# Sign Regulations in Tustin, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tustin, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/tustin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-26
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Tustin/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=ART9LAUS_CH4SIRE)

## At a glance

Tustin, California regulates 6 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign - Residentials in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 4 ft. tall and 6 sq. ft. (Sec. Section 9406).

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |
| Residential Districts | 1 | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Districts | 1 | 6 ft. (less than 200' street frontage) / 8 ft. (200' or more street frontage) | 16 sq. ft. (less than 200' street frontage) / 24 sq. ft. (200' or more street frontage) | — |
| Industrial Districts | 1 | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Professional/Office Districts | 1 | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — |
| Public and Institutional Districts | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign - Residential | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage | On premises for rent, lease, or sale only | — | Section 9406 |

### Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign - Commercial | 6 ft. (less than 200' street frontage) / 8 ft. (200' or more street frontage) | 16 sq. ft. (less than 200' street frontage) / 24 sq. ft. (200' or more street frontage) | — | — | One per street frontage | On premises for rent, lease, or sale only | — | Section 9406 |

### Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign - Industrial | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage | On premises for rent, lease, or sale only | — | Section 9406 |

## Prohibited signs in Tustin

- Advertising bench signs within a public right-of-way, public parkway area, or public safety area without a permit.
- Advertising display bus shelter signs within a public right-of-way, public parkway area, or public safety area without a franchise agreement.
- Aerial signs unless approved.
- Animated signs.
- Audible signs.
- Beacons unless approved.
- Festoons unless approved.
- Flashing signs, except freeway adjacent digital display billboards.
- Light bulb strings not in conformance with regulations.
- Obscene or unlawful signs.
- Off-premises signs, except those erected by the City or approved types.
- On-premises advertising display.
- Painted signs.
- Portable signs, except approved types.
- Projecting signs.
- Roof signs, except approved types.
- Service, product and pricing signs exceeding 25% of total allowable sign area.
- Signs constituting a traffic hazard.
- Vehicle-mounted signs, except for lawful deliveries or services.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tustin

- Public signs placed by a governmental body or public utility.
- One official flag per property.
- Flags identifying the name and/or logo of the business upon the premises.
- Nameplates less than two square feet in area.
- Seasonal or holiday signs, holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message for up to 50 days.
- Address numbers installed on a building.
- Permanent plaques, cornerstones, or building names.
- Incidental signs mounted, painted, attached to, or placed upon windows.
- Non-illuminated on-premises real estate signs or open house signs.
- Permanent directional/information signs not exceeding six square feet per face.
- Temporary off-premises commercial signs.
- Light bulb strings meeting specific limitations.
- Temporary non-commercial signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan is required for developments in specific plan, planned development and planned community districts, multi-use sites, multi-tenant centers and mixed use districts.
- Standard sign plans must accompany applications for sign permits.
- Master sign plans should include permanent directional/information signs to facilitate smooth internal circulation.

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

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