San Leandro, CA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage limit
- 25% of window area
- Ground-floor sign count
- 2 signs maximum
- Second-story sign count
- 1 sign per window
- Window definition
- At least 75% transparent glass
- Permit required
- Sign permit under Section 4.12.124
- Enforcement
- Administrative penalty, Section 1-12-415
Summary
San Leandro caps window signs at 25 percent of the window area they occupy, under Zoning Code Section 4.12.112.C. Ground-floor storefronts get at most two window signs, and every window sign needs a City sign permit before it goes up.
Window Signs. 1. For the purpose of this section, a window shall be defined as that portion of a first or second floor facade consisting of a glass-like material designed to provide viewing of the interior from an adjacent exterior walkway and which shall be no less than 75 percent transparent from the exterior during daylight hours. Window area is defined as contiguous window panels separated by dividers less than six inches in width. 3. Window signs may not exceed a total of 25 percent of the window in which they are located. 4. Window signs include any interior signs or advertising images within eight feet of the window excluding merchandise display. 5. No more than two window signs are permitted per ground floor establishment with frontage on, visible from, and direct exterior pedestrian access to a public right-of-way, internal circulation route or common parking area. Second story establishments in a two-story building with frontage on and visible from a public right-of-way, internal circulation route or common parking area may be permitted one window sign per window.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4967405; v8 updated 2026-07-06).
Full Breakdown
The city's sign chapter treats windows as a distinct, metered category of signage. A "window" is defined as a first- or second-floor storefront panel that is at least 75 percent transparent from the exterior during daylight hours, and "window area" means contiguous panels separated by dividers narrower than six inches, so a mullion-divided storefront is measured as one continuous area rather than several small ones. Within that area, painted or applied signage plus any temporary signs taped or hung in the window cannot cover more than 25 percent of the glass.
The rule also reaches inside the store: interior signs or advertising images placed within eight feet of the window count toward the same limit, though merchandise on display does not. A ground-floor business with frontage on, or visibility from, a public right-of-way, internal circulation route or common parking area is limited to two window signs total. A second-story tenant in a two-story building gets one window sign per window instead. 120 rather than simply installing extra signage. 104.
Violations & Fines
Window signs installed without a permit, or exceeding the 25 percent coverage cap or the two-sign count, are Municipal Code violations subject to the City's administrative penalty process under Section 1-12-415: an Enforcement Officer can issue a notice of violation and an administrative penalty, with each day the excess signage remains treated as a separate violation. A responsible party can appeal the penalty or its amount by filing a hearing request under Section 1-12-425.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can I cover with signs in San Leandro?
Do paper or temporary signs count toward the window sign limit?
Do I need a permit for a single window sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Leandro
California rules heatmap·Compare San Leandro to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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Window Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle window signs.