Gardena, CA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage cap
- 25% of window surface area
- Temporary display limit
- 10 days per calendar month
- Permit term (temporary)
- Maximum one year
- Permanent signs
- Count toward wall sign total
- Enforcing official
- Community Development Director
Summary
Gardena caps window signage at 25% of a window's surface area under Municipal Code § 18.58.040(B)(2)(e). Permanent window signs count toward the establishment's overall wall sign allowance, while temporary window signs can be displayed no more than 10 days per calendar month, with permits for temporary displays capped at one year.
"Window sign" means any sign placed inside or upon a window and/or door facing the outside and which is intended to be seen from the exterior. A window sign may be permanent or temporary. ... ... e. Window signs: each establishment may display window signs not exceeding 25% of the window surface area. If the window signs are permanent, then they shall count toward to the total amount of allowable wall signage. If the window signs are temporary, then they may be displayed not more than 10 days in any calendar month. The Director may require special permit provisions, applicable to temporary window signs on nonresidential uses, for the convenience of the City and the users; such special provisions may include an annual schedule of when temporary window signs are planned to be on display, and a log of when such signs are actually displayed. Permits for temporary window signs may be authorized for a maximum of one year.
Full Breakdown
Section 18.58.020 defines a 'window sign' as any sign placed inside or upon a window and/or door facing outside and intended to be seen from the exterior, and specifies it may be permanent or temporary. The operative limit sits in § 18.58.040(B)(2)(e): each nonresidential establishment may display window signs not exceeding 25% of the window surface area. If those signs are permanent, their area counts toward the total allowable wall signage computed under the freestanding and wall sign formulas elsewhere in § 18.58.040(B). If the signs are temporary, they may be displayed no more than 10 days in any calendar month.
The Community Development Director, defined in § 18.58.020 as the enforcing official for the sign chapter, may impose special permit conditions on temporary window signs, including requiring the business to keep an annual schedule of planned display dates and a log of when signs actually went up, and any permit issued for temporary window signage is capped at a one-year term. A business that exceeds the 25% coverage or the 10-day monthly cap without a compliant permit is subject to the sign permit and removal procedures in §§ 18.58.070 and 18.58.100.
Violations & Fines
Window signage exceeding the 25% coverage cap or displayed beyond the 10-day monthly limit for temporary signs without a valid permit is subject to removal by the Community Development Director under § 18.58.100, and operating without the required sign permit is punishable under the code's general penalty clause as a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 fine, six months jail) or a City Attorney-reduced infraction under § 1.16.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can I cover with signs in Gardena?
Do temporary window signs need a permit in Gardena?
Do permanent window signs count against my other signage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gardena
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