Temporary Secondary Signs in Commercial and Industrial Zones
San Diego Municipal Code § 142.1255
in effect§142.1255 Temporary Secondary Signs in Commercial and Industrial Zones
(a) Temporary signs shall not be directly illuminated.
(b) Temporary signs shall not be permanently installed or affixed to any sign structure or building.
(c) Table 142-12K identifies the type of temporary secondary signs permitted in the different sign categories.
Table 142-12K Temporary Secondary Signs
Type of Temporary Secondary Sign | Sign Categories A, B, and C
Construction Site
Number of Signs Permitted | One sign per street frontage Any single street frontage that is greater than 500 feet may have one additional sign
Permitted Sign Area | 160 square feet
Maximum Permitted Height | 20 feet
Additional Regulations | See Section 142.1255(d)
Real Estate (either ground or wall signs)
Number of Signs Permitted | Permitted sign area based on street frontage may be divided among more than one sign
Permitted Sign Area (total area for all signs on the property) based on length of the street frontage
0-100 feet | 32 square feet
101-300 feet | 64 square feet
301-500 feet | 96 square feet
Type of Temporary Secondary Sign | Sign Categories A, B, and C
501 feet and greater | 160 square feet
Maximum Permitted Height
Ground Real Estate Sign | 20 feet
Wall Real Estate Sign (may be banners) | Signs shall not be placed above the parapet or roof line of a building
Sign Dimensions | The horizontal dimension shall not exceed 2-1/2 times the vertical dimension
Additional Regulations | See Section 142.1255 (e)
Real Estate Open House Directional for Multiple Dwelling Unit Residential Uses in Commercial and Industrial Zones.
Permitted Sign Area (total area for all sides) | 4 square feet
Additional Regulations | See Section 142.1255(f)
Inflatable Displays
Number of Displays Permitted 3 displays per premises
Permitted Sign Area | A combined total of 1500 square feet of cross section area for all displays on the premises
Maximum Permitted Height | 45 feet from the ground to the apex of the display
Additional Regulations | See Section 142.1255(g)
Temporary Advertising Vehicles | See Section 142.1255(h)
Type of Temporary Secondary Sign | Sign Categories A, B, and C
Temporary Window Signs
Number of Signs Permitted and Size of signs | Not to exceed 30 percent of the window area. Letters may not be greater than 6 inches in average height, and logos may not exceed 16 inches in any dimension
Additional Regulations | See Section 142.1255(i)
On-premises Directional and Identification Signs for subdivisions
Number of Signs Permitted per Sales Office | One sign is permitted for each real estate sales office and one sign is permitted for each model home in the subdivision
Permitted Sign Area | 16 square feet
Maximum Permitted Height for Freestanding Signs on the Premises of Sales Office | 12 feet
Number of Signs Permitted per Subdivision Entrance | One double-faced sign, or two single-faced sign advertising the subdivision is permitted at the entrance of the subdivision
Permitted sign Area | 160 square feet
Maximum Permitted Height | 8 feet. May be 12 feet or 16 feet by special permit.
Number of Flags Permitted | 3 flags for each model home 6 flags if only one model
Required Flag Dimensions | 3 feet by 5 feet
Maximum Permitted Height | 20 feet
Off-premises Directional and Identification Signs for Subdivisions | See Section 142.1255(j)
Banners, Pennants, Flags, Streamers, and other similar devices | Permitted under certain conditions - See Section 142.1255(k)
(d) Temporary Construction Site Signs
(1) Construction site signs may be either ground or wall signs.
(2) Street frontages may not be combined for determining the number of signs permitted on a premises.
(3) Signs permitted on one street frontage may not be placed on another street frontage.
(4) Construction site ground signs shall be located within 35 feet of the fronting public right-of-way.
(5) Signs relating to safety warnings, traffic directions, entry prohibitions, and other similar signs for a construction project are permitted for the duration of the project.
(e) Real Estate Signs
(1) Real estate sign copy shall be limited to offering the premises for sale, rent, or lease.
(2) Real estate signs may be either ground or wall signs.
(3) Real estate wall signs shall meet the requirements of Section 142.1225.
(4) Real estate signs on the same premises shall have at least 50 feet between signs.
(5) Real estate signs shall be placed entirely within the property lines of the premises to which they pertain.
(6) Real estate signs shall be removed within 15 business days of sale or occupancy of the premises, whichever occurs first.
(f) Open House Directional Signs for Multiple-Unit Dwelling Units in Commercial and Industrial Zones
(1) Open house directional signs may contain the name of the person or agency offering a dwelling unit for sale, an arrow, and an address of the dwelling unit.
(2) Open house directional signs shall comply with the following regulations.
(A) The signs must pertain to one dwelling unit that is being offered for sale.
(B) The signs shall be ground-mounted.
(C) The signs shall not be placed in the public right-of-way or on public property.
(D) The signs may be placed on private property only with the consent of the property owner.
(E) The signs may be in place during daylight hours only.
(F) Flags, banners, streamer, and pennants may not be placed on or near the signs.
(g) Inflatable displays shall comply with the following regulations.
(1) The display shall be ground-mounted or roof-mounted and filled with ambient air.
(2) The display shall not be placed within 300 feet of any other inflatable display on the same premises or within 300 feet of a freeway public right-of-way.
(3) The display shall not be placed within 100 feet of a residentially zoned premises.
(4) The display shall observe all Federal Aviation Administration height limitations.
(5) The display shall not be located within required setbacks.
(6) The display shall not be in place more than 10 consecutive business days, nor more than a total of 20 calendar days in a 12-month period.
(7) The materials used shall not fade or tear during the period of installation. Structural materials and installation shall comply with the provisions of California State General Order Number 95.
(8) The display shall not be attached to fences, trees, shrubbery, or utility poles.
(9) The display shall not be placed in or project into the public right-of-way.
(10) The display shall not obstruct or obscure primary signs on adjacent premises.
(11) The display shall not create a traffic hazard because of the distractive character of the display or the cumulative effect of all displays to motorists.
(h) Temporary Advertising Vehicles
(1) A vehicle that has an attached sign or advertising device for the purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to an establishment or activity shall not be parked so that it is visible from public rights-of-way.
(2) Business or commercially licensed vehicles that have permanently attached signs or advertising devices and are used for the primary purpose of transporting people and products may be parked so that they are visible from public rights-of-way.
(i) Temporary Window or Building Signs
(1) Signs may be painted on the interior of a window, or constructed of cloth or paper and attached to the interior of a window or interior building wall.
(2) Signs may not be attached or affixed in any manner to the exterior surface of any window or building.
(j) Off-premises Directional and Identification Signs for Subdivisions
(1) Off-premises directional and identification signs for subdivisions must be for a subdivision within the City of San Diego with dwelling units or lots that are being offered for sale.
(2) Off-premises directional and identification signs for subdivisions shall comply with the following regulations.
(A) The signs shall not be placed in the public right-of-way or on public property.
(B) The signs may be placed on private property only with the consent of the property owner.
(C) Sign copy may contain the name of the subdivision, name of the developer or subdivider of record, a descriptor of the development (i.e. single family, condos, etc.), and address or directional arrow. No information regarding other subdivision features, prices, or loans is permitted on the sign face.
(D) Signs shall be located within 3 miles of the subdivision with at least 300 feet between signs, except that signs may be located at each corner of an intersection of a major street.
(E) A maximum of 8 off-premises signs are permitted per subdivision.
(F) Signs shall be a maximum of 16 square feet in sign area.
(G) Signs shall comply with a maximum height of 8 feet.
(H) Signs shall not exceed a height of 3 feet within a visibility area. For determination of the visibility area see Chapter 11, Article 3, Division 2 (Rules for Calculation and Measurement).
(I) Flags, banners, streamers, and pennants may not be placed on or near the signs.
(k) Banners, Pennants, Flags, and Streamers
(1) Banners, pennants, flags, streamers, flares, wind-propelled and noise-making devices, and other similar devices shall not be permitted, unless they qualify as one of the following:
(A) Corporate or Institutional Flags
Corporate and institutional flags shall be displayed from either freestanding or wall-mounted flagpoles. The flags may not exceed one sign for every 100 feet of street frontage and may not exceed five flags per premise
(B) Holiday Decorations
Holiday decorations shall be removed within 20 calendar days of the passing of the holiday.
(C) Grand Opening Streamers, Temporary Banners, and Pennants
Streamers, temporary banners, and pennants identifying the grand opening of a completely new establishment shall be permitted for no more than 60 consecutive calendar days. They shall not be placed within 50 feet of a residentially zoned premises. Two temporary banner signs shall not exceed one-half of the maximum permitted sign copy area for allowable wall signs.
(2) Banners, pennants, flags, and streamers must also comply with regulations in Section 142.1255(g)(7) - (11) for inflatable displays.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)
(Amended 1-23-2013 by O-20235 N.S.; effective 2-22-2013.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter14/Ch14Art02Division12.pdf#page=43Fetched: 10/28/2026