# Sign Regulations in Rancho Santa Margarita, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rancho Santa Margarita, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/rancho-santa-margarita
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-26
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Rancho_Santa_Margarita/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT5HESA_CH5.01ALBEWASI)

## At a glance

Rancho Santa Margarita, California regulates 31 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Project Directorys in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at Six ft. tall and 24 sq. ft. (Sec. Table 9.07.1 Temporary Signs Permitted in Residential Districts). Most commercial signs in Rancho Santa Margarita require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 6 | Subject to Planning Commission review and approval of a sign program | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial and Business Park Districts | 4 | Shall not exceed eave line or parapet of building | 25 percent of total window area not to exceed 50 sq. ft. in size for any building | — |
| Commercial Districts | 10 | Wall: shall not exceed eave line or parapet of building | Wall: one sq. ft. of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage not to exceed 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Business Park District | 2 | Five ft. | One sq. ft. of sign area per lineal ft. of tenant frontage not to exceed an aggregate total of 100 sq. ft. per primary tenant | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | Monument: Five ft. | Wall: one sq. ft. per lineal foot of tenant frontage not to exceed an aggregate total of 100 sq. ft. per public facility. Monument: 50 sq. ft. per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Community/Neighborhood Project Identification | Subject to Planning Commission review and approval of a sign program | Subject to Planning Commission review and approval of a sign program | — | — | — | Placement shall be permitted on private property only with consent of property owner | — | Table 9.07.1 Temporary Signs Permitted in Residential Districts |
| Apartment Complex Project Identification | Subject to Planning Commission review and approval of a Sign Program | Subject to Planning Commission review and approval of a Sign Program | — | — | — | Placement shall be permitted on private property only | — | Table 9.07.1 Temporary Signs Permitted in Residential Districts |
| Project Directory | Six ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | One sign per site, or minimum number necessary to provide adequate unit addresses and information | Placement shall be permitted on private property only with consent of property owner | — | Table 9.07.1 Temporary Signs Permitted in Residential Districts |
| Sales/Rental/Leasing Office Identification | — | Six sq. ft. | — | — | One sign per development | Placement shall be permitted on private property only with consent of property owner | — | Table 9.07.1 Temporary Signs Permitted in Residential Districts |
| Subdivision and Model Home Identification and Directional | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 9.07.1 Temporary Signs Permitted in Residential Districts |
| Ancillary (neighborhood watch, skateboarding prohibited, etc.) | Signs shall follow City Police Department specifications | Signs shall follow City Police Department specifications | — | — | Signs shall follow City Police Department specifications | — | — | Table 9.07.1 Temporary Signs Permitted in Residential Districts |

### Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Commercial Building, Business Identification (single-tenant) | Wall: shall not exceed eave line or parapet of building | Wall: one sq. ft. of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage not to exceed 200 sq. ft. | — | — | Wall: one sign per building elevation for a maximum of three signs | Signs shall not be located closer than two feet from any edge of the building | — | Table 9.07.4 Permanent Signs Permitted in Commercial Districts |
| Commercial Center - Center Identification (for centers with ten or more tenants) | Wall: shall not exceed eave line or parapet of building | Wall: one sq. ft. of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage not to exceed 200 sq. ft. | — | — | Wall: one sign per building elevation for a maximum of three signs | Signs shall not be located closer than two feet from any edge of the building | — | Table 9.07.4 Permanent Signs Permitted in Commercial Districts |
| Commercial Center - Center Identification (for centers with less than ten tenants) | Wall: shall not exceed eave line or parapet of building | Wall: one sq. ft. of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage not to exceed 200 sq. ft. | — | — | Wall: one sign per building elevation for a maximum of three signs | Signs shall not be located closer than two feet from any edge of the building | — | Table 9.07.4 Permanent Signs Permitted in Commercial Districts |
| Freestanding Building Individual Tenant Identification | Wall: shall not exceed eave line or parapet of building | Wall: one sq. ft. of sign area per lineal foot of tenant frontage not to exceed 100 sq. ft. per primary tenant | — | — | Wall: one sign per building elevation for a maximum of three signs | Signs shall not be located closer than two feet from any edge of the building | — | Table 9.07.4 Permanent Signs Permitted in Commercial Districts |
| Individual Tenant Identification | Shall not exceed eave line or parapet of building | One sq. ft. of sign area per lineal foot of tenant frontage not to exceed an aggregate total of 100 sq. ft. per primary tenant | — | — | One sign per building elevation for a maximum of three signs | Signs shall not be located closer than two feet from any edge of the building | — | Table 9.07.4 Permanent Signs Permitted in Commercial Districts |
| Business Directory - Pedestrian Oriented | Wall: Three ft. | Ten sq. ft. | — | — | Two | — | — | Table 9.07.4 Permanent Signs Permitted in Commercial Districts |
| Business Directory - Vehicle-Oriented | Five ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | Minimum number necessary to provide adequate information and direction | Monument shall only be located within landscaped planters internal to the center | — | Table 9.07.4 Permanent Signs Permitted in Commercial Districts |
| Drive Thru Restaurant Menu Board | Wall: shall not exceed eave line or parapet of building | 30 sq. ft. | — | — | Wall: one sign per building | Menu boards shall not be visible from a public right-of-way | — | Table 9.07.4 Permanent Signs Permitted in Commercial Districts |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate—Commercial or Business Park Leasing or Sales | Monument: Five ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | One sign per street frontage | Shall be located within a landscaped planter at least 25 feet from any permanent sign | — | Table 9.07.6 Signs Permitted in All Districts |
| Temporary Signs for Businesses Impacted by Construction Projects, Road Widenings, and Remodels | Monument: Five ft. Fence: shall not exceed top of construction fence | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | One sign per street frontage | — | — | Table 9.07.6 Signs Permitted in All Districts |
| Future Facility | Monument: Eight ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building or street frontage | — | — | Table 9.07.6 Signs Permitted in All Districts |
| Directional | Wall: shall not exceed eave line or parapet of building. Monument: Four ft. | Six sq. ft. | — | — | Minimum number necessary to provide adequate information and direction | Signs shall be designed to be viewed on-site by pedestrians and/or motorists | — | Table 9.07.6 Signs Permitted in All Districts |
| Campaign Sign | n/a | n/a | — | — | n/a | Shall be placed so that the edge of the sign is at least two feet from the edge of the curb of street where there is no curb | — | Table 9.07.6 Signs Permitted in All Districts |
| Public or Institutional Facility Identification | Wall or canopy: shall not exceed eave line or parapet of the building. Monument: Five ft. | Wall: one sq. ft. per lineal foot of tenant frontage not to exceed an aggregate total of 100 sq. ft. per public facility. Monument: 50 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | Wall; one sign per building elevation for a maximum of three signs. Monument: one per street frontage | Signs shall not be located closer than two feet from any edge of the building | — | Table 9.07.6 Signs Permitted in All Districts |
| Travel Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 9.07.6 Signs Permitted in All Districts |
| Community facility banner | Six ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | As determined by the Development Services Director | Appropriate locations shall be determined by the Development Services Director | — | Table 9.07.6 Signs Permitted in All Districts |

## Prohibited signs in Rancho Santa Margarita

- Signs on public property, including but not limited to, any building, wall, bridge, hydrant, tree, shrub, tree stake or guard, street sign, traffic sign, utility pole, wire box or related equipment, except those serving a public purpose and approved by a government agency.
- Signs in public rights-of-way except those needed for traffic safety regulation, City signs and directional signs related to hospitals or affiliated facilities, as approved by the City.
- Any off-site or outdoor advertising sign or structures placed for the purpose of advertising a business not on the property upon which the sign is placed.
- Banners, pennants, and balloons, unless specifically provided by this Title.
- Flags, kites, wind blown and blow-up signs and characters or other similar advertising devices or displays.
- Signs that revolve, rotate, move, flash, reflect, blink, or appear to do any of the foregoing, including searchlights, and animated signs shall be prohibited unless required by law or utilized by a proper government agency, with the exception of approved time and temperature displays.
- Flood, laser, or search lights are not permitted unless the event involves over 500 people and is approved as part of a special event through the site development permit process in Section 9.08.170.
- Electronic message board signs, except those that meet the requirements identified in Section 9.07.080.
- Signs which constitute a nuisance or hazard due to their intensity of light.
- Audible signs or other advertising devices.
- Animals or human beings, live or simulated, designed or used so as to attract attention to the premises.
- Can signs and cabinet signs.
- Formed plastic or injection molded plastic signs.
- Acrylic faced letters or similar material adhered to a window.
- Roof signs.
- Abandoned signs.
- Vehicle signs, including signs attached by any means to automobiles, trucks, trailers, or other vehicles on private or public property for the purpose of advertising, identifying, or providing direction to a use or activity not related to the lawful use of the vehicle for rendering service or delivering merchandise, that remain on a parked vehicle for four or more hours.
- Neon signs/bands in which the neon tubing is exposed and clearly visible, unless approved through a sign program in the commercial-general (CG) zoning district only.
- Portable signs, including human directional signs and sign 'twisters'.
- A-frame signs, with the exception that restaurants be permitted one A-frame sign to place inside their patio area or by their front door.
- Free-standing pole signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rancho Santa Margarita

- One 'open' or 'closed' window sign less than two square feet in area. This sign may also include hours of operation.
- Interior signs located within the interior of buildings when such signs are not visible from outside the subject building.
- A United States, California or City flag. The flag itself shall not exceed ten feet in length or eight feet in height. The height of the flag pole shall not exceed 20 feet.
- One temporary residential 'open house' sign not exceeding three square feet in area on the particular premises that is for sale, lease, or rent, and posted only when a salesperson is present.
- Directional safety signs, such as 'Stop,' 'Yield,' and similar signs, the face of which meet California Department of Transportation standards and bear no commercial message of any sort.
- Trespassing and property alarm signs less than two square feet in area.
- Neighborhood watch signs in residential neighborhoods with the approval of the City Engineer and Orange County Fire Authority.
- Any official government sign, public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable Federal, State or local law, regulation or ordinance.
- Temporary banner signs which are 24 square feet or less in the park zoning district provided said banner signs are part of a City-approved temporary banner sign program.
- Signs identified in Tables 9.07.1 through 9.07.6 as not requiring a permit if they meet the applicable standards outlined in the tables.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign program is required for all integrated centers; including individual buildings with multiple tenants, building complexes, commercial centers or business parks.
- No permit shall be issued for an individual sign unless and until a sign program for the site on which the sign will be erected has been submitted and approved by the Planning Commission.
- Applications for a sign program or sign program amendment shall be filed with the Development Services Director.
- The Development Services Director shall review the proposed sign program or sign program amendment for consistency with any applicable sign regulations established within Chapter 9.07.
- If the proposed sign program or sign program amendment is found to be consistent with the requirements of Chapter 9.07, the Development Services Director shall approve the sign program or sign program amendment, or may forward the sign program or sign program amendment to the Planning Commission.

## 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 5 zoning districts in Rancho Santa Margarita — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Rancho+Santa+Margarita+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-rancho-santa-margarita

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