# Sign Regulations in Orinda, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Orinda, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/orinda
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Orinda/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.18SI)

## At a glance

Orinda, California regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Setback at least 25 ft, Multi-tenant or Single-tenant)s in the Downtown Office District, Downtown Commercial District, Public, Semi-public and Utility District, Park and Recreation District zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 20 sq ft, with a Setback at least 25 ft setback (Sec. 17.18.9.B.1). Most commercial signs in Orinda require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential and Open Space Districts | 5 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Office District, Downtown Commercial District, Public, Semi-public and Utility District, Park and Recreation District | 6 | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Planned Development District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | Flagpole no higher than 25 ft | 15 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential and Open Space Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Lots with 3+ units) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On residential lots with 3 or more residential units | — | 17.18.8.A |
| Wall Sign (Residential Lots with 3+ units) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On residential lots with 3 or more residential units | — | 17.18.8.A |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Buildings) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On lots occupied by nonresidential buildings | — | 17.18.8.B |
| Freestanding Sign (Subdivision Entrance) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One at subdivision entrance | At entrance of a subdivision | — | 17.18.8.C |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Buildings) | — | 15 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | One per occupant per building | On building frontage of nonresidential buildings | — | 17.18.8.D |

### Downtown Office District, Downtown Commercial District, Public, Semi-public and Utility District, Park and Recreation District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Setback at least 25 ft, Multi-tenant or Single-tenant) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | Setback at least 25 ft | One per lot | Lots where all buildings are set back at least 25 ft from street curb or pavement edge | — | 17.18.9.B.1 |
| Wall Sign (Single Building Frontage) | — | — | — | — | One per tenant or occupant, per building frontage | On building frontage | — | 17.18.9.B.2.a |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Frontages) | — | — | — | — | One per tenant or occupant, per building frontage | On each building frontage | — | 17.18.9.B.2.b |
| Wall Sign (Above First Floor) | — | — | — | — | — | On building frontage above first floor | — | 17.18.9.B.2.c |
| Projecting Sign | 3 ft | 5 sq ft | 4 in (thickness) | — | One per tenant or occupant per building frontage; not to exceed one per 25 linear feet of frontage | On building frontage (per tenant or occupant) (may be above first floor) | — | 17.18.9.B.3 |
| Oversized Temporary Sign | — | 15 sq ft per face | — | — | One per tenant; multi-tenant: one per 25 feet building frontage | — | — | 17.18.9.C |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | Flagpole no higher than 25 ft | 15 sq ft | — | — | See above | On permanent flagpole | — | 17.18.7.A |
| Permanent Wall Sign (General) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per building | On any building | — | 17.18.7.B |
| Hand-Held Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 17.18.7.C |
| One-day Sign | — | — | — | — | Any number | On any property; any number allowed | — | 17.18.7.D |
| Portable Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | Any number | On any property (with permission) | — | 17.18.7.E |
| Nonportable Temporary Sign (Per Street Frontage) | — | — | — | — | One per street frontage | On street frontage of any property with permission | — | 17.18.7.F |
| Nonportable Temporary Sign (Private Roadway Easement) | — | — | — | — | Number equal to parcels accessed by easement | On private roadway easements | — | 17.18.7.G |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On any building window or within 3 ft inside window/opening and visible | — | 17.18.7.H |

## Prohibited signs in Orinda

- No person may erect or maintain a sign that is in violation of this Chapter.
- No person may erect or maintain a sign that is dilapidated or unsafe.
- No person may erect or maintain a sign that is constructed in such a manner or at such a location that it will obstruct access to any fire escape or other means of ingress or egress from a building or any exit corridor, exit hallway or exit doorway, or cover wholly or partially any window or doorway in any manner that will substantially limit access to the building in case of fire.
- No person may erect or maintain a sign that is constructed or erected in such a manner as to interfere with, obstruct, or misdirect traffic, impede pedestrian movement, or create a pedestrian or vehicular safety hazard.
- No person may erect or maintain a sign that is located above the first floor of a building, except: (a) a window sign in any zoning district, and (b) a wall sign or projecting sign that complies with the requirements of Section 17.18.9.
- No person may erect or maintain a sign that is equipped or displayed with moving, flashing, or intermittent illumination. This prohibition applies to all signs, including but not limited to readerboards.
- No person may erect or maintain a sign that is equipped with rotating or moving parts.
- No person may erect or maintain a sign that is oriented so as to be visible from the freeway (Highway 24).
- No person may erect or maintain a sign that is located on top of a canopy, covered walkway, or projecting sign.
- No person may erect or maintain a sign that is located within three (3) feet of a fire hydrant, bus stop improvement or pedestrian push button for a traffic signal.
- Off-site advertising signs and billboards are prohibited except where specifically authorized by this Chapter.
- No sign may be erected or maintained within the City unless it is exempt from the provisions of this Chapter, allowed without a permit, or permitted in accordance with this Chapter or other Chapter of this Code.
- A sign that fails to comply with or violates any provision of this Chapter, or is erected or maintained contrary to the terms of a sign permit issued pursuant to this Chapter, is hereby declared to be unlawful and a public nuisance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Orinda

- A sign is exempt from the provisions of this Chapter if it is not visible from a street, other public place, or an adjacent property, including signs placed inside a structure or building that are not visible or legible through windows or building openings.
- Any sign erected and maintained by the City on public property or within the public right-of-way for the purpose of directing, managing, or regulating traffic are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter. Such signs include, but are not limited to, street signs, traffic signals, traffic safety signs, speed limit signs, city entry/welcome signs, neighborhood identification signs, and directional signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Before erecting any new sign on a multi-tenant building in the downtown office, downtown commercial, public, semi-public and utility, or park and recreation districts, the building owner shall obtain a type 2 permit from the City for a master sign program addressing that multi-tenant building. The master sign program shall provide for the reasonable and attractive coordination of the type, area, dimensions, location, materials, lighting, colors, style, and graphics of signs for which permits are required under this Chapter. All signs later proposed for the multi-tenant building shall be consistent with the approved master sign program.
- Type 2 permit applications may require design review when associated with a major remodel, addition, or new building, and the sign application shall be included with the application for the major project. The reviewing body for the sign application shall be the reviewing body for the design review application.

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

---

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