# Sign Regulations in Novato, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Novato, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/novato
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Novato/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CHXIXZO_ART3SIPLGEDEST_DIV19.32SI)

## At a glance

Novato, California regulates 17 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Wall, Window, Awning, Canopy, Projecting or Freestanding Sign (Ground Floor Use)s in the Business and Professional Office (BPO), Neighborhood Commercial (CN), General Commercial (CG), Commercial/Industrial (CI), Light Industrial/Office (LIO), Mixed Use (MU), Community Facilities and Parkland (CF) zoning district are capped at Freestanding: 6 ft; All others: Below edge of roof. tall and See formula above (Sec. 19.32.060.B, Table 3-11, 19.32.030, 19.32.070 (standards by type)). Most commercial signs in Novato require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agriculture (A), Open Space (OS), Conservation (C), Residential Zoning Districts | 2 | 6 ft | 32 sf maximum per sign; 64 sf total for all signs per entrance/street frontage | — |
| Business and Professional Office (BPO), Neighborhood Commercial (CN), General Commercial (CG), Commercial/Industrial (CI), Light Industrial/Office (LIO), Mixed Use (MU), Community Facilities and Parkland (CF) | 3 | Freestanding: 6 ft; All others: Below edge of roof. | Shall not exceed 20% of total window area. | — |
| Downtown Core (CD), Downtown Novato Specific Plan (D) Overlay | 6 | Max 14 ft, eave/parapet, or sill height of second floor window, whichever less. Must be below eave/parapet/roof; min. clearance to ground 8 ft. | See formula. No single sign to exceed 25 sf. | — |
| Planned District (PD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | Flagpole: 12 ft in residential, 30 ft in non-residential zones | 32 sf | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Business and Professional Office (BPO), Neighborhood Commercial (CN), General Commercial (CG), Commercial/Industrial (CI), Light Industrial/Office (LIO), Mixed Use (MU), Community Facilities and Parkland (CF)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall, Window, Awning, Canopy, Projecting or Freestanding Sign (Ground Floor Use) | Freestanding: 6 ft; All others: Below edge of roof. | See formula above | — | — | Single tenant: 3 per primary frontage, 1 per secondary frontage; Multi-tenant bldg: 1 per business frontage | Near main entrance. No covering of doors, windows or architectural details. | — | 19.32.060.B, Table 3-11, 19.32.030, 19.32.070 (standards by type) |
| Wall and/or Window, Awning, Canopy, or Projecting Sign (Second Floor or not visible from public street) | Below edge of roof. | 12 sf for each tenant. 1 directory sign not to exceed 12 sf also allowed for upper floor occupants. | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Near main entrance; not covering doors, windows or architectural details. | — | 19.32.060.B, Table 3-11 |
| Temporary Window Sign (Ground Floor Windows) | — | Shall not exceed 20% of total window area. | — | — | No max | Within building windows (ground floor only) | — | 19.32.060.B, Table 3-11, 19.32.070.G.1 |

### Downtown Core (CD), Downtown Novato Specific Plan (D) Overlay

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Downtown Overlay) | Below edge of roof. Letter height: Max 12 inches (except alley—see below) | See formula. No single sign to exceed 25 sf. | — | — | Per wall along eligible frontage | One allowed per wall along street, alley, or off-street parking area. Wall signs facing alleys only when a business opens onto the alley. Alley wall sign: max 10 sf, in addition to max allowed above. | — | 19.32.060.C; 19.32.070.F.2; Table 3-11 notes |
| Freestanding Sign (Downtown Overlay; only permitted in General Commercial within Downtown) | 6 ft | See sign code and Table 3-11 for parcel specifics; no single sign to exceed 25 sf within Downtown Overlay. | — | — | — | Only in General Commercial portions of Downtown (CG). Not allowed elsewhere in Downtown Overlay. | — | 19.32.070.B.2, 19.32.060.C |
| Awning Signs (Downtown Overlay) | Letter height max 8 inches | — | — | — | See above | Only for ground and second story occupancies. | — | 19.32.070.A.2 |
| Projecting Sign (Downtown Overlay) | Max 14 ft, eave/parapet, or sill height of second floor window, whichever less. Must be below eave/parapet/roof; min. clearance to ground 8 ft. | 9 sf per sign face | — | — | Per eligible frontage | Limited to building frontage. Max projection over sidewalk: 36 in; alley: 24 in | — | 19.32.070.D |
| Window Signs (Permanent and Temporary, Downtown Overlay) | — | Window sign area not to exceed 20% of total window area (all permanent & temporary combined) | — | — | Combined limit | Allowed on ground level and second story windows. Temporary only in ground-floor windows. | — | 19.32.070.G, 19.32.060.C, Table 3-11 note |
| Mural (Downtown Only) | — | No max; mural is in addition to normal sign area. | — | — | No stated max | Private/public structures, subject to approval by relevant commission/city | — | 19.32.070.C |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 6 ft | 32 sf | — | — | 1 | On site only | — | 19.32.070.E.1 |
| Political Sign (Residential Zone) | 6 ft | 24 sf | — | — | — | On private property with owner consent | — | 19.32.030.F.5 |
| Political Sign (Nonresidential Zone) | 6 ft | 32 sf | — | — | — | On private property with owner consent | — | 19.32.030.F.5 |
| Official Flag | Flagpole: 12 ft in residential, 30 ft in non-residential zones | Flag length not to exceed 1/3 height of pole. | — | — | — | On building or flagpole as per requirements | — | 19.32.030.F.4 |
| Street Address Numbers | — | 2 sf aggregate | — | — | — | On building or sign | — | 19.32.030.F.8 |

## Prohibited signs in Novato

- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Animated signs, including electronic message display signs, and variable intensity, blinking, or flashing signs are prohibited, except time and temperature displays.
- Balloons and other inflatable devices are prohibited.
- Banners are prohibited.
- Flags are prohibited, except those allowed by Section 19.32.030.F.
- Illegal signs are prohibited.
- Light bulb strings are prohibited, except for holiday decorations.
- Moving signs are prohibited, except barber poles.
- Obscene signs are prohibited.
- Permanent off-site signs are prohibited, except as provided in Section 19.32.070.E.2.
- Pennants are prohibited.
- Pole signs and other freestanding signs over six feet in height are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs that simulate in color, size, or design, any traffic control sign or signal, or that use words, symbols, or characters in a manner that interferes with, misleads or confuses pedestrian or vehicular traffic are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or suspended from a vehicle parked within a public right-of-way, or in a location on private property that is visible from a public right-of-way, except a sign painted directly upon, magnetically affixed to, or permanently affixed to the body or other integral part of the vehicle, are prohibited.
- Temporary and portable signs are prohibited, except as allowed by Subsections 19.32.070.E and G.
- No sign shall be located within the public right-of-way, except as otherwise allowed by this Division.
- No sign shall be installed, constructed, or altered unless it is approved in compliance with Section 19.32.030, or is exempt under Section 19.32.030.F.
- Signs shall not have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or other illuminating devices that have a changing light intensity, brightness or color.
- Colored lights shall not be used at a location or in a manner so as to be confused or construed as traffic control devices.
- Neither the direct nor reflected light from primary light sources shall create a hazard to operators of motor vehicles.
- Reflective-type bulbs and incandescent lamps that exceed 15 watts shall not be used on the exterior surface of signs so as to expose the face of the bulb or lamp to a public right-of-way or adjacent property.
- Illuminated panels, visible tubing, and strings of lights outlining all or a portion of a building (except for indirect illumination of architectural features, signs, or landscaping) shall be deemed 'signs' and are subject to all sign standards.
- No sign shall be located to block sight distance visibility areas for intersections, driveways, or accessways, or otherwise create a hazard.
- Signs shall not be located, sized, or constructed so as to unreasonably block the sight lines of existing signs on adjacent properties.
- Signs are not allowed that are a traffic hazard or unsafe for vehicles or pedestrians.
- Nonconforming signs may not be changed to another nonconforming sign, structurally altered to extend their useful life, expanded, reestablished after discontinuance of business for 30 days, or reestablished after damage or destruction to 50% or more of their value.

## Signs exempt from permit in Novato

- Modifications to sign copy on conforming signs, or changes to the face or copy of conforming changeable copy signs (nonstructural) are allowed without a sign permit.
- Nonstructural modifications of the face or copy of an existing conforming sign installed in compliance with a Master Sign Plan, provided modifications are consistent with the approved Master Sign Plan, are exempt from sign permit.
- The normal maintenance of conforming signs, except as set forth in 19.32.090.C, is exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Temporary signs in compliance with Section 19.32.070.E do not require a sign permit.
- Governmental signs installed by the City, or a Federal or State governmental agency within a public right-of-way; and any sign, posting, notice, or similar sign placed by or required by a governmental agency in carrying out its responsibility to protect public health, safety, and general welfare, are exempt.
- Flags of national, State, or local governments, or nationally recognized religious, fraternal, or public service agencies, provided that the length of the flag does not exceed one-third the height of the flag pole, are exempt (subject to height limits of 12 or 30 feet by zone, with exceptions possible via Design Review).
- Political signs are allowed without a Sign Permit provided they are no more than 6 feet in height and do not exceed 24 square feet in area within residential zoning districts or 32 square feet within nonresidential zoning districts, are installed for up to 60 days prior to an election, and are removed within seven days after.
- Signs showing the location of public facilities such as public telephones, restrooms, and underground utilities are exempt.
- Service station price signs required by State law are allowed without a sign permit.
- Street address numbers not exceeding an aggregate area of two square feet are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Plan must be approved by the Director (or Design Review Commission on referral) before issuing any Sign Permit for a new nonresidential project with four or more tenants including those in a parcel zoned Planned District (PD) and subject to an approved Precise Development Plan.
- A Master Sign Plan is required prior to sign permit issuance for major rehabilitation work on an existing nonresidential project with four or more tenants that involves exterior remodeling or modifications to 50% or more of existing signs on the site within a one year period.
- All signs installed or replaced within a nonresidential project subject to a Master Sign Plan must comply with the approved Master Sign Plan.
- A Master Sign Plan must provide standards for the uniform style, construction, size, and placement of signs within the project.
- Revisions to a Master Sign Plan may be approved by the Director only if the revision is minor and does not affect the intent of the original approval and any applicable conditions.
- Design Review Commission may be involved in approval of Master Sign Plans, either upon Director referral or as part of a development project subject to DRC review.
- No sign shall be installed, constructed, or altered unless approved through this process or allowed as exempt.
- In Planned Districts (PD), the sign standards of the Master Plan or Precise Development Plan override the general sign ordinance standards if conflict exists.

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

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