Pleasanton, CA Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Max sign size
- 100 square feet
- Max sign height
- 14 feet
- Large-parcel exemption
- Properties over 100 acres
- Permit
- Zoning administrator approval
- Duration
- 1 year, renewable on reapplication
- State overlay
- Cal. Outdoor Advertising Act also applies
Summary
Temporary signs near Pleasanton freeways are capped at 100 square feet and 14 feet tall and need zoning administrator sign-off, while any sign visible from a state highway or freeway also has to clear the state Outdoor Advertising Act on top of the city's own zoning code.
All temporary signs, except for temporary subdivision signs as defined in Section 18.96.090 of this chapter and except for all signs pertaining to the sale, lease, rental or display of a structure or land, shall be subject to the review and approval of the zoning administrator. Such sign shall not exceed 100 square feet in size or 14 feet in height. These height and size restrictions need not apply to properties over 100 acres in size. In conjunction with the approval of such signs, the zoning administrator may require the applicant to enter into an agreement with the city to maintain the sign in an attractive manner throughout the duration of its existence. Such signs shall be maintained for a maximum period of one year after which time an extension may be approved by the zoning administrator upon reapplication or the signs shall be completely removed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4955754; v17 updated 2026-06-02).
Full Breakdown
090) and signs advertising the sale, lease or rental of a structure or land. The size ceiling is 100 square feet and the height ceiling is 14 feet, but both limits drop away for parcels larger than 100 acres, a carve-out clearly aimed at the large business parks along I-580 and I-680. Approval can come with a maintenance agreement requiring the sign owner to keep it in attractive condition, and the sign itself is only good for one year before the applicant has to come back for an extension or take it down.
110 layers state regulation on top: any sign visible from a state highway or freeway, temporary or permanent, is also subject to the California Outdoor Advertising Act (Business and Professions Code, Division 3, Chapter 2), which Caltrans administers for signs within view of the freeway right-of-way. That means a business erecting a large freeway-facing sign in Pleasanton has to satisfy both the city's zoning administrator and the state permitting regime before the sign goes up, and the two reviews are not interchangeable.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a freeway-adjacent sign without the zoning administrator's approval, or exceeding the 100-square-foot/14-foot limits on a parcel under 100 acres, makes the sign subject to removal as a violation of Chapter 18.96; nonconforming signs must be brought into compliance or removed under Chapter 18.120 before any new zoning certificate is issued for the site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up a temporary sign facing I-580 or I-680 in Pleasanton?
How long can a freeway-facing temporary sign stay up?
Does state law add anything beyond the city sign code?
Are permanent business signs near a freeway treated the same way?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pleasanton
California rules heatmap·Compare Pleasanton to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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Freeway-Facing Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle freeway-facing signs.