# Sign Regulations in Palm Desert, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Palm Desert, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/palm-desert
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43850386#43850386)

## At a glance

Palm Desert, California regulates 23 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freeway-oriented Monument Signs in the Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts zoning district are capped at 40 ft. tall and 450 sq. ft., with a Minimum setback of 10 ft. and a maximum setback of 50 ft. setback (Sec. Table 25.56-2: Signs Allowed in Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070D).

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 7 | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts | 15 | 54 inches | 450 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate - Single-family uses | Below eave of roof or parapet or 4 ft. if on pole | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | One per single-family use | Near main entrance | — | Table 25.56-1: Signs Allowed in Residential Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070C |
| Identification Sign - Multifamily or Condominium Complex | Below eave of roof or parapet for wall sign | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | One sign per complex | At or near main entrance | — | Table 25.56-1: Signs Allowed in Residential Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070C |
| Identification Sign - Residential Community | 6 ft. | 40 sq. ft. total | — | — | Two signs per primary entrance | At primary entrances to residential community | — | Table 25.56-1: Signs Allowed in Residential Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070C |
| Identification Sign - Mobile Home Park | 6 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — | — | One sign per street frontage | At primary entrances to mobile home park | — | Table 25.56-1: Signs Allowed in Residential Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070C |
| Identification Sign - Nonresidential Uses | Below eave of roof or parapet for wall sign. 6 ft. for monument sign | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | One sign | At primary entrance | — | Table 25.56-1: Signs Allowed in Residential Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070C |
| Identification Sign - Commercial Uses (Offices) | Below eave of roof or parapet for wall sign. 6 ft. for monument sign | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | One sign | At primary entrance | — | Table 25.56-1: Signs Allowed in Residential Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070C |
| Identification Sign - Hotels and Motels | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 25.56-1: Signs Allowed in Residential Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070C |

### Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign - Up to 50 ft. of Building Frontage | Below eave line of building and not higher than 20 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building frontage | Adjacent to the right-of-way from which its area is determined | — | Table 25.56-2: Signs Allowed in Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070D |
| Business Identification Sign - 50–100 ft. of Building Frontage | Below eave line of building and not higher than 20 ft. | 75 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building frontage | Adjacent to the right-of-way from which its area is determined | — | Table 25.56-2: Signs Allowed in Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070D |
| Business Identification Sign - More than 100 ft. of Frontage | Below eave line of building and not higher than 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building frontage | Adjacent to the right-of-way from which its area is determined | — | Table 25.56-2: Signs Allowed in Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070D |
| Business Identification Sign - Secondary Business Signs | Below eave line of building and not higher than 20 ft. | The total aggregate sign area of the secondary sign(s) together with the primary sign shall not exceed the maximum sign area allowed for the business | — | — | Two per business subject to the maximum sign area allowed for the business | — | — | Table 25.56-2: Signs Allowed in Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070D |
| Business Identification Sign - Freeway-oriented Signs | Below eave line of building and not higher than 20 ft. | — | — | — | One sign facing the freeway | On the freeway side of the building | — | Table 25.56-2: Signs Allowed in Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070D |
| Freeway-oriented Monument Signs | 40 ft. | 450 sq. ft. | — | Minimum setback of 10 ft. and a maximum setback of 50 ft. | One per 1,000 lineal feet of freeway frontage. Two for planned commercial centers in excess of 1,600 lineal feet of freeway frontage | Located along freeway frontage with a minimum setback of 10 ft. and a maximum setback of 50 ft. | — | Table 25.56-2: Signs Allowed in Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070D |
| Business Identification Sign - Pedestrian-oriented Sign | 54 inches | 3 sq. ft. May be two-sided | — | — | One per establishment | Near main entrance on private property, and oriented to pedestrians | — | Table 25.56-2: Signs Allowed in Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070D |
| Menu Board - Restaurant | Within window area or 6 ft. if on pedestal | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | One per establishment | Within window area or 6 ft. if on pedestal | — | Table 25.56-2: Signs Allowed in Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts, § 25.56.070D |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 25.56.090 |

## Prohibited signs in Palm Desert

- Advertising devices.
- Awnings that are back-lit (internally illuminated) so that the awning radiates light.
- Business and identification signs that mention more than two goods or services sold or available on the premises.
- Cabinet or can signs that are internally illuminated with translucent panels that allow the entire sign background to be illuminated.
- Electronic changeable copy signs.
- Commercial mascots.
- Neon signs, except those placed in windows.
- Off-site outdoor advertising signs (billboards).
- Pole signs.
- Roof signs.
- Signs that rotate, move, flash, blink, or appear to do any of the foregoing with the exception of approved time and temperature displays.
- Signs on public property, in the public right-of-way, or on public utility poles unless otherwise authorized by this chapter.
- Temporary or portable freestanding signs, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
- Vehicle signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Palm Desert

- Official traffic, fire, or police signs, temporary traffic-control signs used during construction and maintenance of utility facilities, and substructure location and identification signs required to protect these facilities.
- Nonresidential identification signs not exceeding 1 square foot in area displaying only the name and address of the owner or occupant and/or hours of business operation.
- Temporary signs in compliance with Section 25.56.090 (Temporary Signs).
- Signs inside a building set back 5 feet or more from a window and not readily visible from public right-of-way.
- Directional or safety signs provided that signs do not exceed 3 square feet per face.
- Official emblems or flags of nonprofit organizations.
- Religious, charitable, educational, or cultural posters not exceeding 16 square feet in area and not displayed for a period greater than 30 days.
- A 'no trespassing' or 'no dumping' sign not exceeding 3 square feet shall be permitted for each property in addition to other authorized signs.
- Governmental or other legally required posters, notices, or signs.
- Political signs in compliance with the provisions of Section 25.56.090.C.
- Directional and public convenience signs for public and quasi-public uses.
- Utility or telephone pay station signs.
- Bingo signs provided that said signs shall not exceed a maximum of 3 square feet in area; are not installed more than 48 hours before the event; and are removed immediately following the event.
- Lottery signs for a business licensed to sell California State Lottery tickets shall be entitled to one window-or door-mounted lottery decal 5.5 inches by 5.5 inches and no more than one specific identification poster not to exceed 7 square feet.
- 'Open' signs, either mounted on the inside of a window or on a pedestal near the main entrance if a window sign is not used. Maximum sign area shall be 3 square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Comprehensive sign programs shall be reviewed for compliance with Section 25.68.060 (Comprehensive Sign Programs).
- The approval of a comprehensive sign program by the ARC shall be required whenever any of the following circumstances exist: Whenever 3 or more separate tenant spaces are present on the same site, whenever 3 or more nonexempt signs are proposed for a single tenant, whenever signs are proposed to be located on the second story on a multistory building, whenever an existing multitenant development of 3 or more tenants is being remodeled or rehabilitated to the extent that it requires review and approval by the ARC, whenever the Director determines that a comprehensive sign program is needed because of special project characteristics.

## Full detail

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

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