Sign Regulations in San Carlos, California
San Carlos, California has specific sign regulations covering 29 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Real Estate/Open House/Directional Sign (Temporary), Construction Site Sign (Temporary), Wall Sign. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: February 16, 2026
Sign Regulation Overview for San Carlos, California
Sample Sign Requirements in San Carlos
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard (City Property Only, per Chapter 12.28) | Up to 55 ft | Up to 672 sq ft per display face; up to 2 faces; may be digital; faces may be double-sided or V-shaped | — |
| Residential Sign (General) | Freestanding: up to 4 ft within required setbacks | 3 sq ft total at all times; may increase to 100 sq ft during election period (counting only one side of each double-sided sign) | Freestanding signs within required setbacks limited to 4 ft height |
| Flag (Residential) | Flagpole not exceeding roofline | Maximum combined area of all flags: 100 sq ft (measured one side only) | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for San CarlosFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
29
- Real Estate/Open House/Directional Sign (Temporary)
- Construction Site Sign (Temporary)
- Wall Sign
- Projecting Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
6
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for San Carlos
Other Cities in California
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in San Carlos vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in San Carlos, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In San Carlos, regulated sign types include Real Estate/Open House/Directional Sign (Temporary), Construction Site Sign (Temporary), Wall Sign, Projecting Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in San Carlos vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in San Carlos are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. San Carlos has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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San Carlos, California Sign Rules at a Glance
San Carlos, California regulates 29 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Residential Sign (General)s in the Residential Districts (RS-3, RS-6, RM-20, RM-59) zoning district are capped at Freestanding: up to 4 ft within required setbacks tall and 3 sq ft total at all times; may increase to 100 sq ft during election period (counting only one side of each double-sided sign), with a Freestanding signs within required setbacks limited to 4 ft height setback (Sec. 18.22.130(A)-(G)). Most commercial signs in San Carlos require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for San Carlos, California
Sign Rules by Zoning District in San Carlos (6 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | Up to 55 ft | Up to 672 sq ft per display face; up to 2 faces; may be digital; faces may be double-sided or V-shaped | — |
| Residential Districts (RS-3, RS-6, RM-20, RM-59) | 7 | Freestanding: up to 4 ft within required setbacks | Maximum combined area of all flags: 100 sq ft (measured one side only) | — |
| Mixed-Use Districts (MU-DC, MU-D, MU-SA, MU-SC, MU-NB, MU-SB, MU-N) | 17 | Up to 40 ft | Up to 1,000 sq ft of surface area | — |
| General Commercial/Industrial (GCI); Landmark Commercial (LC); Light Industrial (IL); Heavy Industrial (IH); Airport District (A) | 17 | Up to 40 ft | Up to 1,000 sq ft of surface area | — |
| Planned Development (PD) | 3 | Freestanding up to 4 ft within setbacks | Up to 8 sq ft total sign area (cumulative) in PD districts | — |
| Open Space (OS) | 2 | — | Up to 8 sq ft total sign area (cumulative) in OS districts | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in San Carlos(sample of 3 of 6 zones)
Residential Districts (RS-3, RS-6, RM-20, RM-59)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Sign (General) | Freestanding: up to 4 ft within required setbacks | 3 sq ft total at all times; may increase to 100 sq ft during election period (counting only one side of each double-sided sign) | — | Freestanding signs within required setbacks limited to 4 ft height | Not limited (18.22.130(D)) | Attached to walls, doors, fences, windows or poles; no roof mounting | — | Unlock | 18.22.130(A)-(G) |
| Flag (Residential) | Flagpole not exceeding roofline | Maximum combined area of all flags: 100 sq ft (measured one side only) | — | — | Flags not limited; poles limited to 1 | On residential property | — | Unlock | 18.22.130(G) |
| Master Sign (Multiple-Unit Residential Property) | — | 10 sq ft if lot <100 ft wide; 20 sq ft if lot ≥100 ft wide | — | — | One master sign | On multiple-unit residential property, in addition to signage allowed for each dwelling unit | — | Unlock | 18.22.130(I)(1)-(2) |
| Real Estate/Open House/Directional Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On private property; not on City-owned property or public right-of-way unless authorized by Title 12 | — | Unlock | 18.22.100(C); 18.22.130(C) |
| Subdivision Project Sign (Temporary) | — | 20 sq ft (project-wide additional sign) | — | — | One per dwelling unit (6 sq ft) plus one project-wide sign (20 sq ft); up to 3 directional signs | On private property within subdivision | — | Unlock | 18.22.100(D)(1), (3)-(5) |
| Subdivision Directional Signs (Temporary - R/PD/OS Limits) | — | Up to 8 sq ft total sign area in R, PD, and OS districts | — | — | Up to 3 directional signs (cumulative area up to 8 sq ft in R/PD/OS) | On private property with owner’s consent; City property/right-of-way only as authorized by Title 12 | — | Unlock | 18.22.100(D)(2)(b), (3)-(5) |
| Construction Site Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | At Director’s discretion | On construction site during active project phase as defined | — | Unlock | 18.22.100(E) |
Mixed-Use Districts (MU-DC, MU-D, MU-SA, MU-SC, MU-NB, MU-SB, MU-N)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | No higher than top of wall or parapet | — | — | — | Per 18.22.090(A): Maximum 5 per building/center for individual tenant occupancy | On nonresidential establishments within mixed-use districts | — | Unlock | 18.22.080(K)(1)-(2); 18.22.090(A)(1)-(3); 18.22.020(P) |
| Projecting Sign | Uppermost top edge no higher than adjoining wall, parapet or roofline | No explicit per-sign area limit stated; both sides count toward total area | Projects no more than 4 ft from mounting wall | Bottom edge ≥8 ft above grade when over access/ROW; cannot occupy >2/3 sidewalk width | — | Securely attached to wall; may be above permanent structural overhang extending into public right-of-way if within projection limits | — | Unlock | 18.22.080(I)(1)-(4); 18.22.110(J); 18.22.110(I) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft above finished grade, and no higher than 1.5× length of base (inclusive of foundation/planter height) | — | — | At least 6 ft from any public/private driveway; at least 12 ft from public roadway in areas with sidewalks | — | May be placed within required setback/yard areas | — | Unlock | 18.22.080(C)(1)-(6) |
| Pole Sign - General Nonresidential | Up to 25 ft at uppermost top edge | Up to 100 sq ft per side; total within establishment’s permitted area per 18.22.090 | — | Pedestals/poles ≥6 ft from any building or structure; sign cabinet ≥6 ft from any private/public driveway | No specific maximum stated under (G)(2); must comply with establishment’s total sign area | Nonresidential districts (not allowed in R districts); may be within required setback/yard areas; may not project over public right-of-way | — | Unlock | 18.22.080(G)(2)(a)-(i); 18.22.050(C)(2)(d) |
| Pole Sign - Highway 101 Corridor | Up to 40 ft | Single establishment: up to 100 sq ft per display face; shared by 2+ on-site establishments: up to 300 sq ft per display face | — | Per 18.22.080(G)(2)(a)-(i) (general pole sign setbacks apply) | Maximum 1 per establishment/shared sign | Only between Industrial Road and the Highway 101 Corridor and adjacent to Skyway Road and Shoreway Road | — | Unlock | 18.22.080(G)(1)(a)-(c); 18.22.050(C)(2)(a),(d) |
| Inflatable Sign/Hot Air Balloon/Blimp (Temporary) | Not to exceed 25 ft above finished grade of the building | Up to 1,000 sq ft of surface area | — | — | 1 per location | Ground-mounted or roof-mounted | — | Unlock | 18.22.100(B) |
| Real Estate/Open House/Directional Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On private property; City property/right-of-way only as authorized by Title 12 | — | Unlock | 18.22.100(C) |
| Construction Site Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | At Director’s discretion | On construction site | — | Unlock | 18.22.100(E) |
General Commercial/Industrial (GCI); Landmark Commercial (LC); Light Industrial (IL); Heavy Industrial (IH); Airport District (A)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | No higher than top of wall or parapet | — | — | — | Per 18.22.090(A): Maximum 5 per building/center for individual tenant occupancy | On nonresidential establishments | — | Unlock | 18.22.080(K)(1)-(2); 18.22.090(A)(1)-(3) |
| Projecting Sign | Uppermost top edge no higher than adjoining wall, parapet or roofline | Both sides count toward total area; no explicit per-sign area limit | Projects no more than 4 ft from mounting wall | Bottom edge ≥8 ft above grade when over access/ROW; cannot occupy >2/3 sidewalk width | — | Securely attached to wall; may be above structural overhang into public right-of-way if within projection limits | — | Unlock | 18.22.080(I)(1)-(4); 18.22.110(J); 18.22.110(I) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft above finished grade, and no higher than 1.5× length of base (inclusive of foundation/planter height) | — | — | At least 6 ft from any public/private driveway; at least 12 ft from public roadway in areas with sidewalks | — | May be placed within required setback/yard areas | — | Unlock | 18.22.080(C)(1)-(6) |
| Pole Sign - General Nonresidential | Up to 25 ft at uppermost top edge | Up to 100 sq ft per side; total within establishment’s permitted area per 18.22.090 | — | Pedestals/poles ≥6 ft from any building/structure; sign cabinet ≥6 ft from any private/public driveway | — | Allowed in nonresidential districts (not in R districts); may be within required setback/yard areas; may not project over public right-of-way | — | Unlock | 18.22.080(G)(2)(a)-(i); 18.22.050(C)(2)(d) |
| Pole Sign - Highway 101 Corridor | Up to 40 ft | Single establishment: up to 100 sq ft per display face; shared by 2+ on-site establishments: up to 300 sq ft per display face | — | Per 18.22.080(G)(2)(a)-(i) | Maximum 1 per establishment/shared sign | Only between Industrial Road and the Highway 101 Corridor and adjacent to Skyway Road and Shoreway Road | — | Unlock | 18.22.080(G)(1)(a)-(c); 18.22.050(C)(2)(a),(d) |
| Inflatable Sign/Hot Air Balloon/Blimp (Temporary) | Not to exceed 25 ft above finished grade of the building | Up to 1,000 sq ft of surface area | — | — | 1 per location | Ground-mounted or roof-mounted | — | Unlock | 18.22.100(B) |
| Real Estate/Open House/Directional Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On private property; City property/right-of-way only as authorized by Title 12 | — | Unlock | 18.22.100(C) |
| Construction Site Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | At Director’s discretion | On construction site | — | Unlock | 18.22.100(E) |
PermitPal covers all 6 zoning districts in San Carlos — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 6 zones for San Carlos — start freeProhibited Signs in San Carlos
- No sign in the public right-of-way unless expressly authorized by this chapter or by a duly adopted Council resolution/ordinance; projections over a right-of-way require an encroachment permit in addition to a sign permit
- No sign may be placed on private property without the legal owner’s and current possessor’s consent
- New billboards are prohibited citywide except as expressly authorized on City property under Chapter 12.28; violation is a public nuisance (policy applies independently of other provisions)
- Unprotected speech/messages (e.g., obscenity, deceptive commercial messages, messages promoting illegal products/services, threats against protected officials) are prohibited
- Abandoned signs (presumed after 180 days of nonuse); if left for a future occupant, cabinet-type faces must be made opaque and maintained during vacancy
- A-frame and I-frame signs, except as authorized by Title 12
- Animated signs
- Banners, unless expressly allowed elsewhere in this chapter (e.g., temporary banners meeting Section 18.22.100)
- Billboards and billboard vehicles, except for new billboards on City property as permitted under Chapter 12.28
- Confusing/imitative signs that resemble or include traffic control words or official notices (e.g., stop, go, caution) or that may be confused with public notices
- Signs affixed to or defacing natural features (trees, vegetation, rocks, fields, other natural features)
- Digital signs and digital displays, except gasoline price signs and new billboards on City property under Chapter 12.28
- Permanent signs using fluorescent or day-glow colors in whole or part of the copy
- Hazardous signs that obstruct exits, buildings, sites, or create dangerous visual distractions by color, sound, or glare
- Pole signs, except as specifically allowed under Section 18.22.080(G)
- Roof signs (on/above the roofline, ridgeline, or eaves; painted on or attached directly to the roof)
- Rotating signs (turning on an axis to show different faces)
- Stored signs visible from beyond the property line (after removal, prior to erection, or while in storage)
- Vandalized signs (must be repaired/restored or removed within three days; repair/restoration/removal requires a sign permit)
- Drop-in plastic signs that do not include raised or individual lettering
- Damaged or dilapidated signs (must be repaired/restored; repair/restoration requires a sign permit)
Exempt Signs in San Carlos
- On-site directional signs (not temporary real estate directionals) up to 2 sq ft each (up to 4 sq ft on sites >1 acre) and up to 6 ft high; not counted against allowed sign area
- Information signs up to 3 sq ft
- Nameplates up to 1 sq ft
- Professional and occupation signs up to a cumulative 4 sq ft for all professionals on the property are exempt (over 4 sq ft requires administrative review and must remain within total allowed signage)
- Official/governmental signs and legally required notices (e.g., eviction, violation, liquor permit notices)
- Signs on residential uses per Section 18.22.130 (permit required only if the sign qualifies as a structure under the Building Code; must meet safety codes)
- Temporary signs on nonresidential properties displaying exclusively noncommercial messages up to 100 sq ft (including during the election period); ambient lighting only; building permit only if the sign is a structure
- Message substitution: any protected noncommercial message may be substituted on any legal sign structure without additional approval/permit; on-site commercial message may be substituted for another on-site commercial message; unused sign area may be used for noncommercial messages without additional approval (no increase in total signage, no structural changes, no substitution of off-site commercial for on-site/noncommercial)
- Repainting to like colors or replacing a faded/damaged sign face is not subject to a sign permit if the sign meets current ordinance requirements and the structure is unchanged
- Legally existing signs: no permit is required when only the sign face is changed and the message remains noncommercial or on-site commercial; permits are required for structural alterations, area enlargement, or electrical changes
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for San Carlos
- A sign program (coordinated sign design) is required for multiple-tenant projects, and for larger projects at the Director’s discretion, constructed after the ordinance’s effective date; sign programs may deviate from otherwise applicable noncommunicative rules to achieve uniformity
- For projects constructed prior to the ordinance’s effective date, a sign program must be established when the first modification requiring replacement or alteration of an existing sign on the premises is proposed; thereafter, all sign changes must comply with the approved sign program
- Sign programs are subject to Planning and Transportation Commission review; initial or revised sign programs require Planning and Transportation Commission review
- Permit applications for sign programs as part of planned commercial, office-professional, or industrial development must be included with the site development plan; all such applications are subject to design review
- Signage for new multitenant buildings and sign programs require design review
- All signs visible from the U.S. 101 right-of-way that are not already included in an approved sign program require Planning and Transportation Commission review
- New pole signs (where allowed) require Planning and Transportation Commission review
- Signs exceeding 25 feet in height require Planning and Transportation Commission review
- Changing sign panels for a new establishment requires design review to verify the cabinet/structural elements remain legal
- For multiple-unit residential properties, one master identification sign is allowed and is subject to design review
Source: other municipal code