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Sign Code Summary

City of Sunnyvale, CA

Local sign ordinance requirements — free, cited to the source section.

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Understanding sign regulations in City of Sunnyvale, CA

Every outdoor sign in City of Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale.

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 Sunnyvale, 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 Sunnyvale, 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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Max ground sign height
EMC signs: EMC sign height shall not exceed ten feet high as measured from top of nearest curb
Ground sign setback
10' setback

Awning Signs

Awning Sign Sf Calc
Entire awning counts toward SF, wall calculation used for awning sf if landlord allows
Awning Projection Clearance
8' off grade, 3' off the wall

Building Signs

Emc Wall Sign Max Area
EMC wall signs: EMC wall sign shall not exceed one hundred square feet sign area
Wall Sign Allowance
Wall Signs: Wall signs on the tenant frontage parallel to the freeway are allowed an additional one hundred fifty square feet beyond the standard wall sign area allowance.
Building Sign Formula
in full report
Building Sign Max Number
in full report
Building Sign Illumination
in full report

3 more building signs rules in the full report →

Definitions

Construction Site Sign Definition
A sign that is displayed on the site of a construction project during the actual construction.
Exempt Signs Definition
Any sign exempt from permitting under Section 19.
Fin Sign Definition
in full report
Garage Sale Sign Definition
in full report
Ground Sign Definition
in full report
Ground Sign Sleeve Definition
in full report
Information Sign Definition
in full report
Master Sign Program Definition
in full report
Moving Signs Definition
in full report
On Site Sign Definition
in full report
Permanent Sign Definition
in full report
Portable Sign Definition
in full report
Readerboard Sign Definition
in full report
Real Estate Sign Definition
in full report
Under Canopy Signs Definition
in full report
Wall Sign Definition
in full report
Warning Sign Definition
in full report
Wind Activated Sign Definition
in full report
Sign Face
in full report
Temporary Sign
in full report
Audible Sign Definition
in full report
Building Permit Required In Certain Instances Definition
in full report
Decorative Banner Definition
in full report
Decorative Banner Program Definition
in full report
Display Area Or Display Face Definition
in full report
Expansion Of The Sign Definition
in full report
Failure To Obtain Zoning Permits Definition
in full report
Flag Definition
in full report
Flags Definition
in full report
Fuel Price Sign Definition
in full report
Government Sign Definition
in full report
Nonconforming Sign Definition
in full report
Permanent Signs In Residential Zoning Districts Definition
in full report
Permit Required Definition
in full report
Real Estate Signs On Private Property Definition
in full report
Sign Area Definition
in full report
Sign Definition
in full report
Signs That Require A Permit Definition
in full report
Window Sign Definition
in full report

37 more definitions rules in the full report →

Directional Signs

Directional Max Size
2 sf
Directional Max Height
4' off grade

General Info

Jurisdiction Name
City of Sunnyvale, CA

General Standards

Emc Count Towards Sign Area
EMC signs: EMC signs are counted towards sign area limitations of the subject zoning district
Max Deviation From Standards
The maximum allowable deviation is twenty-five percent of the requirement
Message Substitution Right
in full report
Applications For Multiple Sign Allowance
in full report
Banners Maximum Area
in full report
Flags Displaying Noncommercial Images Or Messages Rule
in full report
General Sign Requirements Rule
in full report
Master Sign Programs Requirement
in full report
Pump Island Sign Maximum Area
in full report
Readerboard Sign Requirement
in full report
Window Sign Setback
in full report
Directional Sign Branding
in full report
Projecting Sign Limit
in full report

11 more general standards rules in the full report →

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Ground Signs

Emc Ground Sign Max Area
EMC ground signs: EMC ground sign shall not exceed fifty square feet sign area per side
Emc Sign Max Height
EMC signs: EMC sign height shall not exceed ten feet high as measured from top of nearest curb
Flag Max Height Other Districts
in full report
Flag Max Height Residential
in full report
Flag Max Lateral Dimension
in full report
Ground Sign Maximum Height
in full report
Ground Sign Type
in full report
Ground Sign Formula
in full report
Ground Sign Max Height
in full report
Ground Sign Setback
in full report

8 more ground signs rules in the full report →

Permit Process

Exception Request Review
A sign permit application that includes a request for exceptions to standards established by these regulations is subject to review by the director
Master Sign Program Review
All Master Sign Programs are reviewed with a sign permit
Permit Denial Requirements
in full report
Planning Commission Review Time
in full report
Staff Level Review Time
in full report
Directory Signs For Multifamily Uses Permit Exemption
in full report
Sign Permit Required Permit Requirement
in full report
Permit Time Frame
in full report
Triangulation Requirements
in full report
Permit Fee
in full report
Permit Application Url
in full report

9 more permit process rules in the full report →

Temporary Signs

Decorative Banner Location
Decorative banners shall be located on private property, outside of vision triangles and shall not extend into or be allowed to move into the public right-of-way
Decorative Banner Quantity
Each property participating in a decorative banner program may display a maximum of one banner for every thirty lineal feet of street frontage
Prohibition On Temporary Sign Allowance
in full report
Temp Signs Allowed
in full report
Temp Sign Rules
in full report

3 more temporary signs rules in the full report →

Variance Appeals

Appeal To Planning Commission
Any action of the director regarding signs may be appealed to the planning commission, whose decision shall be final
Stay Of Proceedings
The request for appeal shall automatically stay the proceedings until a final decision is rendered on the action, permit or determination being appealed, except when a sign constitutes an immediate and significant threat to public safety
Variance Process
in full report

1 more variance appeals rule in the full report →

Window Signs

Window Sign Maximum Area
Window Signs: Window signs limited to twenty-five percent of the total window area per façade, per tenant space.
Window Sign Allowable Area
25% of the available window area

Zoning

Calculation Towards Sign Area Rule
EMC signs are counted towards sign area limitations of the subject zoning district.
Emc Sign Allowance
EMC signs: EMC signs are permitted only in the regional retail areas.

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