Sign Regulations in San Rafael, CA (2026)
5 verified sign regulations for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
San Rafael caps noncommercial political and election signs at 32 square feet per site, 90 days display per year, with removal required within 10 days after the election: no permit needed.
San Rafael Political & Election Sign Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.19.070(B)
B.Noncommercial Signs. Temporary signs bearing ideological, political or other noncommercial message, including, but not limited to, political and election signs may be located on a site or place of business. The total sign area permitted per site or place of business shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet. Noncommercial signs may be displayed for a maximum of ninety (90) days per calenda...
Garage Sale Signs
San Rafael allows up to two garage or yard sale signs, each 10 square feet or smaller, without a sign permit, but only for seven days before and four days after the sale, and never on public poles or fences.
San Rafael Garage Sale Sign Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.19.070(D)
D.Special Function and One-Time Event Signs. Signs, posters and notices for special functions and one-time events are permitted subject to the following:1.A maximum of two (2) signs, not exceeding ten (10) square feet in area for each sign;2.Signs shall be posted on-site or off-site on private property. Such signs shall not be placed on utility poles, streetlights or fences located on public pr...
Digital Billboards
San Rafael bans electronic message and animated signs citywide, including digital billboards, with narrow exceptions for time-temperature displays and city-installed multilingual community service signs; off-site billboard advertising is separately prohibited under the sign ordinance.
San Rafael Bans Digital Billboards
Heavy RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.19.080(C), (D)
C.Animated and Moving Signs. Animated and moving signs include:1.Electronic message display, blinking, flashing, change in light intensity, or moving signs, except time and temperature signs and community service signs as permitted by Section 14.19.030.I.,2.Windblown devices such as balloons, inflatable objects, pennants, ribbons, streamers,3.Signs producing smoke, sound and other substances;D....
Window Signs
San Rafael caps window signage at 25% of a framed or continuous window's area, measuring multi-pane windows as a single whole; permanent window signs also count toward the business's overall sign allotment.
San Rafael Window Sign 25% Cap
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.19.053(G)
G.Placement of Window Signs. No more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the area of a framed window or a continuous window area shall be used for a sign. When a window contains multiple panes, the framed area of the whole window, inclusive of the individual paned areas, shall be used in calculating the permissible sign area. Except in the downtown districts where second floor business signs are ...
Freeway-Facing Signs
San Rafael allows larger freestanding signs, up to 72 square feet and 21 feet tall (25 feet with a setback bonus), for businesses fronting the Highway 101/I-580 frontage roads.
San Rafael Freeway-Facing Sign Standards
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.19.053(L), Table 14.19-1
"Freeway-Oriented" means those businesses and uses directly facing a frontage road, which is both parallel to and generally level with US Highway 101 or Interstate 580. Freeway-Oriented* 50—75 feet 15 feet 32 sf 6 feet Monument; 249+ feet 35 feet 72 sf 21 feet** Monument, Pole/Pylon.
Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.
Sign Regulations in Marin County →