# Sign Regulations in Sierra Madre, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sierra Madre, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/sierra-madre
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Sierra_Madre/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.72SI)

## At a glance

Sierra Madre, California regulates 37 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Political Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall, 6 sq ft per sign; 12 sq ft aggregate per lot; max 3' per side, and 3 ft wide (Sec. 17.72.030(L)). Most commercial signs in Sierra Madre require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | 6 ft (unless otherwise specified) | Up to 125% of otherwise permitted sign area | — |
| R-1, R-2 | 4 | — | 20 sq ft per side | — |
| R-3 | 4 | — | Up to 20 sq ft per side (with permit) | — |
| R-E overlay zone | 4 | — | Up to 20 sq ft per side (with permit) | — |
| C zone, M zone | 11 | 20 ft | 50% of allowed per front footage | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Trade Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Construction site | — | 17.72.030(B) |
| "No Trespassing" / "No Dumping" Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 | For public health and safety | — | 17.72.030(D) |
| Painted Window Sign | — | 20% of windowpane | — | — | — | Window pane | — | 17.72.030(F) |
| Awning Sign | — | 20% of awning surface (if no valance) | — | — | — | Awning | — | 17.72.030(G) |
| Marquee Sign | sign may not project more than 1' above marquee | — | — | — | — | On or under marquee | — | 17.72.030(I) |
| Political Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per sign; 12 sq ft aggregate per lot; max 3' per side | 3 ft | — | — | — | — | 17.72.030(L) |
| Portable Sign | — | 24 sq ft total (12 sq ft per face) | — | Minimum 5 ft from sidewalk edge | — | Immediately adjacent to storefront/facade; min 5 ft from edge of sidewalk. | — | 17.72.190(C) |
| Outside Display (of goods) | 4 ft | — | — | Max display depth 5 ft from facade, min 5 ft from sidewalk edge | — | Outside business, immediately adjacent | — | 17.72.190(A) |

### R-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (per unit) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per unit | Flat against onsite building or structure | — | 17.72.050(A)(1) |
| Building Name/Address Sign | — | 2.5 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Flat against onsite building or structure | — | 17.72.050(A)(2) |
| Sale/Lease Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Flat against onsite building or structure | — | 17.72.050(A)(3) |
| Illuminated Sign (Wall or otherwise exceeding basic size limits) | — | Up to 20 sq ft per side (with permit) | — | — | — | Flat against onsite building or structure | — | 17.72.050(B) |

### C zone, M zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Business Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft per lineal foot of frontage | — | — | 2 | Facing street or right-of-way frontage | — | 17.72.090(A)-(B) |
| Sale/Rental Sign (Commercial/Manufacturing) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Designed and located as approved by planning/community preservation/public works | — | 17.72.090(C) |
| Owner/Operator/Business Associate Window Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On or behind window facing public view | — | 17.72.100(B) |
| Gasoline Service Station - Canopy Sign | Top of canopy | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | — | — | On pump island canopy structure | — | 17.72.100(C)(1)(a) |
| Gasoline Service Station - Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 35 sq ft per sign face | — | — | — | Within freestanding walls/planter beds, cannot project beyond property line | — | 17.72.100(C)(1)(b) |
| Gasoline Service Station - Poster-Type Sign | 6 ft | — | 4 ft | — | 1 | Located at owner's discretion, not on public property | — | 17.72.100(C)(2) |
| Gasoline Service Station - Rate/Price Sign | 4 ft | — | 3 ft | — | 2 | — | — | 17.72.100(C)(4) |
| Neighborhood Shopping Center - Double Faced Identification Sign | 10 ft | 25 sq ft per side; additional 10 sq ft/acre over 1 acre (max 50 sq ft/side) | — | — | 1 | At entry to shopping center | — | 17.72.100(D) |

## Prohibited signs in Sierra Madre

- Rotating, moving, flashing, changing, reflecting or blinking signs except time and temperature signs and other public service signs which may produce a changing message with lights, which does not create any traffic hazards and subject to approval of the planning commission.
- Animated signs.
- Signs on public property or right-of-way unless otherwise authorized within this chapter, and as provided in Section 17.20.020(J)(6).
- All off-site signs.
- Outdoor advertising structures, defined herein and commonly called 'billboards'.
- Signs employing exposed neon tubing, excluding reverse channel letters with silhouette illumination, neon signs approved under a creative sign permit and neon window signs not exceeding ten percent of the window area.
- Abandoned business signs.
- Canister signs also known as 'can' or 'cabinet' signs.
- Roofmounted signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sierra Madre

- Election signs are permitted without a permit in all zones, subject to regulations outlined in section 17.72.030.K.
- Political signs are permitted without a permit in all zones, subject to regulations outlined in section 17.72.030.L.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All sign applications must be accompanied by a site plan and elevations showing sign details and location, as required by section 17.72.150.
- A creative sign permit requires submittal of all information and materials required by the planning and community preservation department (section 17.72.105).
- Review by the planning commission is required for the design and location of signs in excess of forty square feet, all signs projecting above the top of a building line, and freestanding signs in excess of twenty square feet (section 17.72.110).
- For temporary signs and outdoor displays, a dimensioned site plan is required showing locations and compliance with relevant placement rules (section 17.72.190).

## 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 5 zoning districts in Sierra Madre — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Sierra+Madre+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-sierra-madre

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