La Jolla Commercial and Industrial Sign Control District
San Diego Municipal Code § 142.1290
in effect§142.1290 La Jolla Commercial and Industrial Sign Control District
(a) Purpose of the La Jolla Commercial and Industrial Sign Control District
It is the intent of this sign district to preserve and enhance the unique aesthetic and economic values of the commercially and industrially zoned portions of the community of La Jolla and to provide a systematic and comprehensive approach toward meeting the sign needs of the community. In fulfilling this purpose, it is intended that signs in this sign district will comply with the goals and recommendations of the La Jolla Community Plan.
(b) Application
The regulations of this sign district are applicable to all commercially and industrially zoned property within the boundaries of the La Jolla Community Plan as described on the appropriate map and appended boundary description on file in the office of the City Clerk and shall be equally applicable to any other property subsequently placed in a commercial or industrial zone if the property lies within the boundaries of the La Jolla Community Plan. This sign district shall not apply to any area within the boundaries of a planned district unless the provisions of the planned district so stipulate.
(c) Subdistricts and Boundary
The boundaries of this sign district and any subdistricts are set forth on Drawing No. C-643.1 and the appended boundary description on file in the office of the City Clerk.
(d) On-Premises Sign Regulations for Subdistrict A
(1) Wall Signs
(A) Area. The sign for each premises shall not exceed 1 square foot for each foot of street frontage or 25 square feet, whichever is larger, and each tenant shall be permitted a minimum of 8 square feet.
(B) Wall signs shall not extend more than 18 inches from the building facade. Wall signs shall not extend above the parapet or eave of the building to which the signs are attached.
(2) Identification Signs
(A) One single-faced or double-faced, freestanding sign located adjacent to each entrance or exit driveway to a parking lot is permitted. Such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area or a height of 12 feet measured from the base at ground level to the apex of the sign.
(B) One sign on the exterior wall at each side or rear entrance to a store, shop, or place of business is permitted provided that the sign does project above the parapet or eave of the building to which the sign is attached. No such sign shall be attached to the perimeter framing of the building or to the face of canopies or porch roofs. No such sign shall have an area exceeding 12 square feet.
(3) Freestanding Ground Signs
Where the face of the building sets back from the property line more than 20 feet, one single-faced or double-faced freestanding ground sign is permitted, in addition to those on the building, in accordance with the following.
(A) No part of the sign shall extend over public property or have a height exceeding 20 feet measured from the base at ground level to the apex of the sign. In the Coastal Overlay Zone, however, no part of the sign shall exceed 8 feet in height.
(B) The total area of the signs shall not exceed 0.5 square feet per foot of street frontage or 40 square feet, whichever is smaller.
(4) Projecting Signs
(A) Any premises with frontage on a public right-of-way is permitted to have one projecting sign. The projecting sign may exist instead of, but not in addition to, a ground sign.
(B) Area. The maximum permitted area of a projecting sign shall not exceed 48 square feet or 0.5 square feet for each foot of street frontage, whichever is less, for each face of a double-faced sign. Projecting signs may have a maximum of two faces.
(C) Maximum projection over public right-of-way. A sign may not project perpendicularly beyond the property line more than five feet or 65 percent of the distance from the curb to the property line, whichever is less. For allowable combinations of projection and height for projecting signs over public rights-of-way see Table 142-12M. If an establishment has a frontage less than 25 feet, a projecting sign on the establishment is limited to a projection of four feet beyond the property line.
(D) Height over roof line or parapet. Projecting signs may not extend above the roof line at the line of the wall or the top of a parapet wall.
(e) On-Premises Sign Regulations for Subdistrict B
(1) Freestanding Ground Signs
(A) Number permitted. One multi-faced ground sign for any premises having frontage on a public right-of-way.
(B) More than one frontage. Where a premises fronts on more than one public right-of-way or street, excluding alleys and service ways, Section 142.1290(e)(1)(D) shall apply to each frontage. Each frontage is to be considered separately for determination of ground sign allowances. (Street side yard does not count as frontage.)
(C) Height Limit. 20 feet measured vertically from the sign base at ground level to the apex of the sign. Coastal Overlay Zone Height Limit. 8 feet measured vertically from the sign base at ground level to the apex of the sign.
(D) Area. The maximum permitted area of a ground sign is 64 square feet or 0.75 square feet for each foot of street frontage per premises, whichever is less, for each face of a double-faced sign or for the sole face of a single-faced ground sign. If a sign has more than two faces, the total area may not exceed twice the area permitted for one face.
(E) Rotating signs are not permitted.
(F) Ground signs shall not project over roofs located on the premises or the public rights-of-way.
(G) Ground signs may only be utilized on premises where the building sets back at least 20 feet from the public right-of-way of the frontage street to which the ground sign is oriented.
(2) Wall Signs
(A) Area. Permitted area for wall signs shall be calculated in accordance with Table 142-12L.
Table 142-12L Basis for Calculation of Area for Wall Signs on a Single Frontage in the La Jolla Sign Control District
Area Categories
Category A | Category B | Category C
All public right-of-way Widths | No ground or projecting sign erected by occupant | Ground sign but no projecting sign erected by occupant | Projecting sign but no ground sign erected by occupant
Street Frontage X: 2 ft | Street Frontage X: 11/2 ft | Street Frontage X: 1 ft
(Calculation: Linear street frontage of premises times table factor for each category=permitted area in square feet for fascia or wall sign.)
This frontage factor is relative to the building facade on each premises which has separate and exclusive public entrance visible from a public right-of-way, excluding alleys and service ways. Each premises shall have a minimum area of 24 square feet, and each tenant shall be permitted a minimum of 8 square feet. (Street side yard does not count as frontage.)
(B) Wall signs shall not extend more than 18 inches from the building wall.
(C) Projecting Wall Signs
(i) Wall signs may not project above the roof line at the wall, or the top of the roof or roof line, whichever is applicable.
(ii) Wall signs may not project above the top of a parapet wall.
(3) Projecting Signs
(A) Any premises with frontage on a public right-of-way is permitted to have one projecting sign. The projecting sign may exist instead of, but not in addition to, a ground sign.
(B) Area. The maximum permitted area of a projecting sign shall not exceed 48 square feet or 0.5 square feet for each foot of street frontage, whichever is less, for each face of a double-faced sign. Projecting signs may have a maximum of two faces.
(C) Maximum projection over public right-of-way. A sign may not project perpendicularly beyond the property line more than 5 feet or two-thirds of the distance from the curb to property line, whichever is less. For allowable combinations of projection and height for projecting signs over public rights-of-way see Table 142-12M. If an establishment has a frontage less than 25 feet, a projecting sign on the establishment is limited to a projection of 4 feet beyond the property line.
(D) Height over roof or parapet. Projecting signs may not extend above the roof line at the wall or the top of a parapet wall. Table 142-12M Allowable Combinations of Projection and Height for Projecting Signs in the La Jolla Sign Control District
Height above sidewalk or grade to bottom of sign | Maximum diagonal projection of corner signs over public rights-of-way (45°) | Maximum projection of other than corner signs over public rights-of-way
8 ft. | 1 ft. | 1 ft.
9 ft. | 1 ft., 8 in. | 1 ft., 6 in.
10 ft. | 2 ft., 4 in. | 2 ft.
11 ft. | 3 ft. | 2 ft., 6 in.
12 ft. | 3 ft., 8 in. | 3 ft.
13 ft. | 4 ft., 4 in. | 3 ft., 6 in.
14 ft. | 5 ft. | 4 ft.
15 ft. | 5 ft., 8 in. | 4 ft., 6 in.
16 ft. and over | 6 ft., 4 in. | 5 ft.
(4) Identification Signs
(A) One single-faced or double-faced freestanding sign located adjacent to each entrance or exit driveway to a parking lot is permitted. Such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area or a height of 12 feet measured from the base at ground level to the apex of the sign, except that in the Coastal Overlay Zone, the height of the sign shall not exceed 8 feet.
(B) One sign on the exterior wall at each side or real entrance to a store, shop or place of business is permitted provided that no sign shall project above the parapet or eave of the building to which the sign is attached. No such sign shall be attached to the perimeter framing of the building or to the face of canopies or porch roofs. No such sign shall have an area exceeding 12 square feet.
(f) Abatement
Any sign not in compliance with the provisions of this section within 7 years from the effective date of the ordinance adopting these regulations shall be removed or brought into compliance unless the sign is granted an extension of time as set forth in Chapter 12, Article 9, Division 8 (Sign Permit Procedures). Any sign located on property subsequently placed in this sign district and not in compliance with the provisions of this section shall be removed or brought into compliance within 7 years from the effective date of the ordinance establishing this sign district on the property unless the sign is granted an extension of time as set forth in Chapter 12, Article 9, Division 8.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; amended 10-18-1999 by O-18691 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000; amended 6-19-2000 by O-18814 N.S.) (Amended 6-18-2013 by O-20261 N.S.; effective 7-19-2013.) (Amended 6-15-2026 by O-22109 N.S.; effective 7-15-2026.)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-22109 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-22109-SO.pdf ]
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=59Fetched: 10/28/2026