Understanding sign regulations in City of Santa Monica, CA
Every outdoor sign in City of Santa Monica is governed by the municipality’s sign ordinance, which sets how large a sign may be, how tall it may stand, how far it must sit from the property line, whether it may be illuminated, and which sign types are permitted in each zoning district. This page summarizes those requirements in plain language and links each value back to the section of the City of Santa Monica code it came from.
Sign rules here are layered. The base zoning district — commercial, industrial, or residential — sets the default limits, and overlay districts such as historic or downtown districts can tighten them further. Because the most specific jurisdiction controls, a freestanding monument sign on a commercial parcel and a wall sign in a historic overlay can face very different limits even on the same street in City of Santa Monica.
Use the figures below as a fast first check, then run a full address lookup to confirm the exact limits for a specific parcel in City of Santa Monica, California. The full report also covers permit requirements, prohibited sign types, and illumination rules — each cited to the source ordinance so your permit application can reference it directly.
Before you order or install a sign in City of Santa Monica, confirm three things: the maximum sign area and height allowed in the parcel’s zoning district, the minimum setback from the right-of-way, and whether the sign type you want — freestanding, monument, wall, projecting, or awning — is permitted there at all. Many permit denials come from missing a setback or an overlay-district restriction rather than from the size of the sign itself, so checking the governing section before applying saves a costly resubmittal.
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Abandoned
Abandoned Sign 90 Days
An abandoned sign must be removed or have copy/text obliterated within 90 days after the associated enterprise or occupant vacates the premises.
Adjustment
Sign Adjustment Findings
A variance from nonstructural sign provisions may be granted only with findings including practical difficulty/hardship, no special privilege, compatibility with nearby signs and structures, and consistency with Chapter purposes.
Applications
Application Supporting Materials
Sign permit applications may require statements, photographs, plans, drawings, renderings, models, material samples, contextual drawings, massing diagrams/models, site history, and other materials needed for review.
Sign Program Required
For new projects, remodels directly affecting existing signs, and sign changes in a multiple-unit dwelling, a sign program must accompany the sign permit application and show locations, dimensions, colors, letter styles, and sign types retained, removed, and installed.
Area
Frontage Area Corner Rule
For corner sites, total operative frontage is 1.5 times building frontage, and no more than two-thirds of allowable total sign area may face either street.
Additional Alley Parking Entrance Area
If a public entrance exists from an alley or parking lot, additional sign area of one-half square foot per foot of that frontage is allowed on that side, capped at 20 square feet; if no public entrance exists, signage is limited to a two-square-foot business identification sign.
Permitted only on the sign face; no copy or lighting is allowed on wall surfaces parallel with the wall.
Enforcement
Notice Of Violation Timeline
For illegal or violating signs, the Director may issue a notice of violation; correction action and proof of commencement must occur within 30 days.
Owner Removal Timeline
If the responsible party fails to respond within 30 days or correct within 60 days, the premises owner is responsible for removal within 60 days following notice.
Exempt
Interior Signs Exempt
Interior signs are exempt if not visible through windows/openings or if located at least five feet from such windows/openings and adjacent window merchandise display base.
Special Event Signs Exempt
Special event signs are exempt if they are not prohibited sign types under specified subsections of Sec. 9.61.180 or signs-on-street restrictions.
For new signs or sign programs on City-designated Historic Resources, the review body is the Landmarks Commission or, where administratively allowed, the Landmarks Commission Secretary through a Certificate of Appropriateness application.
Maintenance
Sign Support Maintenance
All signs and sign support structures, including supports, braces, guys, and anchors, must be kept in repair and in proper state of preservation.
Display Surface Maintenance
Display surfaces of all signs must be kept neatly painted or posted at all times.
Nonconforming
Pre 1985 Nonconforming Abatement
Except for meritorious signs, signs existing before April 11, 1985 that were made nonconforming by Ordinance No. 1333 may be removed by the Building Officer under Chapter 8.96 abatement procedures.
Permits
Sign Permit Required
Unless specifically exempted, a sign permit from the Review Body is required before placing, changing, altering, or displaying any sign.
Repair Maintenance No Permit
No sign permit is required where the only work is repair, maintenance, or replacement of a conforming sign; repair/maintenance of a nonconforming sign; or replacement/repair of a destroyed sign, except where removal or modification to conform is required.
Wall signs are permitted if the display surface extends no more than 12 inches from the wall, is parallel with the wall, does not project above the wall/parapet or more than 30 inches above the second-floor floor line in multistory buildings, and has no copy/lighting on surfaces parallel to the wall other than the sign face.
Wall Sign Letter Height
For a wall sign located 25 feet from the property line in a single-tenant building, letter height may not exceed 30 inches.
Within the Main Street Commercial Zoning District, each business may have one additional temporary on-premises portable sign up to 10 square feet, with face width up to 2.5 feet, height up to four feet, and total two-face sign area up to 20 square feet, removed when the business is closed.
Prohibited
Animated Signs
Animated signs are prohibited except City signs for roadway safety/traffic circulation and school signs on school property for school purposes.
Balloon And Emitting Signs
Balloon signs and emitting signs are prohibited, except limited sound communication devices for drive-in restaurants, automated bank tellers, and drive-through banks.
Freestanding Pole Offpremise Portable Roof Upper Vehicle Highrise
Except for public-duty/legal notices, no one may paste, post, paint, print, nail, tack, or otherwise fasten a card, banner, handbill, sign, poster, advertisement, or notice on property without written consent of the owner/holder/lessee/agent/trustee.
Removed Signs
Removed Sign Hold Period
A sign removed by the City must be held for at least 30 days and may be recovered by the owner with proof of ownership and payment of removal/storage costs; after 30 days it may be sold as unclaimed property.
Review
Permit Approval Standard
A compliant sign application must be approved without modification or conditions unless review findings identify traffic-safety, architectural/historic/neighborhood incompatibility, or sign-view/public-view conflicts.
Scope
Chapter Applicability
Santa Monica Chapter 9.61 applies to any new sign proposed to be placed, changed, altered, or displayed in the City, subject to nonconforming/sign-date provisions.
Sign Code Purpose
The Sign Code provides minimum standards for life, health, property, and public welfare by regulating design, materials, construction, size, location, and maintenance of signs and sign structures.
Street
Street Sign Restriction
No person may erect, suspend, or maintain a sign on, across, or above a street, alley, public property, or portion thereof unless allowed or required by City resolution, license agreement, permit, municipal code, state law, or federal law.
Substitution
Noncommercial Message Substitution
A noncommercial message may be substituted for a duly permitted or allowed commercial or noncommercial message without additional approval if the structure or mounting device is legal, but this does not increase sign area or excuse permits/compliance.
Temporary
Temporary No Illumination
Temporary signs may not be internally or externally illuminated except authorized light-bulb strings.
Temporary Row Restriction
Except as authorized by Sec. 4.08.490, temporary signs may not extend into, on, or over the public right-of-way of a street, alley, or other public property.
Commercial/industrial: up to two temporary signs at 10 sq ft each or one temporary sign at 20 sq ft, without permit; one temporary on-premises banner for one 60-day period per year up to 20% of the front facade area or 100 sq ft, whichever is less; temporary window signs for two 30-day periods per year up to 20% of the first-floor frontage glass area; max height not specified in the provided facts.
Temp Signs Allowed
Yes, in commercial/industrial zones temporary signs are allowed without a permit.
Window Signs
Window Sign Allowable Area
Permanent window signs may cover up to 40% of the first-floor total frontage glass area.
Need the full sign-code report?
The full interactive report includes all sign types, illumination rules, permit requirements, and source citations — for free.