Sign Regulations
San Diego Municipal Code § 156.0314
in effect§156.0314 Sign Regulations
(a) Sign Regulations
(1) Application
Initial application for a sign permit shall be made to the City Manager in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 12, Article 9, Division 8 and Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 12 of this Code.
(2) Provisions
In addition to the requirements of the Land Development Code Chapter 12, Article 9, Division 8 and Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 12, the following provisions apply:
(A) Signs, inflatable displays, or banners shall not be placed on the roof of any structure.
(B) Signs (or any part of a sign) shall not be located more than 65 feet above the sidewalk, measured from the street property line closest to the sign.
(C) Exceptions to the sign regulations for a new sign on a historical resource may be granted through approval of a Neighborhood Use Permit in accordance with Chapter 12, Article 6, Division 2 of the Land Development Code. The design and size of such a sign shall be consistent with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for the Preservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration, and Reconstruction of Historic Buildings based on its period of historical significance, as recommended by the Historical Resources Board.
Alterations to signs that may impact one or more historical resources shall be reviewed and approved according to the regulations for historical resources contained in Chapters 11 through 14 of the Land Development Code and may require a Neighborhood Development Permit or Site Development Permit in addition to a Neighborhood Use Permit.
(D) Within the Centre City Planned District, the provision for Sign Category A of Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 12 shall apply, except in the Coastal Overlay Zone where Sign Category C shall apply.
(3) Logos
Logos may not be used on the upper tower of a building where more than 50 percent of the building is for residential use. Logos may be used on the upper tower of a non-residential building if the following criteria are met:
(A) The logo must be designed as an integral part of the exterior of the building.
(B) Logos may not be located on any two adjacent building façades.
(C) The maximum area of the logo is based on building height as described in Table 156-0314-A.
(D) Logos without any lettering are not subject to maximum height, only maximum square footage.
(E) The maximum height of lettering is based on building height as described in Table 156-0314-A.
TABLE 156-0314-A: LOGOS AND LETTERING
Building Height (feet) | Logo area (feet) | Lettering Height (feet)
65-125 | 50 | 3
126-240 | 75 | 4
240+ | 100 | 5
(4) Ballpark Mixed-Use District Signs
All development proposals within the area bounded by J Street, Seventh Avenue, Tenth Avenue, Park Boulevard, and Harbor Drive (including PETCO Park, Outfield Park, and mixed-use developments directly adjacent thereto) shall include a comprehensive sign plan. All comprehensive sign plans for PETCO Park, Outfield Park, and mixed-use developments directly adjacent thereto shall be processed in accordance with Process Four.
All other signs within the Ballpark Mixed-Use District shall comply with the sign regulations in Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 12 of this Code. Signs that do not comply with all the sign regulation requirements may be approved with a comprehensive sign plan in accordance with Process Two. All comprehensive sign plans shall be consistent with the following objectives:
(A) All signs shall be sized to be complementary to, and in scale with, the buildings on which they are placed. The design of the signs should reflect and complement the use of the building to the extent possible;
(B) All signs shall be designed to be visible mainly from the immediate neighborhood, with an exception for high-rise building identification signs;
(C) Signs shall be designed and placed to be compatible with the theme, visual quality, and overall character of the Ballpark Mixed-Use District and the image of San Diego; and
(D) Signs shall also be appropriately related in size, shape, materials, letters, colors, illumination, and character of the buildings on which they will be displayed, and be compatible with existing adjacent activities so as to not create a visual distraction to PETCO Park patrons or other uses.
(Amended 9-7-2007 by O-19664 N.S; effective 10-7-2007.) (Amended 5-6-2010 by O-19947 N.S; effective 6-5-2010.) (Amended 12-7-2011 by O-20117 N.S.; effective 1-6-2012.) (Amended 5-15-2014 by O-20368 N.S.; effective 6-14-2014.)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-19947 N. S., O-20117 N. S. and O-20368 N. S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies them as Local Coastal Program Amendments. Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-20368-SO.pdf ]
(Amended 6-21-2019 by O-21084 N.S.; effective 8-8-2019.)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-21084 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment. Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-21084-SO.pdf ]
(Amended 8-9-2019 by O-21114 N.S.; effective 9-8-2019.)
(Amended 2-1-2021 by O-21288 N.S.; effective 3-3-2021.)
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/MuniCodeChapter15/Ch15Art06Division03.pdf#page=80Fetched: 10/28/2026