San Rafael, CA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage cap
- 25% of window area
- Multi-pane windows
- Measured as one framed area
- Upper floors
- Ground floor only outside downtown
- Permanent signs
- Count toward overall sign allotment
Summary
San Rafael caps window signage at 25% of a framed or continuous window's area, measuring multi-pane windows as a single whole; permanent window signs also count toward the business's overall sign allotment.
G.Placement of Window Signs. No more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the area of a framed window or a continuous window area shall be used for a sign. When a window contains multiple panes, the framed area of the whole window, inclusive of the individual paned areas, shall be used in calculating the permissible sign area. Except in the downtown districts where second floor business signs are permitted, window signs shall be permitted only in windows located on the ground floor of a structure.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).
Full Breakdown
Under San Rafael Municipal Code § 14.19.053(G), no more than 25% of the area of a framed window, or a continuous window area, may be covered by signage, whether permanent or temporary. Multi-pane windows are measured as one framed area, not pane-by-pane. Outside the downtown mixed use district, window signs are permitted only on ground-floor windows: upper-floor window signs are not allowed elsewhere in the city. Permanent window signs also count against a business's overall permitted sign area and number under Table 14.19-2, and are regulated the same as wall signs. Temporary window displays for special events face a separate 25% cap under § 14.19.070(D)(5).
Violations & Fines
A window sign exceeding the 25% coverage cap or placed on an ineligible upper floor is a prohibited/nonconforming sign subject to a removal order; continued violation is punishable under the city's code enforcement chapters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can I cover with signage in San Rafael?
Can I put a sign in a second-floor window?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Rafael
California rules heatmap·Compare San Rafael to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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