Sunnyvale, CA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 19.44.050(d), Chapter 19.44
- Coverage limit
- 25% of window area
- Measured
- per façade, per tenant space
- Permit
- none required if under the cap
- EMC in window
- still counts toward the 25% cap
- Penalty
- up to $1,000 fine / 6 months jail
Summary
Sunnyvale caps window signs at twenty-five percent of the total window area per building façade, per tenant space, under Municipal Code § 19.44.050(d). Because window signs fall on the list of signs exempt from a sign permit, a business can post static window graphics up to that 25 percent threshold without filing an application, but crossing it triggers permitting.
The following signs are allowed without a sign permit and do not count toward the otherwise applicable limit on sign display area or size, so long as they meet the stated requirements: ... (d) Window Signs. Window signs limited to twenty-five percent of the total window area per façade, per tenant space.
Full Breakdown
050 lists the categories of signs Sunnyvale allows without a sign permit and that do not count toward the otherwise-applicable sign area limit for the building. Subsection (d) puts window signs on that exempt list but caps them at twenty-five percent of the total window area, measured per façade and per tenant space, so a multi-tenant building applies the limit separately to each business's storefront glass rather than to the building as a whole. 040 as any visually communicative image applied, attached, or painted on the interior or exterior of a window, which reaches vinyl decals, painted lettering, and interior-mounted posters alike.
200(c) separately provides that an electronic message center mounted in a window still counts toward the maximum window coverage, folding EMC displays into the same 25 percent ceiling rather than exempting them. 150, including the prohibitions on moving, wind-activated, and audible signs, and to code enforcement if the 25 percent threshold is exceeded.
Violations & Fines
Covering more than twenty-five percent of a façade's window area with signage violates § 19.44.050(d) and strips the display of its no-permit exemption, exposing the tenant to a stop-work or removal order from the Community Development Department. Because sign-code violations fall under Title 19, they default to a misdemeanor under § 1.04.010 and § 1.04.020: up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for window signs in Sunnyvale?
Is the 25 percent window sign limit calculated for the whole building or each business?
Does an electronic display in a storefront window count toward the 25 percent limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sunnyvale
California rules heatmap·Compare Sunnyvale to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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How other cities in Santa Clara County handle window signs.