# Sign Regulations in Pleasanton, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pleasanton, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/pleasanton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43035353#43035353)

## At a glance

Pleasanton, California regulates 6 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Nameplates in the A, R zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 1 square foot (Sec. § 18.96.040A). Most commercial signs in Pleasanton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 250 square feet | — |
| C-C, MU | 1 | — | 9 square feet | — |
| A, R | 2 | 8 feet | 6 square feet | — |
| O | 1 | 12 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| C-N | 1 | — | 40 square feet | — |
| C-R | 1 | — | — | — |
| C-S, C-A | 1 | 24 feet | 500 square feet | — |
| C-F | 1 | 20 feet | 500 square feet | — |
| I | 1 | 20 feet | 600 square feet in I-P, 1,000 square feet in I-G | — |
| Q | 1 | 12 feet | 12 square feet | — |
| P, S | 1 | — | 4 square feet | — |
| R-1, RM, H-P-D | 2 | 8 feet | 6 square feet | — |
| PUD | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### A, R

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | 8 feet | 1 square foot | — | — | One per dwelling | On the site of a one-family dwelling. | — | § 18.96.040A |
| Identification Sign | 8 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | One per site | On the site of a multi-family dwelling or lodging house. | — | § 18.96.040B |

### Q

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | 12 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | One per site | On the site of a permitted or conditional use. | — | § 18.96.070A |

### R-1, RM, H-P-D

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | 8 feet | 1 square foot | — | — | One per dwelling | On the site of a one-family dwelling. | — | § 18.96.040A |
| Identification Sign | 8 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | One per site | On the site of a multi-family dwelling or lodging house. | — | § 18.96.040B |

## Prohibited signs in Pleasanton

- No sign or display of any character shall be permitted except in conformity with the regulations.
- No sign shall project beyond a property line except in a C-C or MU district.
- No sign attached to a building shall project above the eaves or parapet line.
- No sign other than a directional sign shall project more than 12 inches into a required interior side yard or a required rear yard.
- No sign exceeding 24 square feet shall be visible from an R district unless it is more than 100 feet from the R district.
- No sign shall be located so as to create a safety hazard by obstructing vision, or interfere with or resemble any authorized warning or traffic sign or signal.
- No sign shall exceed 250 square feet in area.
- No sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or any other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color.
- No illuminated sign shall be located so as to be confused with or to resemble any warning traffic-control device.
- Neither the direct nor reflected light from primary light sources shall create a traffic hazard to operators of motor vehicles.
- No sign that moves, has visible moving parts, or simulates movement by means of fluttering, spinning, or reflecting devices shall be permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pleasanton

- Signs used exclusively for the posting or display of official notices by a public agency or official, or by a person giving legal notice.
- Signs erected or maintained by a public agency or official or required by law to be displayed by a public utility for directional, warning or informational purposes.
- Traffic-control signs and devices including street name signs.
- The flag, pennant, or insignia of any nation or association of nations, or of any state, city, or other political unit or of any charitable, educational, philanthropic, civic, professional or religious organization.
- Nonilluminated, nonverbal religious symbols on the site of a religious institution.
- Signs not visible beyond the boundary of a site.
- Directional signs necessary to control and direct pedestrian traffic on a site.
- Emblems of civic or service clubs and area identification signs of sizes and at locations approved by the planning commission.
- A real estate sign designating an open house for an individual home for sale or lease, other than first-time sales of homes within new subdivisions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs shall be subject to design review by the zoning administrator as prescribed in Chapter 18.20 of this title.
- Applicants are advised to confer with the zoning administrator before preparing detailed plans.
- No sign exceeding six square feet shall be erected or displayed unless a zoning certificate has been issued by the zoning administrator.
- A zoning certificate shall be required for any sign projecting over public property or off-site 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 13 zoning districts in Pleasanton — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Pleasanton+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-pleasanton

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