# Sign Regulations in Rolling Hills Estates, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rolling Hills Estates, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/rolling-hills-estates
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Rolling_Hills_Estates/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.60SI)

## At a glance

Rolling Hills Estates, California regulates 25 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Temporary Noncommercial Sign (General in Residential Zones)s in the Residential Zones (R-A-E, R-A-20, R-A-15, R-A-10, RPD, A-agricultural districts) zoning district are capped at 4 ft in yard, 3 ft on wall/fence tall and 8 sq ft (16 sq ft cumulative), with a Not in public right-of-way setback (Sec. 17.60.060(C)(1)-(2)). Most commercial signs in Rolling Hills Estates require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 5 ft for commercial/subdivision projects; not specified for others | 12 sq ft for commercial/subdivision projects; 4 sq ft for all others | — |
| Residential Zones (R-A-E, R-A-20, R-A-15, R-A-10, RPD, A-agricultural districts) | 5 | 4 ft in yard, 3 ft on wall/fence | 8 sq ft (16 sq ft cumulative) | — |
| Non-residential zones | 1 | 4 ft in yard, 3 ft on wall/fence | 32 sq ft total per parcel | — |
| Institutional Zone (I), Commercial Recreation Zone (C-R) | 1 | 8 ft (freestanding sign) | 25 sq ft | — |
| Commercial-Office Zone (C-O), other similar commercial zones | 5 | 8 ft | 30 sq ft | — |
| Commercial-General Zone (C-G) | 11 | 8 ft | Up to 42 sq ft for freestanding (30 + 40%); up to 56 sq ft for wall (40 + 40%); up to 34 sq ft for awning (24 + 40%) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential Zones (R-A-E, R-A-20, R-A-15, R-A-10, RPD, A-agricultural districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Zone) | — | 6 sq ft | — | Not in public right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | On lot for sale/lease; removes within 10 days after closing | — | 17.60.060(A) |
| Residential Nameplate/Street Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft each | — | — | 1 per residence | Per residence | — | 17.60.060(B) |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign (General in Residential Zones) | 4 ft in yard, 3 ft on wall/fence | 8 sq ft (16 sq ft cumulative) | — | Not in public right-of-way | 2 per parcel (outside election period); >2 allowed during election period but total area capped to 32 sq ft | Front/side/rear yard; not in public right-of-way | — | 17.60.060(C)(1)-(2) |
| Temporary Noncommercial Window Sign | — | 6 sq ft or 25% window coverage, whichever is greater | — | — | 1 per building frontage per unit | Window | — | 17.60.060(D)(1) |
| Neighborhood Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Residential neighborhood | — | 17.60.120(A) |

### Commercial-Office Zone (C-O), other similar commercial zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | 25 sq ft | — | 5 ft from vehicular public right-of-way | 1 per premises | Minimum 5 ft setback from public right-of-way | — | 17.60.140(A)(1), (D) |
| Wall Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy (plus additional per C below) | Attached to building frontage | — | 17.60.140(A)(2) |
| Undercanopy Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy | Suspended beneath a canopy, ceiling, roof, or marquee | — | 17.60.140(B), (E) |
| Additional Wall or Freestanding Sign Face | — | — | — | — | 1 additional per extra frontage | On additional frontage | — | 17.60.140(C) |
| Center Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage, subject to master sign plan/precise plan | — | 17.60.140(F) |

### Commercial-General Zone (C-G)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 1 | 8 ft | 30 sq ft | — | 5 ft from vehicular public right-of-way | 1 per occupancy | Setback minimum 5 ft from vehicular public right-of-way | — | 17.60.150(A)(1), (E), (G) |
| Wall Sign - Option 2 | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy | Building frontage | — | 17.60.150(A)(2) |
| Awning Sign - Option 3 | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per awning | On awning | — | 17.60.150(A)(3) |
| Freestanding/Wall/Awning Sign (25,000+ sq ft Tenant Exception) | 8 ft for freestanding | Up to 42 sq ft for freestanding (30 + 40%); up to 56 sq ft for wall (40 + 40%); up to 34 sq ft for awning (24 + 40%) | — | — | As otherwise allowed per sign type | As otherwise allowed per sign type | — | 17.60.150(A)(4) |
| Undercanopy Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy | Suspended beneath a canopy, ceiling, roof or marquee | — | 17.60.150(B), (F) |
| Additional Wall or Freestanding Sign Face (Multiple Frontages) | — | — | — | — | 1 additional per extra frontage | On additional frontage | — | 17.60.150(D) |
| Temporary Banner Sign (Grand Opening/Promotional/Seasonal) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage per permitted event | On building wall below parapet or on window only | — | 17.60.150(J) |
| Gas/Electric Price and Pump/Charger Information Sign | — | Price signage: state law; Information: 1 sq ft per pump/station | — | — | 1 per pump/station | On pump/charging station | — | 17.60.150(I) |

## Prohibited signs in Rolling Hills Estates

- No person may erect, install, place, maintain or operate a sign in the city except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
- The following types of signs are prohibited in all districts: animated signs; balloons; banner signs (except as allowed for temporary banner sign programs); commercial mascot signs; exposed neon-tube signs or signs emulating neon-tube signs such as LED or fluorescent signs; flashing signs; inflatable signs; mobile billboard signs; moving signs; off-site signs (billboards); pole signs; portable signs; roof signs; rotating, revolving, or other signs with similar moving features; signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals; signs attached to trees, telephone poles, public benches, streetlights, and any sign placed in the public right-of-way or on public property without obtaining an encroachment permit or other required approval from the city; signs located in such a manner as to constitute a potential traffic hazard or obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign or signal device, or designed to resemble or conflict with any authorized traffic control sign; unsafe signs; signs that contain obscene matter as defined in California Penal Code section 311.
- No sign may be illuminated unless approved by the city in the applicable permit.
- No sign regulated by this chapter may utilize: any exposed lamp or tube, including neon or signs emulating neon such as LED or fluorescent signs; any revolving beacon or flashing light; any single illumination source which exceeds the lighting equivalent of a 150 watt incandescent lamp.
- Signs must not be constructed, erected, installed, maintained, or repaired in a manner that conflicts with the rules of the California Public Utilities Commission regarding public utilities.
- No sign may be located within the area designated as the vision triangle at street or driveway intersections, as such placement may obstruct clear view and interfere with traffic safety.
- All signs must comply with applicable city, state, and federal laws, including building codes.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rolling Hills Estates

- The following are explicitly excluded from the definition of 'sign' and are not regulated by this chapter: any public or legal notice authorized or required by a government agency; decorative or architectural features of buildings (except for commercial messages); symbols of noncommercial organizations or concepts such as religious or political symbols that are permanently integrated into a building structure; signs located inside a motor vehicle; signs attached to a motor vehicle (including license plates, license plate frames, registration insignia, noncommercial messages, messages relating to the business/service of the vehicle, or messages relating to the proposed sale, lease, or exchange of the vehicle—provided the vehicle is lawfully operable on streets and is not a mobile billboard sign); traffic, directional, emergency, warning or informational signs authorized or required by a government agency; permanent memorial or historical signs, plaques, or markers authorized or required by a government agency; public utility signs authorized or required by a government agency; any sign over which the city's authority to regulate is preempted under state or federal law; items or devices of personal apparel, decoration or appearance (including tattoos, makeup, wigs, or costumes); and any handheld noncommercial message.
- The following types of signs are permitted in all districts and are exempt from permit requirements (but must comply with all other requirements): one real estate sign per residential street frontage not exceeding 6 square feet, removed within 10 days after the end of the real estate marketing period; residential nameplates and street address signs two square feet or less (one per residence); temporary noncommercial signs on residential parcels (two allowed at all times, max 8 sq ft each), subject to height, location, and lighting restrictions, and additional rules during election periods; one temporary noncommercial window sign per residential unit, not exceeding 6 sq ft or 25% of the window; certain directional/informational signs, construction signs, and real estate signs in commercial zones, with size and administrative review limitations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a sign permit or master sign plan requires the consent of the property owner.
- Master sign plan is defined as a comprehensive set of design standards for signs within a commercial or office center accommodating more than one tenant under single management.
- Any office or commercial center requires a master sign plan to be reviewed and approved by the planning commission (17.60.150.H.3).
- Centers with approved master sign plans are subject to those established provisions, which supersede conflicting provisions of the general section (17.60.150.H.1).
- Any sign which is proposed to deviate from the approved master sign plan or any amendment to the plan requires a precise plan of design application to be reviewed and approved by the planning commission (17.60.150.H.2).
- Where more than one tenant is located within an office center under a single manager, center identification signs per street frontage are permitted subject to planning commission review and approval under a master sign plan application or precise plan of design application, as applicable (17.60.140.F).
- A variance from the requirements of this chapter, including sign requirements, may be sought by application to the planning commission pursuant to Chapter 17.66.
- All sign-related rights and duties related to permanent signs attach to the land and run with the land; compliance may be required from the sign permit holder, owner, property owner, or person erecting the sign.
- Certain exceptions to freestanding sign setbacks may be granted through a master sign plan, precise plan of design, or variance request (17.60.170.D.2.a).

## 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 6 zoning districts in Rolling Hills Estates — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Rolling+Hills+Estates+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-rolling-hills-estates

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/rolling-hills-estates