Types of Signs
San Diego Municipal Code § 142.1215
in effect§142.1215 Types of Signs
(a) Primary Signs
Primary signs identify an establishment or a premises while the establishment is operative or the premises is occupied. The following are the different types of primary signs:
(1) Wall signs, including theater marquees, marquee signs, and entrance awning signs
(2) Roof signs
(3) Projecting signs
(4) Ground signs
(b) Secondary Signs
Secondary signs provide information that is secondary to identifying the major activities occurring on the premises. Secondary signs may be permanent or temporary. The following are the categories of permanent and temporary secondary signs:
(1) Permanent secondary signs are used for establishment identification, incidental signs, traffic direction, and public utility and safety information that is required by law.
(A) High-rise building identification wall signs
(B) Incidental signs
(C) Directional signs
(D) Establishment identification signs
(E) Window signs
(F) Public utility signs
(G) Signs required by law
(H) Theater lobby signs
(I) Address numbers
(2) Temporary secondary signs are used for a specific reason for a specific period of time.
(A) Construction site signs
(B) Real estate signs
(C) Banner signs
(D) Special signs
(E) Pennants, flags, streamers and other similar devices
(F) Advertising vehicles
(G) Real estate open house directional signs
(H) Subdivision directional and identification signs
(I) Inflatable displays
(J) Window and building signs
(c) Signs Permitted by Higher Process
The following are the types of signs that may be permitted with a Neighborhood Use Permit in accordance with Chapter 12, Article 6, Division 2.
(1) Revolving projecting signs
(2) Signs with automatic changing copy
(3) Theater marquees
(4) Neighborhood identification signs
(5) Reallocation of sign area allowance
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000; amended 6-19-2000 by O-18814 N.S.)
(Amended 8-4-2011 by O-20081 N.S.; effective 10-6-2011.)
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=12Fetched: 10/28/2026