Fontana sign permit requirements
What the Fontana sign code and sign ordinance allow, summarised from ARTICLE XII. - SIGN REGULATIONS. Every figure below shows the ordinance's own wording, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
Is a permit required?
Sec. 30-728Design review permanent sign approval required to erect, move, alter, replace, suspend, display, or attach a permanent sign; certain exempt signs (e.g. window signs) do not require design review but may require building permits
“A design review permanent sign approval is required to erect, move, alter, replace, suspend, display, or attach a permanent sign (general sign, freeway sign, and electronic message sign), unless otherwise specified in this article.”
Wall sign — maximum area
Table No. 30-743.ABusiness frontage <100 ft: 1 sf per lineal foot of business frontage up to 100 sf. Business frontage 100 ft or more: 1 sf per lineal foot up to 150 sf combined primary and secondary; optional secondary wall signs not to exceed 40% of total wall sign area
“Business frontages less than 100 ft: 1 sf of sign area per lineal foot of business frontage up to 100 sf Business frontages 100 ft or more: 1 sf of sign area per lineal foot of business frontage up to 150 sf of combined primary and optional secondary wall sign areas per business frontage. Optional secondary wall signs shall not exceed 40 percent of the total wall sign area per business frontage”
Freestanding sign — maximum area
Table No. 30-743.AMonument sign: 45 sf. Pylon sign: 100 sf (permitted only on lots with minimum area of two acres)
| Sign Type | Maximum Number | Maximum Sign Area | Maximum Sign Height | Additional Regulations |
| a. Awning sign | N/A | 25 percent of the surface area of the awning, including all valances Downtown core: 30 percent of the surface area of the awning, including all valances | Awning shall not extend above eave line | • See subsection 30-746 (a) |
| b. Canopy sign | Single tenant: 1 per building frontage Multiple tenant: 1 per tenant space | 25 percent of the surface area of the canopy Downtown core: 1 square foot of sign area permitted per each lineal foot of tenant frontage | 24 inches, as measured from the lowest point on the sign | • See subsection 30-746 (b) |
| c. Monument sign | 1 for each 200 ft (lineal) of street frontage | 45 sf | 6 ft (includes decorative base and cap) | • See subsection 30-746 (d) • See subsection 30-736 (f) |
| d. Pylon sign | Single tenant: 1 per street frontage with a minimum of 165 lineal ft of street frontage Multiple tenant: 1 per street frontage Street frontages of 300 ft or greater may have a second pylon sign | 100 sf | 25 ft (includes decorative base and cap) | • Pylon signs permitted only on lots with minimum area of two acres • Pylon signs for single tenants permitted only for those lots with frontage along Baseline Avenue, Foothill Boulevard, Sierra Avenue, or Valley Boulevard • See subsection 30-746 (e) • See subsection 30-736 (f) |
| e. Wall sign | Business frontages less than 100 feet: 1 primary wall sign per business frontage Business frontages 100 feet or more: 1 primary wall sign and 2 optional secondary wall signs per business frontage Downtown core: Secondary wall signs are permitted on every frontage with a wall sign | Business frontages less than 100 ft: 1 sf of sign area per lineal foot of business frontage up to 100 sf Business frontages 100 ft or more: 1 sf of sign area per lineal foot of business frontage up to 150 sf of combined primary and optional secondary wall sign areas per business frontage. Optional secondary wall signs shall not exceed 40 percent of the total wall sign area per business frontage Downtown core: Secondary wall sign is permitted up to 40 square feet maximum | Shall not extend above eave line | • See subsection 30-746 (f) • See subsection 30-736 (g) • Downtown core: Secondary wall signs must promote the primary business. Can be located below a canopy or façade, but must have a minimum vertical clearance of at least eight feet from bottom of the secondary sign to highest finished grade |
| f. Driveway/on-site traffic directional sign | 1 per driveway or drive-through lane, plus: • Single tenant: 1 for every 300 parking spaces • Multiple tenant: 1 for every 200 parking spaces Downtown core: 1 per right-of-way frontage | Single tenant: 8 sf per sign face Multiple tenant: 10 sf per sign face | 4 ft | • Such signs may be in the form of a monument sign, pylon sign, projecting or wall sign • See subsections 30-736 (f) and 30-736 (g) |
| g. Freeway sign | 1 per parcel having a minimum of 800 ft of freeway frontage, and is developed as a single entity | 150 sf for businesses occupying less than 250,000 sf of building area 300 sf for businesses occupying 250,000 sf or more building area | 50 ft (includes decorative base and cap) | • See subsection 30-746 (c) • See subsection 30-736 (f) |
| h. Projecting signs (downtown core) | • 1 per tenant space with 50 feet of linear frontage adjacent to the public right-of-way and 5,000 square feet of floor space • May exist instead of, but not in addition to, a freestanding ground sign | Shall not exceed one and one-half square feet for each linear foot of building frontage facing the right-of-way (Area is measured by maximum width by maximum height of the sign) | N/A | • Permitted within downtown core only • Tenant spaces are not permitted to have both a projecting sign permitted in Table 30-721.A and a projecting sign (downtown core) • Must be located 50 feet from any other projecting signs (downtown core) • Such signs shall project no more than six feet from the face of the building wall upon which they are mounted • Any encroachment by a downtown core projecting sign into the City right-of-way is subject to the approval of the City Engineer and shall require an encroachment permit • Downtown core projecting signs, including supporting structures, shall be designed as an integral architectural element of the building and must be architecturally compatible with the building to which the sign is to be attached • The bottom edge of a downtown core projecting sign shall maintain a minimum clearance of nine feet from ground level • Downtown core projecting signs must be constructed with vertical orientation |
Reproduced from Table No. 30-743.A. Check it against the source before ordering.
Freestanding sign — maximum height
Table No. 30-743.AMonument sign: 6 ft (includes decorative base and cap). Pylon sign: 25 ft (includes decorative base and cap)
Set out in the same table as freestanding sign — maximum area above.
Freestanding sign — setback
Sec. 30-746(d)(2)Monument and pylon signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any property line
“Monument signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any property line.”
Projecting sign — maximum area
Table No. 30-721.AProjecting signs (downtown only): 15 sf. Downtown core projecting signs: not to exceed 1.5 sf per linear foot of building frontage facing the right-of-way. Projecting signs are prohibited except within the downtown boundary
| Sign Type | Maximum Number | Maximum Sign Area | Maximum Sign Height | Additional Requirements |
| 1. Permanent Signs | ||||
| a. Projecting signs (downtown only) | In addition to wall signs: 1 per tenant space | 15 sf | Must be below eave line and maintain a minimum vertical clearance of at least eight feet from bottom of such sign to highest finished grade shall be maintained | • Permitted within downtown boundary only • A tenant space shall be allowed either a downtown core projecting sign or a projecting sign otherwise permitted under the provisions of this section, but not both. (Refer to the Table in Section 30-743.A(h) for specific regulations pertaining to downtown core projecting signs.) • Such signs shall project no more than four feet from the face of the building wall upon which the sign is mounted • Any encroachment into City right-of-way is subject to City Engineer approval and requires an encroachment permit • Such signs, including supporting structures, shall be designed as an integral design element of a building's architecture and shall be architecturally compatible with any building to which the sign is to be attached. Where more than one sign is provided, all signs shall be complementary to each other. |
| b. Suspended signs | One per each street frontage per nonresidential tenant | 4 sf | A minimum vertical clearance of at least eight feet from bottom of such sign to highest finished grade shall be maintained | • Such signs shall be limited to building frontages on the ground floor of nonresidential buildings • Any encroachment into City right-of-way is subject to City Engineer approval and requires an encroachment permit • Such signs, including supporting structures, shall be designed as an integral design element of a building's architecture and shall be architecturally compatible with any building to which the sign is to be attached. Where more than one sign is provided, all signs shall be complementary to each other. |
| c. Window signs | N/A | 25 percent of the total window glass area of the first floor, including glass doors, of the building frontage | N/A | • Such signs shall be placed so that law enforcement and public safety personnel have a clear and unobstructed view of the interior of the establishment, including cash registers • Signs inside the building not mounted to windows shall not be located within three feet of the window • Illuminated and electronic message window signs shall comply with Section 30-734 • Perforated and/or transparent window signs shall count towards the cumulative allowable sign area • Window signs shall not be located on any window above the second story • Window signs shall be maintained in good condition. |
| d. Downtown core holiday window signs | For all window areas | 50 percent of window area | N/A | • Only permitted in the downtown core • Windows signs as specified in subsection (c) above are permitted • Signs shall be positioned so as to ensure a clear and unobstructed view of the interior of the establishment • Signs located inside the building, but not mounted on windows, must be placed at least three feet from the window • Illuminated and electronic message window signs shall comply with Section 30-734 • Sign display is restricted to federal and state recognized holidays • Display of these signs are limited to the period beginning 45 days before a federal or state recognized holiday and ending 15 days after that holiday |
| 2. Temporary Signs | ||||
| a. Yard signs on private property where there is a garage/yard sale, estate sale, food sale or similar temporary sale taking place | 1 per street frontage of the subject property on which the event is taking place | 6 sf | 4 ft | • Such on-site signs shall be removed within seven days after the close of the sale • For each single temporary event, the person sponsoring the event may place up to six off-site temporary yard signs on private property for the purpose of directing the public to a residential event (e.g., garage/yard sale, estate sale). Permission shall be granted by the owner of the property on which such signs are posted. Said signs may be posted for no more than 48 hours and shall be removed within six hours of the end of the event • Such on- and off-site signs shall not be illuminated • See also Division 7 of this article |
| b. Yard signs on residential property offered for sale, lease, or rental | 1 sign per street frontage | 6 sf (on lots < 2 acres in size) 24 sf (on lots ≥ 2 acres in size) | 4 ft | • Such signs shall be removed within seven days after the close of escrow, rental, or lease of the property • Each owner or agent of the property being advertised for sale, lease, or rental may place up to six off-site temporary signs on private property for the purpose of directing the public to a residential activity (e.g., real estate open house). Permission shall be granted by the owner of the property on which such signs are posted. Said signs may be posted for no more than 48 hours and shall be removed within six hours of the end of the event • See also Division 7 of this article |
| c. Yard signs on nonresidential property under construction or offered for sale, lease, or rental | 1 per street frontage | 32 sf | 8 ft | • Such signs shall only be posted on the subject property; shall be located in a yard, in a window, or on a wall; and shall not be illuminated • Such signs shall be removed within seven days after the close of escrow, rental, or lease of the property • See also Division 7 of this article |
| d. Temporary signs displaying noncommercial messages | See Municipal Code Chapter 3, Article IV (Noncommercial signs) | |||
| e. Portable (A-Frame) signs | 1 per business frontage | 6 sf | 3 ft | • Permitted within downtown boundary only. Such signs shall maintain a minimum access width of four feet and shall not interfere with vehicular, pedestrian, and wheelchair access in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) • Any encroachment into a City right-of-way is subject to City Engineer approval and requires an encroachment permit specifying that the business, person, or entity responsible for placing the sign indemnify and hold harmless the City from any action or expense that may occur as a result of a such sign being located on a City right-of-way • Such signs may be placed during the hours a business is open for business and one-half hour before opening and one-half hour after closing. Such signs shall be removed during hours when the establishment is not open to the public |
Reproduced from Table No. 30-721.A. Check it against the source before ordering.
Projecting sign — clearance
Table No. 30-721.ADowntown projecting sign: minimum vertical clearance of at least eight feet from bottom of sign to highest finished grade; shall project no more than four feet from the building wall (six feet for downtown core projecting signs, with nine feet minimum clearance)
“Must be below eave line and maintain a minimum vertical clearance of at least eight feet from bottom of such sign to highest finished grade shall be maintained”
Window signs — maximum coverage
Table No. 30-721.A25 percent of the total window glass area of the first floor, including glass doors, of the building frontage
“25 percent of the total window glass area of the first floor, including glass doors, of the building frontage”
Illumination
Sec. 30-734(a)(1)Signs may be internally or externally illuminated and shall not blink, flash, flutter, or change light intensity, brightness, or color unless consistent with electronic message sign standards; exterior light sources shall be shielded and directed to illuminate only the sign face
“Sign illumination may be internally or externally illuminated and shall not blink, flash, flutter, or change light intensity, brightness, or color unless consistent with the standards for electronic message signs in Section 30-734 .”
Digital / electronic message centres
Sec. 30-734(c)Electronic message signs permitted on freestanding menu board signs, freeway signs, pylon signs, theater marquee signs, and window signs. Each message displayed no fewer than 8 consecutive seconds; no flashing/blinking/flutter/video; transition/blank time not to exceed 1 second. Nighttime brightness increase not to exceed 0.3 foot-candles; ambient light sensor required. Must turn off between 10pm-6am if within 500 ft and direct line of sight of residential
“Electronic message signs may display changing messages, provided that each message is displayed for no fewer than eight consecutive seconds, and shall not flash, blink, flutter, or display video messages (i.e., any illumination or message that is in motion or appears to be in motion). The transition or blank screen time between one display message and the next shall not exceed one second.”
Prohibited sign types
Sec. 30-722Abandoned signs; animated signs; exposed raceways; general advertising signs (billboards) except per Division 8; illegal signs; pole signs; portable (A-frame) signs and projecting signs except in downtown boundary; roof signs except on mansard roofs where no other useable sign area available; vehicle signs. Also signs that flash/blink or have dwell time under 8 seconds, simulate traffic signals, or emit sound/odor/smoke
“(1) Abandoned signs; (2) Animated signs; (3) Exposed raceways; (4) General advertising signs (billboards), except as provided by Division 8; (5) Illegal signs; (6) Pole signs; (7) Portable (A-frame) signs and projecting signs, except as permitted by Table No. 30-721.A within the downtown boundary; (8) Roof signs, except as permitted for roof signs on mansard roofs where, in the opinion of the Director of Community Development, no other useable sign area is available; and (9) Vehicle signs.”
Which zoning district this describes
Table No. 30-743.AValues are for Nonresidential Uses in Commercial, Mixed Use, and Form-Based Zoning Districts (C-1, C-2, RMU, FBC); code varies materially by district (separate tables for residential, industrial M-1/M-2, and public/quasi-public districts). Figures given are the general commercial (C-2) figures
“Table No. 30-743.A. Nonresidential Uses in Commercial, Mixed Use, and Form-Based Zoning Districts (C-1, C-2, RMU, FBC) and Specific Plans Without Sign Programs”
Not covered in the sign chapter we read: wall sign — % of facade. That doesn't mean the city has no rule — it may sit elsewhere in the code.
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Tell us — corrections from local sign shops are how this stays accurate.
Common questions
- Do you need a permit for a sign in Fontana, CA?
- Design review permanent sign approval required to erect, move, alter, replace, suspend, display, or attach a permanent sign; certain exempt signs (e.g. window signs) do not require design review but may require building permits
- How big can a wall sign be in Fontana, CA?
- Business frontage <100 ft: 1 sf per lineal foot of business frontage up to 100 sf. Business frontage 100 ft or more: 1 sf per lineal foot up to 150 sf combined primary and secondary; optional secondary wall signs not to exceed 40% of total wall sign area
- How big can a freestanding sign be in Fontana, CA?
- Monument sign: 45 sf. Pylon sign: 100 sf (permitted only on lots with minimum area of two acres)
- How tall can a freestanding sign be in Fontana, CA?
- Monument sign: 6 ft (includes decorative base and cap). Pylon sign: 25 ft (includes decorative base and cap)
- How far back from the road must a sign sit in Fontana, CA?
- Monument and pylon signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any property line
- How big can a projecting sign be in Fontana, CA?
- Projecting signs (downtown only): 15 sf. Downtown core projecting signs: not to exceed 1.5 sf per linear foot of building frontage facing the right-of-way. Projecting signs are prohibited except within the downtown boundary
Tell me when Fontana, CA changes its sign rules
We re-read the ordinance and compare it against our last reading. If a limit moves, you get one email quoting what changed. Most quarters, most cities change nothing — and we won't invent a reason to write.
One email per change, unsubscribe in one click, and we don't pass it on.
Quoting a sign job in Fontana?
PrinterFlo prices signs by size and material, tracks the job from proof to install, and gets approvals signed off in one click.
See PrinterFlo