# Sign Regulations in Walnut, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Walnut, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/walnut
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44203481#44203481)

## At a glance

Walnut, California regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 10 square feet, with a Minimum 5 feet inside property line setback (Sec. § 6.92.050.A). Most commercial signs in Walnut require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RPD / R-2 | 2 | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — |
| R-1 | 2 | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — |
| R-3 | 4 | 6 feet | 10 square feet | — |
| Commercial Zones / C-P / C-1 / C-3 | 9 | 8 feet | 80% of lineal business frontage | — |
| Manufacturing Zones / M-1 | 7 | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — |

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

### Commercial Zones / C-P / C-1 / C-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 80% of lineal business frontage | — | — | One per street frontage | Facing each street frontage or common parking area | — | § 6.92.080.A.1 |
| Rear Identification Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per use | Rear of the building | — | § 6.92.080.A.2 |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | — | 6 feet | — | One per street frontage | Each street frontage with at least 50 feet of street frontage | — | § 6.92.080.A.4 |
| Shopping Center Identification/Monument Sign | 8 feet | 36 square feet per face or 72 square feet total; centers over 50,000 sq ft of floor area may add one monument up to 50 square feet per street frontage; centers of 90,000 sq ft or more may add a third (directory) monument up to 50 square feet per street frontage, minimum 150 feet between signs | 8 feet | — | One per street frontage (plus additional monuments based on floor area) | One per street frontage identifying the center | — | § 6.92.080.B.1-2 |
| Shopping Center Business Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per wall facing a street or common parking area | One per wall facing a street or common parking area, for each business within a shopping center | — | § 6.92.080.B.3 |
| Under-Canopy Sign (Shopping Center) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per business | Under a canopy, for an individual business within a shopping center | — | § 6.92.080.B.4 |
| Individual Business Monument Sign (Separate Lot) | 4 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | One per qualifying lot | On a separate lot within a shopping center with at least 75 feet of street frontage | — | § 6.92.080.B.5 |
| Service Station Price Sign | — | Sufficient size to meet State law | — | — | — | On the service station premises | — | § 6.92.080.C |

### Manufacturing Zones / M-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per building | Front of the building | — | § 6.92.090.A |
| Side/Rear Identification Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | One per side/rear | Side or rear facing public parking area or street | — | § 6.92.090.B |
| Directory Nameplate | — | — | — | — | One per entrance | Main entrance to the building | — | § 6.92.090.C |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | — | 6 feet | — | One per qualifying lot | One per lot with at least 100 feet of street frontage, at the front setback line | — | § 6.92.090.G |
| Industrial Center Identification/Monument Sign | 8 feet | 36 square feet per face or 72 square feet total | 8 feet | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage identifying the center | — | § 6.92.090.H.1-2 |
| Industrial Center Additional Monument Sign (Large Frontage) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | One additional per street frontage | One additional monument per street frontage | — | § 6.92.090.H.3 |
| Neighborhood Retail District Marquee Monument Sign | — | — | — | — | — | One large or multiple smaller business centers | — | § 6.92.090.I |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 10 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet inside property line | One per development | Minimum 5 feet inside property line | — | § 6.92.050.A |
| Future Development Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet inside property line | One per site | Minimum 10 feet inside property line | — | § 6.92.050.B |
| Temporary Banner/Special Advertising Sign (60-Day) | — | Wall-mounted special signs or banners shall not occupy more than 10% of the total outside wall area | — | — | — | On the premises of the business | — | § 6.92.040.F |
| Real Estate Sign (Building-Mounted, For Sale/Lease/Rent) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | One per building | Attached to the main building | — | § 6.92.050.C |
| Subdivision Master Sign Program | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 6.92.060 |
| Parking Area Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Within parking areas (entry, exit, and directional) | — | § 6.92.110 |

## Prohibited signs in Walnut

- Signs or devices which resemble or conflict with any traffic control sign or device, or which constitute a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by obstructing the vision of drivers or pedestrians.
- Flashing signs, except time and temperature units at least 100 feet from any residential zone.
- Moving or rotating signs.
- Projecting signs.
- Roof signs.
- Portable signs.
- Billboard and outdoor advertising signs (except as provided in this chapter).
- Any sign affixed to any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way or public property, unless the vehicle or trailer is intended to be used in its normal business capacity and not for the sole purpose of attracting people to a place of business.
- Signs emitting audible sounds, odor or visible matter.
- Signs which purport to be, or are, an imitation of, or resemble, official traffic signs and attempt to govern traffic in public streets or rights-of-way.
- Cabinet signs or can signs, except for churches, public schools, public colleges, universities, and gasoline price signs for gas stations.
- No sign shall be located upon or project over a public right-of-way, except banners announcing civic or charitable activities sponsored by civic or charitable organizations from within the City, subject to approval by the Planning Commission.
- No sign shall be attached in any way to a public utility pole or public property, except nonadvertising signs of public utility companies as may be required in their operations and providing service for the health and welfare of the general public, or as required by any law or regulations of the State, or any agency thereof.
- No sign shall be placed in such a manner that visibility of signs on adjacent properties is obscured.
- Signs shall not extend above the eave line or parapet of the buildings on which they are located, except where such signs form an integral part of the building.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports shall be closer than six feet horizontally of, or 12 feet vertically of overhead electric conductors which are energized in excess of 750 volts.
- No sign will interfere with free use of any fire escape or exit.

## Signs exempt from permit in Walnut

- Nameplates.
- Charitable, educational or cultural posters.
- Governmental or other legally required posters, notices or signs.
- Real estate 'for sale,' 'lease,' or 'rent' signs.
- Governmental flags or emblems or flags of nonprofit organizations.
- Traffic, directional, warning or informational signs required or authorized by any public body.
- Names of buildings and date of erection when cut into a masonry surface, or made of incombustible material, and similar memorial signs and markers.
- Signs erected in or near the City boundary which sign contains the name of the City and name of, or any other information regarding, civic, fraternal or religious organizations located thereto.
- Political campaign signs supporting, opposing, or regarding any candidate or issue, subject to specific conditions.
- The changing of advertising copy or messages on bulletin boards and similar signs specifically designed for the use of replaceable or changeable copy, unless electrical alterations are made.
- Repainting and cleaning of an advertising structure, unless a change in structure size, height, color or locations is made.

## Sign permit fees & timelines in Walnut

| Item | Details | Citation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All sign permits | equal to 60% of the building permit fee | — |
| Standard Review | 12+ days (starts when Sign permit application submitted) | Phone confirmation, City of Walnut Community Development Dept. (Building Safety Division), (909) 595-7543 |

_The full published fee and review-timeline schedule for Walnut is available in PermitPal (free account)._

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

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