are subject to review and approval by the review authority for the project, which may be the planning commission if requesting additional sign area, height, or number than otherwise allowed.
- A master sign program may be submitted separately or as part of the overall project permit application.
- Lessee tenants in developments with approved master sign programs must be made aware of the master sign program in their lease.
- Sign permits, including sign plan/design review, are required for all signs except exempt signs and routine maintenance; conditional use permit is required for outdoor advertising structures (billboards displaying general advertising for hire).

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

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