# Sign Regulations in Sunnyvale, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sunnyvale, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/sunnyvale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/42714230#42714230)

## At a glance

Sunnyvale, California regulates 8 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft. tall, 4 sq. ft., and 2 ft. wide (Sec. § 9.58.110). Most commercial signs in Sunnyvale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial and Office Districts (P-F, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, O, ECR-O, DSP Blocks 1, 2, 3, 20, 21) | 3 | 10 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial Districts (M-S, M-3, Moffett Park Districts) | 3 | 25 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed Use Districts (DSP Blocks 1a, 20, MU combining district, all mixed use specific plans) | 3 | 10 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Regional Retail (ECR-C, ECR-MU, DSP Block 1a, 18, 22) | 3 | 25 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Districts (R-0, R-1, R-1.5, R-1.7/PD, R-2, R-3, ECR-R3, R-4, ECR-R4, R-5, R-MH, residential uses in ECR-MU, DSP blocks 4, 5, 6, 7, 8a, 8b, 9, 9a, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23) | 3 | 5 ft. | 75 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | City property | — | § 9.58.070 |
| Residential Open House Sign | 3.5 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Public right-of-way | — | § 9.58.080 |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Public right-of-way in residential zoning districts | — | § 9.58.090 |
| Encroachment Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Private property projecting into or over city property | — | § 9.58.100 |
| Freestanding Sign | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | 2 ft. | — | One per business | 100 block of South Murphy Avenue | — | § 9.58.110 |

### Commercial and Office Districts (P-F, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, O, ECR-O, DSP Blocks 1, 2, 3, 20, 21)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | No limit | Building frontage | — | Table 19.44.160(a) |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft. | 60 sq. ft. per side, 120 sq. ft. on both sides | — | — | One per street frontage, two if lot is wider than 300 ft. | Street frontage | — | Table 19.44.160(a) |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | 5 sq. ft. per side, 10 sq. ft. on both sides | — | — | One per entrance | Entrance | — | Table 19.44.160(a) |

### Industrial Districts (M-S, M-3, Moffett Park Districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 300 sq. ft. | — | — | No limit | Building frontage | — | Table 19.44.160(b) |
| Ground Sign | 25 ft. | 70 sq. ft. per side, 140 sq. ft. on both sides | — | — | One per street frontage, two if lot is wider than 300 ft. | Street frontage | — | Table 19.44.160(b) |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | 5 sq. ft. per side, 10 sq. ft. on both sides | — | — | One per entrance | Entrance | — | Table 19.44.160(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Sunnyvale

- Private persons and governmental agencies other than the city may not display signs on city property unless such display is specifically authorized by this chapter or other applicable city law, or by state or federal law or court order.
- Moving signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Commercial mascots are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Wind activated signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Audible signs, not including signs at establishments offering drive-up or walk-up service, are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Billboards are prohibited in all zoning districts.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sunnyvale

- Address numbers on a building are allowed without a sign permit.
- Government signs are allowed without a sign permit.
- Warning signs are allowed without a sign permit.
- Window signs limited to twenty-five percent of the total window area per façade, per tenant space are allowed without a sign permit.
- Residential open house signs may be placed on private property without a permit, provided certain conditions are met.
- Real estate signs on private property are allowed without a sign permit, provided certain conditions are met.
- Directory signs for multifamily uses are allowed without a sign permit, provided certain conditions are met.
- Information signs shall not exceed sixteen square feet sign area and are allowed without a sign permit.
- Flags displaying noncommercial images or messages are allowed without a sign permit, limited to three per property.
- Directional signs may be installed without a sign permit provided certain conditions are met.
- Residential name plates are allowed without a sign permit, limited to two square feet in area.
- Traffic signs are allowed without a sign permit, provided certain conditions are met.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Master Sign Programs are required for properties with six or more establishments.
- A Master Sign Program is required for new nonresidential developments of six or more separate tenant spaces sharing the same parcel or structure and using common access and parking facilities.
- A Master Sign Program is required for proposals for an off-site sign for an immediately adjacent site where opportunities for on-site signage are limited.

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

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