# Sign Regulations in Santa Barbara, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Santa Barbara, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/santa-barbara
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44108359#44108359)

## At a glance

Santa Barbara, California regulates 19 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Temporary Construction Signs in the Residential Zones (R-1, R-2) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 6 square feet (Sec. § 22.70.030.B.3). Most commercial signs in Santa Barbara require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones (R-1, R-2) | 7 | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential Zones | 7 | 6 feet | 75 square feet | — |
| El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District | 3 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 15 feet | 18 square feet | — |

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

### Residential Zones (R-1, R-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | One per construction site | On the premises where construction is occurring | — | § 22.70.030.B.3 |
| Noncommercial Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per lot | On the premises | — | § 22.70.030.B.6 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 6 feet | 4 square feet per face | — | — | One per street frontage | On the premises | — | § 22.70.030.B.7 |
| On-Site Open House Sign | 4 feet | 3 square feet per face | — | — | One per street frontage | On the premises | — | § 22.70.030.B.15.a |
| Off-Site Open House Sign | 3 feet | 3 square feet per face | — | — | Maximum of five | Within public right-of-way or on private property with permission | — | § 22.70.030.B.15.b |
| Apartment or Condominium Project Identification Sign | — | 10 square feet (less than 25 units) or 25 square feet (more than 25 units) | — | — | One per complex | On the premises | — | § 22.70.040.A.1.a |
| Neighborhood or Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | One per entrance | At the entrance to the subdivision or neighborhood | — | § 22.70.040.A.1.b |

### Nonresidential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | One per construction site | On the premises where construction is occurring | — | § 22.70.030.B.3 |
| Noncommercial Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | One per lot | On the premises | — | § 22.70.030.B.6 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 6 feet | 12 square feet per face | — | — | One per street frontage | On the premises | — | § 22.70.030.B.7 |
| Informational Commercial Sign | — | 1.5 square feet per public entrance or 5 square feet total | — | — | One per public entrance | At each public entrance | — | § 22.70.030.B.12 |
| Commercial and Industrial Complex Identification Sign | — | 75 square feet | — | — | One per frontage | On the dominant facade | — | § 22.70.040.A.3.b.i |
| Individual Business Sign | — | 25 square feet | — | — | One per business frontage | On the frontage of the business | — | § 22.70.040.A.3.b.ii |
| Directory Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | One per public entrance | At each public entrance | — | § 22.70.040.A.3.b.iii |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign Warning of Hazards | — | — | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 22.70.030.B.2 |
| Temporary Sign Relating to City Events | — | — | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 22.70.030.B.4 |
| Balloon Display | 15 feet | — | — | — | One per business or residence | On the premises | — | § 22.70.030.B.5 |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 4 square feet or 15% of window area | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 22.70.030.B.20 |
| Church, School, and Public Facility Sign | — | 18 square feet | — | — | One per facility | On the premises | — | § 22.70.030.D.2 |

## Prohibited signs in Santa Barbara

- Any sign which, by color, shape, working, or location, resembles or conflicts with any traffic control sign or device.
- Signs attached or placed adjacent to any utility pole, traffic sign post, traffic signal, historical marker, or any other official traffic control device.
- Any sign placed or maintained so as to interfere with free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- Signs erected on public or private property without the permission of the property owner.
- Signs visible from the public street or parking lot attached to or placed on merchandise or materials stored or displayed outdoors except for parking lot sales of less than four days in duration.
- Signs that rotate, move, glare, flash, change, reflect, blink, or appear to do any of the foregoing, except time and temperature devices and digital displays otherwise exempted by this chapter.
- Off-premises signs, including billboards, except off-site open house signs and digital displays erected in compliance with specified standards.
- Any sign displaying obscene, indecent, or immoral matter.
- Signs on awnings or canopies except on the valance.
- Signs that create a hazard by obstructing clear views of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
- Portable signs.
- Mobile signs.
- Any sign tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences, or the exterior of a building or other structure, where the information appearing thereon is not applicable to the present use of the premises upon which such sign is located.
- Bench signs.
- Banners, including any banner inside a building that is attached to, leaning against, or otherwise placed within 10 feet of a window, door, or other opening in the façade of the building.
- Roof signs and any other graphics which extend, wholly or in part, above the eave line of the structure to which it is attached.
- Any parapet or pergola sign placed above or partially above the parapet or pergola.
- Logo signs with courtesy panels.
- Pennants.
- Signs which cover or interrupt architectural features.
- Signs containing changeable copy, except theater marquee signs, business directories, church and museum signs, gas price signs and restaurant interior menu boards.
- Historical markers placed on the structure, tree or other historical monument itself, except as approved by the Historic Landmarks Commission.
- Pole signs.
- Exposed cabinet/raceways behind channel letters.
- Inflatable signs, except for balloon displays exempted by this chapter.
- Unless otherwise exempted by this chapter, digital displays, including any digital display inside a building that is attached to, leaning against, or otherwise placed within 10 feet of a window, door, or other opening in the façade of the building.

## Signs exempt from permit in Santa Barbara

- Any official federal, state, or local government sign and notice issued by any court, person, or officer in performance of a public duty.
- Any temporary sign warning of construction, excavation, or similar hazards so long as the hazard exists.
- One temporary construction sign, provided the sign does not exceed specified size limits and is displayed during construction only.
- Any temporary sign relating to Fiesta, Solstice, or any official City holiday except banners, blinking lights, or signs and any related lighting that require a building, electrical, or other permit.
- A sign consisting of a display of no more than 12 balloons for any single business or residence, displayed at a height which is not above the roof ridge line of the main building or 15 feet, whichever is lower.
- A noncommercial sign not exceeding specified size limits for each lot in residential and nonresidential zones.
- A temporary real estate sign which indicates that the property is for sale, rent, or lease.
- Any temporary sign located on a kiosk.
- Any 'No Trespassing' sign, prohibiting or restricting access to property, provided it is not more than one square foot in size.
- One identification sign of no more than one square foot for a residence.
- Any parking lot or other private traffic directional sign not to exceed two square feet in area.
- Any informational commercial signs provided the sign is in a nonresidential zone and meets specified size limits.
- Any street name and address stamped or painted on a sidewalk or curb.
- Any civic event sign, except a banner, meeting specified size and duration limits.
- Temporary open house signs meeting specified size and placement requirements.
- Any sign on a telephone booth or newsrack identifying only the product contained therein or displaying operating instructions.
- Flags flown on a temporary basis for purposes of honoring national or civic holidays which do not exceed specified size limits.
- The official flag of a government, governmental agency, public institution, religion, corporation, business, or other similar entity meeting specified size and placement requirements.
- Signs announcing the opening of a new business meeting specified size and duration limits.
- Temporary window signs meeting specified size and duration limits.
- Signs specifically required by federal, state, or City law, of the minimum size required.
- Signs on the air operation side of the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport designed and oriented to provide information to aircraft.
- A sign, such as a menu, meeting specified size and placement requirements.
- Signs on public transit vehicles designed to transport at least 19 passengers.
- Temporary 'Garage Sale' or other similar signs located only on the premises upon which the sale is occurring.
- Digital displays on gasoline pumps meeting specified size, placement, and luminance standards.
- Digital displays on automated teller machines (ATMs) meeting specified size and content requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An office complex which maintains a group identity shall submit to the Sign Committee a sign program for all signs proposed within the complex.
- A commercial or industrial complex which maintains a group identity shall submit to the Sign Committee a sign program for all signs proposed within the complex.

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

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