Monterey Park, CA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 21.24.230(Q)
- First-floor coverage cap
- 20% of frontage glass area
- Second-floor coverage cap
- 25% of window area
- Copy-change requirement
- Every 60 days minimum
- Downtown PD Zone override
- 10% cap, no product ads
- Enforcement notice period
- At least 15 days to comply
- Enforcing official
- City Planner
Summary
In the City of Monterey Park, temporary window signs made of paper, cloth, plastic, or cardboard are exempt from a sign permit under Municipal Code Section 21.24.230(Q) only if they cover no more than 20% of first-floor storefront glass, or 25% of second-floor window area, and the copy is changed at least every 60 days.
§ 21.24.230. Exempted Signs. Unless otherwise provided, the following are exempt signs: ... (Q) Temporary Window Signs. Up to 20% of the total first floor frontage glass area or 25% of the window area on the second floor of a main building may be covered with temporary window signs made of paper, cloth, plastic, cardboard, or similar temporary materials. Any temporary window sign must be either attached to the interior of the window, or of weatherproof paint affixed to the exterior of the window, or both. Sign copy must be changed, at a minimum, every 60 days to avoid becoming permanent. Window signs that do not change copy are permanent and allowable only with a permit. Signs may not obscure views into the business by law enforcement personnel. A larger portion of the total first floor frontage glass area beyond 20% may be allowed by permit.
Full Breakdown
Municipal Code Section 21.24.230 lists signs exempt from a sign permit "unless otherwise provided," and subsection (Q), Temporary Window Signs, sets the citywide baseline: up to 20% of the total first-floor frontage glass area, or 25% of second-floor window area on a main building, may be covered with temporary window signs of paper, cloth, plastic, cardboard, or similar material. The sign must be attached to the interior of the window or applied as weatherproof exterior paint, and its copy must change at least every 60 days or it is deemed a permanent sign requiring a permit.
Coverage beyond 20% is possible only with a permit, and no window sign may block law enforcement's view into the business. A sign that loses its exemption must go through the general permit process in Section 21.24.240, filed with the City Planner, subject to the design criteria and fees the City Council sets by resolution under Section 21.24.250. Within the Downtown Core, Downtown Perimeter, North Atlantic, East Garvey, and Baltimore mixed-use subdistricts of the Planned Development Zone, a stricter overlay applies instead: Section 21.15.090(C)(10)(e) caps every window sign at 10% of each window and bans temporary signs advertising specific products or services outright, regardless of the 20% citywide exemption. The City Planner in the Community and Economic Development Department administers both rules and issues written compliance notices for oversized or non-conforming window signage.
Violations & Fines
A window sign exceeding the 20% first-floor or 25% second-floor coverage threshold, or one whose copy is never changed, loses its exemption under Section 21.24.230(Q) and is treated as an illegal sign under Section 21.24.780: the City Planner issues written notice giving at least 15 days to remove or fix it, appealable to the Planning Commission under Chapter 1.10. If the City removes it, Section 21.24.790 makes the owner pay removal and storage costs, and an unclaimed sign is disposed of after 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of a storefront window can a temporary sign cover in Monterey Park?
Does a window sign in Monterey Park need a permit?
Are the window sign rules different in downtown Monterey Park?
What happens if a window sign in Monterey Park is too large?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey Park to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Window Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle window signs.