# Sign Regulations in Santa Rosa, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Santa Rosa, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/santa-rosa
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/42981827#42981827)

## At a glance

Santa Rosa, California regulates 8 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 7.5 ft. tall and 100 sf., with a Min. of 5 ft. behind sidewalk or property line, whichever is greater. setback (Sec. § 20-38.060B, Table 3-10). Most commercial signs in Santa Rosa require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 7.5 ft. | 100 sf. | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 2 | 6 ft. | 32 sf. | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts | 5 | Below eave/canopy; at least 8 ft. above a walking surface. | 100 sf. | — |
| Historic (- H) Overlay Zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| CV Zoning District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Downtown Station Area | 1 | 8 ft. | — | — |
| North Station Area | 1 | 8 ft. | — | — |
| -DSA Combining District | 1 | — | — | — |
| -SA Combining District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Transit Hubs | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 7.5 ft. | 100 sf. | — | Min. of 5 ft. behind sidewalk or property line, whichever is greater. | Only 1 freestanding sign per street entrance is allowed. | Min. of 5 ft. behind sidewalk or property line, whichever is greater. | — | § 20-38.060B, Table 3-10 |
| Wall Sign | Below edge of roof or top of parapet | 100 sf. | — | — | 3 of any combination of allowed sign types per business except that only 1 freestanding sign per street entrance is allowed. | On primary or secondary building frontage | — | § 20-38.060B, Table 3-10 |

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Below edge of roof | 32 sf. | — | — | 1 of either allowed sign type per entrance or street frontage; one rental/vacancy sign | Per entrance or street frontage | — | § 20-38.060A, Table 3-9 |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft. | 32 sf. | — | — | 1 of either allowed sign type per entrance or street frontage; one rental/vacancy sign | Per entrance or street frontage | — | § 20-38.060A, Table 3-9 |

### Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | Below edge of roof or top of parapet | 100 sf. | — | — | 3 of any combination of allowed sign types per business except that only 1 freestanding sign per street entrance is allowed. | On primary or secondary building frontage | — | § 20-38.060B, Table 3-10 |
| Freestanding Sign | 7.5 ft. | 100 sf. | — | Min. of 5 ft. behind sidewalk or property line, whichever is greater. | Only 1 freestanding sign per street entrance is allowed. | Min. of 5 ft. behind sidewalk or property line, whichever is greater. | — | § 20-38.060B, Table 3-10 |
| Projecting Sign | Below edge of roof or top of parapet | 100 sf. | — | — | 3 of any combination of allowed sign types per business except that only 1 freestanding sign per street entrance is allowed. | On primary or secondary building frontage | — | § 20-38.060B, Table 3-10 |
| Suspended Sign | Below eave/canopy; at least 8 ft. above a walking surface. | 100 sf. | — | — | 3 of any combination of allowed sign types per business except that only 1 freestanding sign per street entrance is allowed. | On primary or secondary building frontage | — | § 20-38.060B, Table 3-10 |
| Wall Sign | Below edge of roof or top of parapet | 100 sf. | — | — | 3 of any combination of allowed sign types per business except that only 1 freestanding sign per street entrance is allowed. | On primary or secondary building frontage | — | § 20-38.060B, Table 3-10 |

## Prohibited signs in Santa Rosa

- No sign shall be placed on public or private property without first obtaining permission from the property owner.
- No sign shall be installed, constructed, or altered unless a Sign Permit and, where applicable, a Sign Program approval is first obtained.
- No sign shall be located within the public right-of-way, except as otherwise allowed by this Chapter.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Signs on public property without authorization are prohibited.
- Moving, flashing, electronic/digital and windblown signs are prohibited, except for specific exceptions.
- Freeway oriented signs are prohibited.
- Off-site signs (billboards) are prohibited unless specifically allowed.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited unless qualifying as an architectural element.
- Internally illuminated cabinet signs with two-dimensional plastic faces are prohibited.
- Pole mounted signs are prohibited.
- Temporary and portable signs, except as allowed by specific sections, are prohibited.
- Placement of any sign within a vision triangle is prohibited.
- Obscene, illegal, hazardous, or imitative of official government signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Santa Rosa

- Agricultural signs advertising sale of products raised or produced on-site are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Commemorative plaques not exceeding four square feet are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Construction signs not exceeding 32 square feet are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Credit card, trading stamp, association membership signs not exceeding one square foot each are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Directional signs showing the location of public facilities are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Garage sale signs not exceeding four square feet are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Governmental signs installed or authorized by governmental agencies are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Interior signs intended for interior viewing only are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Non-profit organization signs not exceeding 12 square feet are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Nonstructural modifications and maintenance of conforming signs are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Official flags are allowed without a Sign Permit, subject to specific conditions.
- On-site signs required for city public hearing notification are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Private directional signs not exceeding five square feet are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Real estate for sale or lease signs are allowed without a Sign Permit, subject to specific conditions.
- Seasonal decorations on private property are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Signs required by law are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Street number, address, and/or name signs are allowed without a Sign Permit.
- Temporary signs within commercial zoning districts are allowed without a Sign Permit for a maximum of 45 days after the opening of a new business.
- Temporary signs for City activities are allowed without a Sign Permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Sign Program shall be required for any multiple occupancy commercial office building or business park complex or medical complex where the individual tenant spaces are not the location or adjacent to the location of the proposed individual tenant signs.
- A Sign Program may be proposed to provide identity and directional signage for a City recognized neighborhood or district.
- Gateway signage requires a Sign Program and Concept review with the applicable Review Authority.
- Informational Kiosks and Maps require a Sign Program.
- Transit Hub Signage requires a Sign Program.
- A Wayfinding Sign Program is required for proposals of three or more new Sign Posts.

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

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