# Sign Regulations in Portola Valley, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Portola Valley, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/portola-valley
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Portola_Valley/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT18ZO_CH18.40SI)

## At a glance

Portola Valley, California regulates 18 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Permanent Identification Signs in the C-C, A-P, O-A zoning district are capped at Freestanding: 16 feet; Wall Sign: peak of roof tall and 24 sq ft (total for 2 signs per business), with a No facing R district side line within 25 feet setback (Sec. 18.40.040A-E, 18.40.050). Most commercial signs in Portola Valley require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | — | 10 sq ft | — |
| C-C, A-P, O-A | 4 | Freestanding: 16 feet; Wall Sign: peak of roof | 36 sq ft (i.e., 24 + 50%) | — |
| R district | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Trespass and Warning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.40.030A |
| Highway and Traffic Marker / Street Name Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.40.030B |
| Construction Sign (Commercial or Institutional Project) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | One per project | On project site | — | 18.40.030E |
| Construction Sign (Residential Project) | — | 10 sq ft (total for any one project) | — | — | Total area limit, not number | On project site | — | 18.40.030F |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per property | On property for sale | — | 18.40.030G |
| Personal Name Plate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 18.40.030H |
| Commemorative, Memorial Plaque, or Historical Tablet | — | — | — | — | — | Placed by historical societies | — | 18.40.030I |
| Parking Area Directional/Instructional Sign | — | 8 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | At parking area | — | 18.40.030K |

### C-C, A-P, O-A

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Identification Sign | Freestanding: 16 feet; Wall Sign: peak of roof | 24 sq ft (total for 2 signs per business) | — | No facing R district side line within 25 feet | Maximum 2 per establishment | On same parcel as business; must face street or public entry | — | 18.40.040A-E, 18.40.050 |
| Hours of Operation Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per business | On parcel with business | — | 18.40.040C, 18.40.050 |
| Group Identification Sign (Shopping Center, Group of Establishments) | Freestanding: 16 feet; Wall Sign: peak of roof | 36 sq ft (i.e., 24 + 50%) | — | — | — | On shopping center or group site | — | 18.40.040D, 18.40.050 |
| Motor Vehicle Fuel Price Sign | — | As needed for price display by State law; other signage per normal area limits. | — | — | — | On property abutting Portola Rd or Alpine Rd | — | 18.40.041 |

### R district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All signs allowed by 18.40.030 (see General Regulations For All Zones) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.40.030 |

## Prohibited signs in Portola Valley

- No signs shall flash, move or change light intensity.
- No freestanding signs shall exceed sixteen feet in height.
- No sign attached to a structure shall exceed the height of the peak of the roof.
- Every sign shall be constructed and maintained to meet legally required clearances from communication and electrical facilities, including but not limited to clearances specified in General Order 95 of the Public Utilities Commission of the state of California.
- All signs shall comply with applicable provisions of the building code.
- No internally illuminated sign shall exceed one square foot in area.
- No free standing sign shall be internally illuminated.
- No internally illuminated sign shall be placed perpendicular to a public road from which it is visible.
- Illuminated signs shall be illuminated with no more than the minimum intensity necessary to permit the public to discern their information.
- No sign shall be illuminated outside the hours of operation of the facility to which it is accessory.
- No illuminated overhanging signs visible from outside the premises shall be permitted.
- All signs must harmonize with their surroundings in design and color, and be continually maintained to ensure an attractive appearance.
- All signs must be appropriate for a rural environment.

## Signs exempt from permit in Portola Valley

- Trespass and warning signs and signals.
- Highway and traffic markers and street name signs.
- Signs used by public utilities for the safety, welfare, or convenience of the public.
- Official notices issued by any court or public body or officer.
- Notices posted by any public officer in performance of a public duty or by any person in giving any legal notice.
- One sign of ten square feet maximum size may be placed on each commercial or institutional construction project and shall be removed upon completion of the project.
- Construction signs may be placed on residential construction projects provided the total area of signs on any one residential construction project does not exceed ten square feet and provided the signs are removed upon completion or sale of the house.
- One real estate sign not exceeding four square feet in area may be placed on each piece of property that is for sale.
- Personal name plates not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Commemorative symbols, memorial plaques, and historical tablets, placed by historical societies.
- Flags, emblems, insignias, and posters of any nation, state, international organization, political subdivision or other governmental agency; and unilluminated, nonverbal religious symbols attached to a building which is a place of religious worship.
- Signs designating entrances, exits or conditions of use of parking areas provided no single sign shall exceed eight square feet in area.
- Roadside signs for special local events by community or nonprofit organizations limited to periods not exceeding two weeks.
- Directional signs for public or semi-public uses.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The design and placement of all signs, except those enumerated in subsections A through J of Section 18.40.030, must be submitted to the architectural and site control commission for approval prior to the installation, construction or erection of any such signs.
- All temporary signs, excluding displays inside buildings which are visible from outside, must be placed in specific approved sign display locations, and these locations and signs must be approved by the architectural and site control commission.
- All signs shall comply with the regulations of this chapter in addition to such other requirements as may be imposed in connection with the granting of a variance or conditional use permit or as may be required by other ordinances of the town.

## Full detail

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

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