Irvine, CA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Permanent window sign max size
- 4 sq ft (2 ft x 2 ft)
- Permanent sign max letter height
- 6 inches
- Temporary window sign max size
- 30 sq ft per lease frontage
- Temp sign mounting height
- 3 to 7 ft above finish floor
- Permit required
- No, for either exhibit
- Temp sign eligibility
- Retail buildings outside residential villages only
Summary
Irvine exempts most window signs from a sign permit but caps them by size and message. A permanent window sign identifying a store is limited to 4 square feet with 6-inch letters, while a temporary "open"/sale window sign at a freestanding retail building (outside residential villages) gets a separate 30-square-foot allowance.
SIGN TYPE #103 PERMANENT WINDOW SIGNS Sign purpose: Permanent window sign which informs pedestrians of store name and hours of operation. Sign use: Only allowed at store entrances. Sign location: On glass on, or adjacent to, entry door. Maximum number: One sign per public entrance per lease space in retail/office building. Maximum sign size: 2 feet high. 2 feet wide. 4 square feet. Sign copy: Store name, hours of operation, telephone numbers, web site address, and emergency information. Maximum character size: 6 inches. Sign material: Vinyl. Sign illumination: None. Permit required? No. / SIGN TYPE #111 TEMPORARY WINDOW SIGN IN A RETAIL BUILDING NOT LOCATED IN A RESIDENTIAL VILLAGE Sign location: Behind glass. Minimum 3 feet above finish floor elevation. Maximum 7 feet above finish floor elevation. Maximum sign size: 30 square feet per lease frontage. Sign copy: "Open," products, and prices. Not business identification. Not information already displayed in Sign Type #103 (permanent window sign). Maximum character height: 36 inches. Sign illumination: Exposed neon is allowed if not facing a residential project in a residential village. Permit required? No.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20 | Zoning: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 7-3-3, General Regulations, Signs Exempt from Sign Permit Requirements, lists two window sign exhibits, both permit-exempt as long as they stay under six feet in height. Sign Type #103, Permanent Window Signs, must be mounted on glass at or adjacent to the entry door, one per public entrance per lease space, capped at 2 feet high by 2 feet wide (4 square feet) with copy limited to store name, hours of operation, phone number, website, and emergency information; letters may run up to 6 inches, the panel must be vinyl, and no illumination is permitted.
Sign Type #111, Temporary Window Sign in a Retail Building Not Located in a Residential Village, is a separate, larger allowance for promotional messaging: one sign per lease frontage, up to 30 square feet, mounted behind the glass between 3 and 7 feet above the finish floor, with characters up to 36 inches. Its copy is restricted to "Open," products, and prices, it explicitly may not duplicate business-identification information already shown on the Type #103 permanent window sign, and exposed neon is allowed only if it does not face a residential project inside a residential village. Both exhibits bar brand names or trademark marks such as ® or ™, and material must be professionally prepared rather than handwritten signage.
Violations & Fines
Because these are permit-exempt sign types under Sec. 7-3-3.A, a window sign that stays within the location, size, and copy limits of Type #103 or #111 needs no City review. A sign that exceeds those limits, is six feet or taller, or carries copy outside the allowed categories (e.g., business identification duplicated on a Type #111 promotional sign, or brand/trademark advertising) falls outside the exemption and can be cited for display without the sign permit Sec. 7-3-1 otherwise requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a window sign in Irvine?
How big can a permanent store window sign be in Irvine?
Can I put a temporary sale sign in my storefront window?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Irvine
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