Anaheim Signage Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Anaheim Municipal Code Chapter 18.44 (Signs) provides a comprehensive framework for all signage within the city, classifying permitted sign types, dimensions, materials, and illumination standards by zoning district. In residential zones, which encompass the majority of Anaheim's approximately 100,000 housing units, the sign code strictly limits the type and size of signs to preserve neighborhood aesthetics and prevent commercial encroachment. Home occupations, as regulated by Chapter 18.38, must maintain the residential appearance of the property at all times, and this standard operates in tandem with the sign code to prohibit virtually all business-identifying signage on a residential property.

The practical effect of Anaheim's sign regulations on home-based businesses is that the only physical sign permitted at the home occupation location is a small nameplate sign — typically not exceeding one square foot in area — that displays the resident's name and, in some cases, a professional title or designation (e.g., "Jane Smith, CPA"). The nameplate must be flat-mounted on the dwelling, non-illuminated, and made of materials consistent with the residential character of the property. Freestanding signs, monument signs, A-frame or sandwich board signs, banner signs, projecting signs, window signs, and any illuminated signs advertising a home occupation are all prohibited in residential zones. Temporary promotional signs, such as those advertising a sale or event at the home, are likewise prohibited.

Anaheim's strict approach to residential signage reflects the city's broader goal of maintaining clear visual boundaries between its commercial corridors — which include the internationally known Anaheim Resort district — and its residential neighborhoods. The city has invested heavily in sign regulation enforcement along major corridors and in neighborhoods adjacent to commercial zones to prevent visual blight and commercial spillover. Home occupation operators are reminded that while on-site signage is severely restricted, there are no city-imposed limitations on advertising the business through off-site channels, including websites, social media, online directories, print advertising, and business cards distributed off-premises.

Business vehicles bearing commercial signage (company logos, phone numbers, service descriptions) may be parked at the residence but are subject to Anaheim's residential parking standards for commercial vehicles. Generally, one commercially signed vehicle may be parked in the driveway or on the street in front of the residence, but it must not exceed the size limits for vehicles parked in residential zones and must not create a de facto advertisement that transforms the residential property's appearance. For questions about sign compliance at a home occupation, contact the Anaheim Planning and Building Department at (714) 765-5139.