Apple Valley, CA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

Section 9.74.060, Exempt Signs, sets the baseline standards for window signage without a permit. Subsection J allows window signs in commercial and industrial zones, and for institutional uses, up to four square feet, limited to business identification, address, phone number, hours of operation, 'open' or 'closed' status and emergency information. Subsection M separately governs temporary window advertising: up to 24 square feet or 15 percent of the window area per frontage, whichever is greater, displayed no more than 60 consecutive days. Except for signs advertising the unit for sale, lease or rent, those temporary displays are capped at four occurrences per year and 180 total days per year. Subsection V adds a narrower allowance for special-event window signs, up to 25 percent of the window area.

Businesses can exceed the exempt four-square-foot allowance by obtaining a sign program or permit: § 9.74.130(A)(1)(c) lets a permanent window sign identify a business as part of a single-tenant building's cumulative wall-sign area, which runs one square foot per linear foot of building frontage. Illuminated interior neon window signs are treated separately under § 9.74.110(F)(2): permitted only in commercial districts, capped at two per business and four square feet per sign, with combined neon window signage never exceeding eight square feet.

The Director of Community Development, or a designee, administers Chapter 9.74 under § 9.74.030, and any sign not specifically addressed is reviewed and approved case-by-case by the Director.