Calculating Sign Face
San Diego Municipal Code § 113.0258
in effect§113.0258 Calculating Sign Face
The sign face, as shown in Diagram 113-02EE, is calculated by multiplying the length of the sign by the width of the sign.
(a) The sign face of any two-faced sign with parallel faces, or V-type sign with an interior angle of 45 degrees or less, is the area of the single face, unless otherwise provided in the Land Development Code.
(b) The sign face for all other multiple-faced signs is the total area of all faces or panels.
(c) The sign face of painted signs, individual letter signs, and internally illuminated signs is calculated on the basis of the smallest rectangle, circle, or spherical figure that will enclose the entire copy area of the sign.
(d) The sign face does not include incidental striping and lighting elements used to highlight architectural features of the building such as parapets, facade breaks, window lines, entries, or demarcation of surface texture break. Striping and lighting elements may not connect to or through the actual copy area of the sign or constitute an enclosing frame or a highlighting of the sign copy. A minimum separation of 12 inches, or 6 inches for each 12 inches of sign copy height, shall be maintained between any element of the sign copy and the striping and lighting element.
Diagram 113-02EE
Sign Face and Sign Copy Area
AREA OF FACE OF SIGN
Length of sign
SIGN Width of sign
SIGN COPY AREA
Length of copy area SIGN Width of copy area
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)
(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/MuniCodeChapter11/Ch11Art03Division02.pdf#page=31Fetched: 10/28/2026