Pacifica, CA Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)

3111, home occupation signage is limited to interior window signs, and the rule sets four hard standards. The sign cannot exceed four square feet or twenty-five percent of the window area, whichever produces the smaller sign. A home occupation may display no more than one sign. Content is restricted to the business name, the type of business, and the business telephone number, so promotional copy, logos beyond that scope, or pricing are not authorized under this section. Illumination of any kind is prohibited, ruling out backlit, neon, or spotlit window signs for a home-based business.

Before installing a sign, the operator must submit a written request to the Planning Administrator along with a dimensioned drawing showing the sign and its exact location in the window. The Planning Administrator is required to notify abutting property owners and residents once the application is filed, giving neighbors a chance to weigh in before a decision is made. If the Planning Administrator denies the request or imposes conditions the applicant disputes, the decision can be appealed to the Planning Commission. 3102) and that lets the City suspend or revoke that permit if the business is run in violation of any provision of the article, which by its terms includes the sign standards.

A home occupation permit also requires an annual business license; letting that license lapse automatically voids the permit and, with it, authorization to display the window sign.