# Sign Regulations in San Bruno, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** San Bruno, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/san-bruno
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44260289#44260289)

## At a glance

San Bruno, California regulates 12 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Roof Signs in the Nonresidential zoning districts zoning district are capped at Height limit for structures in zoning district tall and 225 sq ft, with a 8 ft from cornice or street front, 4 ft from other walls setback (Sec. § 12.104.090). Most commercial signs in San Bruno require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonresidential zoning districts | 6 | 35 ft | 225 sq ft | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 3 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District (C-B-D) | 2 | 25 ft | 225 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District | 2 | 4 ft | 20 sq ft (less than 100 ft width), 40 sq ft (100 ft or greater width) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### Nonresidential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 225 sq ft | — | — | — | Entirely within lot lines | — | § 12.104.060 |
| Wall Sign | — | 225 sq ft | — | — | — | Flat against the wall or front of cornice over first-story show window | — | § 12.104.070 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 225 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Projects over street right-of-way | — | § 12.104.080 |
| Roof Sign | Height limit for structures in zoning district | 225 sq ft | — | 8 ft from cornice or street front, 4 ft from other walls | — | At least 8 ft from cornice or street front, 4 ft from other walls | — | § 12.104.090 |
| Individual Letter Sign | — | 225 sq ft | — | — | One per place of business or street exposure | Wall-mounted | — | § 12.104.100 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | In or on window | — | § 12.104.120 |

### Central Business District (C-B-D)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 225 sq ft | — | — | — | Entirely within lot lines | — | § 12.104.060 |
| Roof Sign | Height limit for structures in zoning district | 225 sq ft | — | 8 ft from cornice or street front, 4 ft from other walls | — | At least 8 ft from cornice or street front, 4 ft from other walls | — | § 12.104.090 |

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Directional Sign | — | 20 sq ft (less than 100 ft width), 40 sq ft (100 ft or greater width) | — | — | One per lot, additional sign allowed for multiple frontages | Commercial districts | — | § 12.104.170 |
| Subdivision Advertising Sign | 4 ft | 20 sq ft (less than 100 ft width), 40 sq ft (100 ft or greater width) | — | — | One per lot, additional sign allowed for multiple frontages | On site of subdivision or project | — | § 12.104.170 |

## Prohibited signs in San Bruno

- No off-site advertising display, advertising structure, or sign shall be placed on any lot or landscaped freeway.
- No sign shall be placed or maintained within portions of a public street right-of-way, on any public utility pole, or any fixture or wire attached thereto.
- No sign shall be placed without sufficient clearance from energized electrical power lines.
- No sign shall prevent free ingress to or egress from any door or window required by this code, or any fire escape.
- No sign shall be placed on any light standard, traffic signal, or control mechanism, fire standard or hydrant, or emergency exit.
- No sign shall be attached to any standpipe, gutter, drain, or fire escape.
- No sign shall obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign, sign, or device.
- No sign shall be placed on any tree.
- No flashing, running, revolving, scintillating, or similar lights or lighting is permitted.
- Except for barber poles, no revolving signs shall be permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in San Bruno

- This section shall not prohibit the placement of any notice or legal advertisement by any public officer as prescribed or required by law.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Where there is an application to develop more than one business establishment, facility or enterprise on a single lot, no sign shall be placed thereon unless and until a master signing program shall have been submitted to the community development director and approved thereby.
- Applications for master signing programs may be filed with the community development director upon the payment of a fee as prescribed by resolution of the city council.
- In connection with the approval of a master signing program, the architectural review committee may approve deviations from the requirements of this chapter.

## 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 San Bruno — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=San+Bruno+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-san-bruno

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