# Sign Regulations in San Clemente, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** San Clemente, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/san-clemente
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-26
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/San_Clemente/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.84SIRE)

## At a glance

San Clemente, California regulates 33 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Blade Signs in the Architectural Overlay District zoning district are capped at Fifteen (15) feet from ground to the top of sign tall and Six (6) square feet (Sec. Table 17.84.030A, Architectural Overlay District).

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Architectural Overlay District | 10 | Fifteen (15) feet from ground to the top of sign | 64 sq. ft. outside, less than 25 sq. ft. within | — |
| Residential Zone | 3 | Freestanding sign: 6 feet | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| Non-Residential Zone | 3 | 6 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 19 | 15 ft. for flag signs | 64 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Architectural Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Arcade Signs | — | 64 sq. ft. outside, less than 25 sq. ft. within | — | — | — | — | — | Table 17.84.030A, Architectural Overlay District |
| Awning Signs | — | 64 sq. ft. outside, less than 25 sq. ft. within | — | — | — | — | — | Table 17.84.030A, Architectural Overlay District |
| Blade Signs | Fifteen (15) feet from ground to the top of sign | Six (6) square feet | — | — | — | One (1) per tenant street and pedestrian way frontage; no more than two (2) per tenant | — | Table 17.84.030A, Architectural Overlay District |
| Business Directory Signs | 6 ft. | Freestanding sign: 24 sq. ft, Wall sign: 64 sq. ft. | — | — | — | 1 freestanding sign per street frontage, 1 wall sign per public entrance into building | — | Table 17.84.030A, Architectural Overlay District |
| Canopy Signs | — | 64 sq. ft. outside, less than 25 sq. ft. within | — | — | — | — | — | Table 17.84.030A, Architectural Overlay District |
| Fascia Signs | — | 64 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Table 17.84.030A, Architectural Overlay District |
| Marquee Signs | The sign shall not exceed the height of the building upon which the sign is located. | 64 sq. ft. | — | — | — | 1 per building frontage | — | Table 17.84.030A, Architectural Overlay District |
| Projecting Signs | — | 64 sq. ft. | — | — | — | 1 per business | — | Table 17.84.030A, Architectural Overlay District |

### Residential Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Signs | 4 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | Table 17.84.030A, Residential Zone |
| Real Estate Signs | Freestanding sign: 6 feet | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | — | 1 per building or site | — | Table 17.84.030A, Residential Zone |
| Residential Permanent Subdivision/Apartment Complex/Mobile home park Signs | 6 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | — | 2 per entrance from public right-of-way | — | Table 17.84.030A, Residential Zone |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flags | Flag pole may not exceed the height of the zone in which it is located | 40 sq. ft. per flag | — | — | — | 3 per site or building | — | Table 17.84.030A, General Regulations |
| Flag Signs | Flag pole may not exceed the height of the zone in which it is located | 40 sq. ft. per flag sign | — | — | — | 1 per site or building | — | Table 17.84.030A, General Regulations |
| Model Home Complex Signs | 15 ft. for flag signs | Determined through the Conditional Use Permit process | — | — | — | Maximum 3 flags per model | — | Table 17.84.030A, General Regulations |
| Monument Signs | 10 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | — | — | — | 1 monument sign per street frontage. 1 additional sign for sites with more than 150 ft. of street frontage | — | Table 17.84.030A, General Regulations |
| Open House Signs | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | — | 1 sign on site plus 5 off-site directional signs. Maximum of 1 sign per intersection directing traffic in same direction | — | Table 17.84.030A, General Regulations |
| Pole Signs | 15 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | — | — | — | 1 per site | — | Table 17.84.030A, General Regulations |
| Portable Signs | 4 ft. for portable signs not flush against building. 6 ft. for portable signs flush against the building | 6 sq. ft. per side, 2 sides maximum | — | — | — | Maximum of 1 sign per business, and a maximum 2 signs per building for multi-tenant buildings | — | Table 17.84.030A, General Regulations |
| Service Station Signs | Monument sign: 6 ft., Pole sign: 15 ft. | Canopy sign: 24 sq. ft., Spanner sign: 24 sq. ft., Monument sign: 32 sq. ft., Pole sign: 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Canopy sign: 2 signs maximum and 1 sign maximum per elevation, Spanner sign: 1 per pump island (may be 2-sided), Monument sign: 1 per lot frontage, Pole sign: 1 per site | — | Table 17.84.030A, General Regulations |

## Prohibited signs in San Clemente

- No sign shall be constructed, erected, maintained or placed on the site or any part thereof, except those required or permitted by law, permit or ordinance.
- No person, public utility, or department in the City shall erect or place any barrier or sign on any street unless of a type approved by the City Traffic Engineer.
- No person shall display or cause to be displayed any sign on, within or over any public street or right-of-way or public property in the City unless otherwise permitted.
- No person shall display or cause to be displayed any sign on, within or over any private property in the City without the written consent of the owner, lessee or other person lawfully in possession of the property.
- All other signs are prohibited within the City unless expressly permitted or authorized.

## Signs exempt from permit in San Clemente

- Subsequent signs installed that are part of a previously approved Master Sign Program and are consistent with the provisions of that Master Sign Program shall require an Administrative Sign Permit but shall be considered exempt from Discretionary Sign Permit Review.
- Any non-commercial message may be substituted for the copy on any commercial sign that is allowed under the municipal code.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Program requires a Discretionary Sign Permit.
- A Master Sign Program shall be required for any existing single-tenant building on which the owner proposes to add and/or modify four or more signs.
- A Master Sign Program shall be required for any new nonresidential building.
- A Master Sign Program shall be required for any new commercial project with multiple buildings.
- A Master Sign Program shall be required for any gas/service station that proposes new signs or modifications to existing signs, except as allowed by State law.

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

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