Sign Regulations in Berkeley, CA (2026)
3 verified sign regulations for Berkeley, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
Berkeley allows political signs on private property with residents permission, subject to size and placement limits in BMC Title 20, and protected by the First Amendment from content-based restrictions.
Berkeley Political Sign Rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code § 4710 (Davis-Stirling Act — noncommercial signs in common interest developments)
4710. (a) The governing documents may not prohibit posting or displaying of noncommercial signs, posters, flags, or banners on or in a member's separate interest, except as required for the protection of public health or safety or if the posting or display would violate a local, state, or federal law. (c) An association may prohibit noncommercial signs and posters that are more than nine square...
Window Signs
Berkeley caps window signs, whether permanent or temporary, at 15 percent of a building's window area or 300 square feet, whichever is smaller. Temporary window signs get to stack on top of a business's other permitted signage, but a permanent window sign counts against the building's regular wall-sign allowance instead.
Berkeley Window Sign Area Limit
Some RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 20.16.160
20.16.160 Window signs. The sign area of window signs, permanent and temporary, shall not exceed fifteen (15) percent of the window area of the building premises or three hundred (300) square feet, whichever is less. Subject to the window area limitation herein specified, temporary window signs may be in addition to the signs otherwise permitted on the premises. For the purpose of determining a...
Freeway-Facing Signs
Berkeley outlaws off-premises signs west of the western line of Third Street that are designed to be read primarily from the Eastshore Freeway. There is only one way around the ban: a relocation agreement approved under BMC § 20.04.040, so a business cannot simply apply for a variance or design review exception.
Berkeley Bans Eastshore Freeway Billboards
Heavy RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 20.16.010(C)(1)
C. The following types of signs are prohibited: 1. Off-premises signs west of the western line of Third Street that are designed to have the message thereon viewed primarily from the Eastshore Freeway, unless permitted by a relocation agreement pursuant to Section 20.04.040;
Looking for Alameda County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Berkeley city rules.
Sign Regulations in Alameda County →