Cupertino, CA Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Freestanding freeway signs
- Not allowed
- Wall sign cap
- Max 2 per multi-tenant building
- Applies within
- 660 ft of landscaped freeway
- Street-oriented wall sign
- CDD approval
- Freeway-oriented wall sign
- Planning Commission approval
Summary
Cupertino bans freestanding freeway-oriented signs entirely in commercial, industrial and office zones. Wall signs facing a freeway are capped at two per multi-tenant building and need Planning Commission review if oriented toward the freeway rather than the street.
A. Wall Signs Commercial, Industrial & Office •1 per business/tenant in a building occupied by two or more tenants •Maximum two See Sec. 19.104.140 Building mounted •Oriented to regular street system adjoining the property rather than exclusively visible from the freeway - CDD •Freeway Orientation - PC •Applies to all signs within 660 ft. of “landscaped freeway” measured from edge of right-of-way •Signs not exempted or excluded by Sec. 5272 of the State of Cal. Business and Professions Code shall be regulated by the “Advertisers” chapter of that code. ... ... C. Free- standing Signs Commercial, Industrial & Office Not allowed
Full Breakdown
200 covers Freeway Orientation for any sign within 660 feet of a landscaped freeway, measured from the edge of the right-of-way. Freestanding signs oriented to the freeway are not allowed at all in commercial, industrial or office zones. 140. Approval authority depends on orientation: a wall sign oriented to the regular street system rather than exclusively visible from the freeway is approved administratively by the Community Development Director, while a sign with genuine freeway orientation requires Planning Commission review. The table also flags that signs not exempted or excluded under Section 5272 of the California Business and Professions Code fall under that code's Outdoor Advertising Act provisions in addition to the city's rules. 260.
Violations & Fines
A freestanding freeway-oriented sign, or a wall sign exceeding the two-sign cap or lacking required Planning Commission approval, is enforced under Section 19.104.300: the Director can order removal, and under Section 19.104.330 must give the owner and tenant written notice to remove the sign or seek approval within 10 calendar days. Violations are infractions under Section 19.104.380, punishable through Chapters 1.10 and 1.12, and a noncomplying sign can be prosecuted as a public nuisance under Section 19.104.370.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business put up a freestanding billboard facing the freeway in Cupertino?
How many wall signs can face a freeway in Cupertino?
Does a freeway-facing sign need extra approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cupertino
California rules heatmap·Compare Cupertino to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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