# Sign Regulations in Palm Springs, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Palm Springs, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/palm-springs
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43000201#43000201)

## At a glance

Palm Springs, California regulates 13 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Portable Signs in the Commercial and Industrial Districts zoning district are capped at 42 inches tall, 42 inches in height and 32 inches in width, and 32 inches wide, with a A 72 inch wide clear paved pathway for ADA access must be maintained at all times. setback (Sec. § 93.20.05(C)). Most commercial signs in Palm Springs require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts | 9 | 42 inches | 150 square feet | — |
| Downtown/Uptown | 8 | 42 inches | 42 inches in height and 32 inches in width | — |
| Apartments, Hotels, Condominium Complexes and Residential Mobile Home Parks | 2 | 28 feet for Wall Signs; 8 feet for Freestanding Signs, Monument Signs | 50 square feet | — |
| Resort Hotels | 2 | 28 feet for Wall Signs; 12 feet for Freestanding Signs, Monument Signs | 300 square feet | — |
| Other Uses Permitted in Residential Zones | 1 | 28 feet for Wall Signs; 8 feet for Freestanding Signs, Monument Signs | 20 square feet | — |
| Residential Zones | 1 | — | 8 square feet for two signs or 16 square feet for one sign | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 10 square feet for two signs or 20 square feet for one sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Commercial and Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Main Sign | 28 feet for Wall Signs, Awning Signs, Arcade/Blade Signs; 8 feet for Freestanding Signs, Monument Signs | 150 square feet | — | No Main Sign shall be closer than 10 feet from any other sign; 25 feet for signage facing Interstate 10 | 1 Main Sign per frontage | Adjacent to or on the building facing the frontage line | — | § 93.20.05(A) |
| Accessory Sign | The top of the sign shall not be higher than the building on which it is located, and shall be located a minimum of 7 feet above any pedestrian walkway. | 6 square feet; 4 square feet per sign face if located at a right angle to the street | — | — | 1 sign | Where the Main Sign is not visible to pedestrian traffic | — | § 93.20.05(B) |
| Customer Convenience Signs - Open/Closed Signs | — | 1-1/2 square feet | — | — | 1 sign per frontage | Interior of a window or door on the building frontage | — | § 93.20.05(B) |
| Customer Convenience Signs - Service Signs | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 sign per business | Interior of a window or on a wall adjacent to the front entrance of the business | — | § 93.20.05(B) |
| Customer Convenience Signs - Hours/Days | — | Maximum 2″ letter/number height per line | — | — | 1 sign per business | Interior of a window or door on the building frontage | — | § 93.20.05(B) |
| Customer Convenience Signs - Listing of Business Associates and/or Sub-lessees | — | 3 square foot area | — | — | 1 sign per entrance | Interior of a window or door on the building frontage | — | § 93.20.05(B) |
| Pedestrian Sign Directory | — | 6 square feet per side; individual tenants limited to 2 square feet per side | — | — | 1 per multi-tenant building | Attached to a building wall or as a monument sign | — | § 93.20.05(B) |
| Portable Sign | 42 inches | 42 inches in height and 32 inches in width | 32 inches | A 72 inch wide clear paved pathway for ADA access must be maintained at all times. | One per tenant space with frontage along a public street | Between a public entry into the tenant space and the nearest fronting street or parking drive aisle | — | § 93.20.05(C) |

### Downtown/Uptown

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Main Sign | 28 feet | Arcade/Blade Sign: 16 square feet/cubic feet; Awning Sign: 20% of the total awning area; Exposed Neon: 1 square foot per linear foot of building frontage; Fascia Panel/Plaque Sign: 1 square foot per lineal foot of building frontage; Individual Letters: 2/3 of the overall length of the storefront; Window Sign: 40% of the total glazed area or 15 square feet | — | The lowest point of any blade/arcade sign shall be a minimum of 7 feet above any pedestrian walkway. | 1 Main Sign per frontage | At each customer entrance; on the front face or any valance element of the awning; on glazing limited to the first floor of the building | — | § 93.20.06(A) |
| Accessory Sign | 28 feet | Blade Sign/Arcade Sign: 9 square feet/cubic feet; Awning/Umbrella Sign: 4 square feet; Individual Letters: 6 square feet; Fascia Panel Sign: 6 square feet; Window Sign: 6 square feet | — | The lowest point of any blade/arcade sign shall be a minimum of 7 feet above any pedestrian walkway. | 1 Accessory Sign per business | At each customer entrance; on a vertical face or valance element of the awning or umbrella; on glazing limited to the first floor of the building | — | § 93.20.06(B) |
| Customer Convenience Signs - Open/Closed Signs | — | 1-1/2 square feet | — | — | 1 sign per street entrance | Interior of a window or door on the building frontage | — | § 93.20.06(C) |
| Customer Convenience Signs - Service Signs | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 sign per business | Interior of a window or on a wall adjacent to the front entrance of the business | — | § 93.20.06(C) |
| Customer Convenience Signs - Hours/Days | — | Maximum 2" letter/number height per line | — | — | 1 sign per business | Interior of a window or door on the building frontage | — | § 93.20.06(C) |
| Customer Convenience Signs - Credit Card Decals | — | 1 square foot area | — | — | — | Interior of a window or door on the building frontage | — | § 93.20.06(C) |
| Pedestrian Directory | — | 6 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per building where the principal sign for a business on a parcel fronting on Palm Canyon Drive is not visible from Palm Canyon Drive | Flush-Mounted Signs permanently mounted to the building; Freestanding Signs located on private property; Portable Signs located on private property or in the public right-of-way | — | § 93.20.06(C) |
| Portable Sign | 42 inches | 42 inches in height and 32 inches in width | 32 inches | A 72 inch wide clear paved pathway for ADA access must be maintained at all times. | One per tenant space with frontage along a public street | Between a public entry into the tenant space and the nearest fronting street or parking drive aisle | — | § 93.20.06(D) |

### Resort Hotels

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Main Sign | 28 feet for Wall Signs; 12 feet for Freestanding Signs, Monument Signs | 300 square feet | — | 1 additional sign may be permitted if the street frontage and sign separation is greater than 170 feet | 1 Main Sign | — | — | § 93.20.07(A) |
| Accessory Sign for Restaurant Use | The sign shall not be located above the ground floor of the building. | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 Accessory Sign for a restaurant use within the hotel | At the restaurant entry or at the hotel entry, if the restaurant does not have a separate entry | — | § 93.20.07(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Palm Springs

- Any sign not specifically authorized by the Sign Ordinance shall be prohibited unless required by law or utilized by a proper governmental agency.
- Rotating, Moving, Flashing, Reflecting, Prismatic, or Blinking Signs.
- Signs on Public Property or Rights-of-Way.
- Off-Premises Signs, Billboards, and Posters.
- Businesses without Street Frontage.
- Signs Affixed to Windows or Doors.
- Signs Facing Private Property.
- Imitation of Traffic Signal.
- Signs in residential zones identifying home occupations.
- Signs displaying fighting words, obscene matter, or create a clear and present danger to the general public.
- Signs employing exposed raceways, ballast boxes, transformers, crossovers or conduits, unless otherwise approved by the Director or the Planning Commission.
- Signs attached, affixed to or from the interior of any merchandise or products displayed outside of permanent buildings.
- Cabinet signs.
- Bench Signs
- Vehicle signs attached to or painted on motor vehicles that are parked on or adjacent to property for more than 24 consecutive hours, the principal purpose of which is to attract attention to a product sold or business located on the property.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs on public property or rights-of-way shall be prohibited unless provided through an approved sign program applicable to a Sign District adopted by the City Council.
- Any portable sign approved or permitted pursuant to this Code shall be located in a manner fully compliant with all standards and regulations regarding access for persons with disabilities.
- A permit for a portable sign shall only be issued upon the applicant's submission of proof of commercial general liability insurance applicable to the portable sign, located in compliance with this Subsection, with limitations of liability satisfactory to the City Attorney, and applicant's execution of an indemnification of the City with respect to any and all claims arising from or related to the portable sign.

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

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