# Sign Regulations in San Marino, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** San Marino, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/san-marino
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-24
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sanmarinoca/latest/sanmarino_ca/0-0-0-6192)

## At a glance

San Marino, California regulates 13 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign (For Sale/Lease/Rent)s in the Single-Family Dwelling Zone (R-1) zoning district are capped at Top of sign ≤ 36 inches above grade tall, ≤ 3.3 sq ft, and Length ≤ 28 inches wide, with a ≥ 10 ft from any side line of the lot setback (Sec. §23.12.02(B)(1)(a)-(c)). Most commercial signs in San Marino require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial Zone (C-1) + Mixed-Use Zone (MU1, MU2) | 11 | ≤ 30 ft above grade; may not extend beyond roof | Individual: ≤ 60 sq ft OR ≤ 4% of facade area (whichever is less); Building totals: multi-tenant ≤ 120 sq ft; single-tenant ≤ 90 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Dwelling Zone (R-1) | 2 | Top of sign ≤ 36 inches above grade | ≤ 3.3 sq ft | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 2 of 3 zones)

### Commercial Zone (C-1) + Mixed-Use Zone (MU1, MU2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Ground Floor Retail Business | ≤ 30 ft above grade; may not extend beyond roof | Individual: ≤ 60 sq ft OR ≤ 4% of facade area (whichever is less); Building totals: multi-tenant ≤ 120 sq ft; single-tenant ≤ 90 sq ft | — | — | 1 per ground-floor retail business on facade; plus 1 additional sign on each side where pedestrian entrances exist | On the facade of the building; may not obstruct doors, movable windows, or fire escapes; not on or over any fire escape or standpipe; not on top of or on the face of any fire wall of a building having two or more stories. | — | §23.12.01(C)(1)-(3); §23.12.01(D)(1)-(3),(5)-(7),(8)-(9) |
| Wall Sign - Non-Retail/Other Businesses in Building | ≤ 30 ft above grade; may not extend beyond roof | Individual: ≤ 60 sq ft OR ≤ 4% of facade area; Building totals: multi-tenant ≤ 120 sq ft; single-tenant ≤ 90 sq ft | — | — | 1 per non-retail business | On the building facade; may not obstruct doors, movable windows, or fire escapes; not on or over any fire escape or standpipe; not on top of or on the face of any fire wall of a building having two or more stories. | — | §23.12.01(C)(1)-(3); §23.12.01(D)(1)-(3),(5)-(7),(8)-(9) |
| Blade Sign - Ground Floor Retail (One Facade) | At least 7 ft above sidewalk but not higher than the first floor plate line; also must comply with ≤ 30 ft above grade and not extend beyond roof. | ≤ 6 sq ft | — | May project over public right-of-way only as a blade sign meeting clearance; other encroachments require encroachment permit. | 1 per ground-floor retail business | Projects perpendicular to building; portions that project over public right-of-way must maintain ≥ 7 ft clearance above sidewalk and be no higher than first floor plate line. | — | §23.12.01(D)(1),(2)(d),(3),(5)-(7); §23.12.01(L)(1) |
| Blade Sign - Retail with Two Street-Facing Facades | At least 7 ft above sidewalk but not higher than the first floor plate line; also ≤ 30 ft above grade and not beyond roof. | ≤ 6 sq ft per blade sign | — | May project over public right-of-way only as compliant blade signs; other encroachments require encroachment permit. | Up to 2 if two facades each face a public street | Projects perpendicular to building; may project over public right-of-way subject to clearance and plate-line limit. | — | §23.12.01(L)(2); also §23.12.01(D)(2)(d),(3),(5)-(7),(L)(1) |
| Freestanding or Movable Signboard | ≤ 4 ft | — | ≤ 2 ft | Must remain entirely within private property | 1 per business enterprise | Must be located entirely within private property; may not encroach into any public right-of-way. | — | §23.12.01(C)(1)-(3); §23.12.01(D)(4)(a)-(b),(5)-(7),(9) |
| Umbrella Sign | Umbrella height ≤ 9 ft; bottom of valance ≥ 6 ft above ground | — | — | Must remain entirely within private property | One sign allowed on each valance panel | Must be located entirely within private property; may not encroach into any public right-of-way. | — | §23.12.01(D)(4)(b)-(h); §23.12.01(C)(1)-(3),(5)-(7),(9) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | ≤ 25% of the window area; special construction/remodeling window sign ≤ 3.3 sq ft and length ≤ 28 inches | Construction/remodeling window sign length ≤ 28 inches | — | 1 per ≤ 25 ft window length; +1 per each additional 25 ft or fraction | Printed or displayed on the interior surface of a window or glass door; affixed to the inside of the window. | — | §23.12.01(I)(1)-(8) |
| Real Estate Sign (Property for Sale/Lease/Rent in C-1) | — | — | Dimensions may not exceed 4 ft by 6 ft | — | 1 per abutting street/highway | On private property being advertised; number limited by street frontage. | — | §23.12.01(E)(1)-(3) |

### Single-Family Dwelling Zone (R-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (For Sale/Lease/Rent) | Top of sign ≤ 36 inches above grade | ≤ 3.3 sq ft | Length ≤ 28 inches | ≥ 10 ft from any side line of the lot | 1 on-premises sign | On-premises on the property being advertised. | — | §23.12.02(B)(1)(a)-(c) |
| Residential Subdivision Sign (Initial Sale/Lease) | — | — | Dimensions may not exceed 10 ft by 12 ft | ≥ 150 ft from any residence adjacent to and not part of the subdivision | 1 per ≤ 5 acres; +1 per each additional 5 acres or portion | Placed within the subdivision; must be placed not less than 150 ft from any adjacent residence not part of the subdivision. | — | §23.12.02(B)(2)(a)-(b) |

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Master Sign Plan is required for all new buildings in the C-1 zone when either: (a) two or more separate commercial tenant spaces are created on the same parcel; or (b) two or more signs are proposed for a building.
- Approval must be obtained from the planning commission; additionally, the Design Review Committee (DRC) must approve the Master Sign Plan before issuance of a building permit.
- Existing buildings with signs made nonconforming by this chapter may continue until a Master Sign Plan is reviewed and approved by the DRC; processing fees are waived if an application is submitted within two years of the section’s adoption, with notice sent to owners of multi-tenant commercial properties.
- A Master Sign Plan may include modifications to regulations (e.g., sign area, number of signs, height, location) and may be more restrictive than the base code; approval requires findings that the plan enhances design quality, harmonizes with structures and surrounding development, accommodates future revisions, and complies with chapter standards.
- Revisions to an approved Master Sign Plan may be approved by the DRC if the original intent is not affected; substantial deviations require approval of a new Master Sign Plan.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 2 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 3 zoning districts in San Marino — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=San+Marino+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-san-marino

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