Check the sign rules in your zoning district

With a few exceptions for commercial use and special cases, these are the only types of signs allowed in residential districts (and the specifications they must follow):

General rules

These signs are not allowed in residential districts:

• Roof signs
• Wind signs
• General advertising signs

Your sign cannot have any moving parts (rotating, swinging) or moving lights (flashing, blinking).

When planning for size, keep in mind that your sign cannot:

• Stick out past the street property line or setback line
• Go past the roofline (if attached to a building) or higher than 12 feet (unless there are exceptions for your specific sign type)

Nameplates

• Nameplates state only the name and occupation of persons using the space
• You may have 1 nameplate for each street frontage of your lot
• Nameplates may not be directly illuminated 
• Height: No more than 12 feet high
• Size:
  • In RH districts: No more than 1 square foot
  • In RM or RED districts: No more than 2 square feet

Identifying signs

• Identifying signs tell only the name, address, and use of the property on which they are located
• You may have 1 identifying sign for each street frontage of your lot
• Illumination:
  • In RH districts identifying signs may not be directly illuminated
  • In RM, RTO or RED districts, identifying signs may be directly or indirectly illuminated
• Height: No more than 12 feet high
• Size:
  • In RH districts: No more than 12 square feet
  • In RM, RTO or RED districts
    • Signs with direct illumination: No more than 8 square feet
    • Signs with no illumination or indirect illumination: No more than 20 square feet

Temporary signs

• You may have 1 sale or lease sign for each street frontage of your parcel
• Temporary signs may not be directly Illuminated
• Height:
  • Freestanding signs: No more than 24 feet high
  • Signs attached to a building: Cannot go above the roofline
• Size: No more than 6 square feet for each lot or for each 3,000 square feet of the total parcel (whichever ratio permits the larger area without exceeding 50 square feet)
  • Any sign over 18 square feet in area must be set back at least 25 feet from all street property lines 
• Removal: You must remove all signs within 7 days after the property’s sale or lease

Construction signs

• You may display construction signs giving the contractor or firm’s names and information pertinent to the project.
• Illumination: None
• Height: No more than 12 feet high
• Size: Combined area of all such signs cannot be more than 10 square feet

Business signs for limited commercial uses

Some commercial businesses are allowed in residential areas. They primarily provide convenience goods and services for people in the neighborhood within walking distance of their homes. These businesses may have the following signs:

Wall signs

• You may have 1 wall sign for each street frontage. You must place a it flat against the street-facing wall on the ground floor
• Illumination: None or indirect. Must be turned off when business is closed
• Size: No more than 1 square foot for each linear foot of street frontage occupied by the building or part thereof that is devoted to the commercial use or 50 square feet (whichever is less)

Projecting signs

• You may have 1 projecting sign per business
• Projecting signs cannot be directly illuminated. Indirect illuminations must be turned off when business is closed
• Size: No more than 6 square feet
• Height: No more than 14 feet or the height of the lowest residential window sill above the commercial use (whichever is lower)
• Projection: No part of the sign can project more than 4 feet or 75% of the horizontal distance from the street property line to the curbline (whichever is less)

Signs on Awnings

• If you have an awning you may include sign copy on the awning instead of having a wall sign or projecting sign
• Awnings cannot be directly illuminated. Indirect illuminations must be turned off when business is closed
• Size: No more than 20 square feet per business

Open land uses

• If there is no building with more than 50 square feet of floor area involved in the use, 1 business sign is permitted for each public-facing street
• Signs on open land may not be directly illuminated
• Height: No more than 12 feet
• Area: No more than 1 square foot for each foot of street frontage. The total area of all signs cannot exceed 50 square feet

Other uses

For any commercial use not listed above, you may have 1 business sign for each street frontage. You must place it flat against the street-facing wall on the ground floor.

• Sign cannot be directly illuminated, and must be turned off when business is closed
• Size: No more than 1 square foot for each foot of street frontage occupied by the building as long as it’s under 100 square feet

General rules

The following signs are not allowed in commercial and industrial districts:

• Roof signs, except for historic signs and vintage signs
• Wind signs
• General advertising signs
• Video signs

Your sign cannot have any moving parts (rotating, swinging), except for the rotation of barber poles, the time of day, and temperature. 

Your sign cannot have animated lighting (flashing, blinking), except when your property is in a Special District for Sign Illumination.

Contact the Planning Department for rules regarding historic signs and vintage signs at pic@sfgov.org

Business signs

Signs attached to buildings

• Number of signs: No limit
• May be directly illuminated
• Size: 
  • No more than 100 square feet if located within 100 feet and be directed to be viewed from a residential district
  • No more than 200 square feet if located within 100 feet and directed to be viewed from a school, or within 200 feet and directed to be viewed from a park, recreation facility, scenic street, or rapid transit route
  • No more than 200 square feet if located within the Civic Center Area. Otherwise no limit on area
• Projection: Signs may project up to 75% of the distance between the street property line to the curb or 6 feet, whichever is less
• Height: 
  • When attached to a building: no more than 60 feet or above the roofline of the building, whichever is lower
  • In C-3 Zoning District: a sign cannot exceed 100 feet in height

Freestanding signs

Height:

• In a C-2 Zoning District: 36 feet or lower
• In all other C, M, and PDR Zoning Districts: 40 feet or lower

Business signs in Public use districts must follow the rules for the nearest zoning district of the sign. General advertising signs are not allowed.

General rules

These signs and sign features are not allowed in neighborhood commercial and residential-commercial districts:

• Roof signs
• Wind signs
• Signs on canopies
• General advertising signs

Your sign cannot have any moving parts (rotating, swinging) or animated lighting (flashing, blinking).

Identifying signs

• Identifying signs tell only the name, address, and use of the property on which they are located. You may have 1 identifying sign
• Illumination: None, indirect, or direct
• Size: Maximum of 20 square feet 
• Height:
  • Wall or projecting: Mounted on first-story
  • Freestanding: 15 feet or lower

Identifying signs may be freestanding signs only if the building is recessed from the street property line. If a freestanding identifying sign is on the lot, freestanding business signs are not allowed.

Nameplates

• Nameplates state only the name and occupation of persons using the space. They may be attached to a building
• You may have 1 nameplate for each street frontage of your lot
• Illumination: None, indirect, direct
• Size: Maximum of 2 square feet

Temporary signs

Within neighborhood commercial and residential-commercial districts, temporary signs for the sale, lease, construction, or alteration of a building are allowed. These signs must be removed immediately when the activity is completed.

• Number of signs: 1 per building
• Illumination:
  • Sale or lease signs may not be directly illuminated
  • Persons or companies affiliated with construction or alteration may not have illuminated signs
• Size: Maximum of 50 square feet
• Height: Cannot extend above the roofline
• Projection: Cannot project past street property line

General rules

These signs and sign features are not allowed in neighborhood commercial districts:

• Roof signs
• Wind signs
• Signs on canopies

Your sign cannot have any moving parts (rotating, swinging) or animated lighting (flashing, blinking).

Wall signs

• You may paint or place a sign directly against a flat building wall
• Number of signs: No limit
• Illumination: 
  • All hours: None or indirect 
  • Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only
• Size: Maximum of 50 square feet, or 1 square foot per foot of business street frontage; whichever is less
  • Example: If business has 25 feet of frontage along front property line(s), then 25 square feet of wall signs are allowed
  • Cannot cover more than 75% of the surface of a wall, excluding openings
• Height: 15 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to; whichever is less

Projecting signs

• Number of signs: 1 per business
• Illumination - direct illumination is allowed during business hours only
• Size: Maximum of 24 square feet
• Height: 15 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to; whichever is lower
• Projection: Cannot project more than 75% of the distance between the street property line and the curb, or 6-feet 6-inches; whichever is less
  • Example: If the distance between the street property line and curb is 8 feet, then a sign may project 6 feet

Signs on awnings

If a sign is located on an awning, the business may not have any wall signs or projecting signs.

• Direct illumination on awnings is not allowed
• Size: Maximum of 20 square feet

General rules

These signs and sign features are not allowed in neighborhood commercial districts:

• Roof signs
• Wind signs
• Signs on canopies

Your sign cannot have any moving parts (rotating, swinging) or animated lighting (flashing, blinking).

Wall signs

• You may paint or place a sign directly against a flat building wall
• Number of signs: No limit
• Illumination: Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only
• Size: Maximum of 100 square feet, or 2 square foot per foot of business street frontage; whichever is less
  • Example: If business has 25 feet of frontage along front property line(s), then 50 square feet of wall signs are allowed
  • Cannot cover more than 75% of the surface of a wall, excluding openings
• Height: 24 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to or the lowest residential windowsill on the wall the building is attached to; whichever is lower

Projecting signs

• Number of signs: 1 per business
• Illumination: Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only
• Size: Maximum of 24 square feet
• Height: 24 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to or the lowest residential windowsill on the wall the building is attached to; whichever is lower
• Projection: Cannot project more than 75% of the distance between the street property line and the curb, or 6-feet 6-inches; whichever is less
  • Example: If the distance between the street property line and curb is 8 feet, then a sign may project 6 feet

In the Fillmore Street NCD, one projecting sign per business may exceed the area and height limits specified above. It must follow these limits:

• Area: Maximum of 125 square feet
• Illumination: Indirect only during business hours, otherwise nonilluminated
• Height: 60 feet, the height of the wall the sign is attached to, the lowest residential windowsill on the wall the building is attached to, or the lowest portion of any architectural feature located along the roofline; whichever is lower
• ​​​​​​​The sign must:
  • Be for the primary occupant of the building
  • Have a remote transformer
  • Be designed with a minimum profile to be as narrow as possible
  • Have any lettering or inscriptions be arranged vertically
  • Not alter, cover, or obscure any architectural features of the building
  • Be attached in a reversible manner so that no damage or destruction of the building’s exterior occurs upon installation or removal

Signs on awnings and marquees

• If a sign is located on an awning, the business may not have any wall signs or projecting signs.
• Illumination: Signs on awnings may not be directly illuminated
  • Exception: Marquees for movie theaters or places of entertainment may directly illuminate awning signs during business hours
• Size: Maximum of 30 square feet

Freestanding signs and sign towers

Freestanding signs or a sign tower are allowed in place of a projecting sign if the building is setback from the property line. If a freestanding sign or sign tower exists, a projecting sign is not allowed.

• Number of signs: 1 per lot
• Illumination: Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only 
• Size: Maximum of 20 square feet
• Height: 24 feet or lower
• Projection: Cannot project more than 75% of the distance between the street property line and the curb, or 6-feet; whichever is less

General rules

These signs and sign features are not allowed in neighborhood commercial districts:

• Roof signs
• Wind signs
• Signs on canopies

Your sign cannot have any moving parts (rotating, swinging) or animated lighting (flashing, blinking).

Wall signs

• You may paint or place a sign directly against a flat building wall
• Number of signs: No limit
• Illumination: None, indirect, or direct
• Size:
  • Maximum of 150 square feet, or 3 square foot per foot of business street frontage; whichever is less
    • Example: If business has 25 feet of frontage along front property line(s), then 75 square feet of wall signs are allowed
  • Cannot cover more than 75% of the surface of a wall, excluding openings
• Height: 24 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to or the lowest residential windowsill on the wall the building is attached to; whichever is lower

Projecting signs

• Number of signs: 1 per business
• Illumination: direct illumination is allowed during business hours only
• Size: Maximum of 32 square feet
• Height: 24 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to or the lowest residential windowsill on the wall the building is attached to; whichever is lower
• Projection: Cannot project more than 75% of the distance between the street property line and the curb, or 6-feet 6-inches; whichever is less
  • Example: If the distance between the street property line and curb is 8 feet, then a sign may project 6 feet

Signs on awnings

• If a sign is located on an awning, the business may not have any wall signs or projecting signs
• Illumination: None or indirect
  • Exception: Marquees for movie theaters or places of entertainment may directly illuminate awning signs during business hours
• Size: Maximum of 40 square feet

Freestanding signs and sign towers

Freestanding signs or a sign tower are allowed in place of a projecting sign if the building is setback from the property line. If a freestanding sign or sign tower exists, a projecting sign is not allowed.

• Number of signs: 1 per lot
• Illumination: direct illumination is allowed during business hours only
• Size: Maximum of 30 square feet
• Height: 24 feet or lower
• Projection: Cannot project more than 75% of the distance between the street property line and the curb, or 6-feet; whichever is less

General rules

The following signs and sign features are not allowed in mixed use districts:

• General advertising signs
• Roof signs
• Signs on canopies
• Wind signs

Your sign cannot have any moving parts (rotating, swinging) or animated lighting (flashing, blinking).

Identifying signs

• Identifying signs tell only the name, address, and use of the property on which they are located
• You may have 1 identifying sign per lot in a mixed use district
• Illumination: None, indirect, or direct
• Size: Maximum of 20 square feet 
• Height:
  • Wall or projecting signs must be mounted on the first-story
  • Freestanding: 15 feet or lower

Identifying signs may be freestanding signs only if the building is recessed from the street property line. If a freestanding identifying sign is on the lot, freestanding business signs are not allowed.

Nameplates

• Nameplates only state the name and occupation of persons using the space
• You may have 1 nameplate per noncommercial use
• Illumination: None or direct
• Size: Maximum of 2 square feet

Temporary Signs

Within mixed use districts, temporary signs for the sale, lease, construction, or alteration of a building are allowed. These signs must be removed immediately when the activity is completed.

• Number of signs: 1 per building
• Illumination:
  • Sale or lease sign: none or indirect
  • Persons or companies affiliated with construction or alteration: none
• Size: Maximum of 50 square feet
• Height: Cannot extend above the roofline
• Projection: Cannot project past street property line

Some areas are located in Special Sign Districts. Use the property information map to find your building’s zoning district.

Email the Planning Information Center (PIC) at pic@sfgov.org for more information.

Wall signs

You may paint or place a sign directly against a flat building wall.

• Number of signs: No limit
• Illumination: 
  • All hours: None or indirect 
  • Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only 
• Size:
  • Maximum of 50 square feet, or 1 square foot per foot of business street frontage, whichever is less
    • Example: If business has 25 feet of frontage along front property line(s), then 25 square feet of wall signs are allowed
  • Cannot cover more than 75% of the surface of a wall, excluding openings
• Height: 15 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to, whichever is less

Projecting signs

• Number of signs: 1 per business
• Illumination: 
  • All hours: None or indirect
  • Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only 
• Size: Maximum of 24 square feet
• Height: 15 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to, whichever is lower
• Projection: Cannot project more than 75% of the distance between the street property line and the curb, or 6-feet 6-inches, whichever is less
  • Example: If the distance between the street property line and curb is 8 feet, then a sign may project 6 feet.

Signs on awnings

If a sign is located on an awning, the business may not have any wall signs or projecting signs.

• Illumination: None or indirect
• Size: Maximum of 20 square feet

Wall signs

You may paint or place a sign directly against a flat building wall.

• Number of signs: No limit
• Illumination: 
  • All hours: None or indirect 
  • Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only 
• Size: 
  • Maximum of 100 square feet, or 2 square foot per foot of business street frontage, whichever is less
    • Example: If business has 25 feet of frontage along front property line(s), then 50 square feet of wall signs are allowed
  • Cannot cover more than 75% of the surface of a wall, excluding openings
• Height: 24 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to or the lowest residential windowsill on the wall the building is attached to, whichever is less

Projecting signs

Projecting signs are allowed for a business.

• Number of signs: 1 per business
• Illumination: 
  • All hours: None or indirect
  • Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only 
• Size: Maximum of 24 square feet
• Height: 15 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to or the lowest residential windowsill on the wall the building is attached to, whichever is lower
• Projection: Cannot project more than 75% of the distance between the street property line and the curb, or 6-feet 6-inches, whichever is less
  • Example: If the distance between the street property line and curb is 8 feet, then a sign may project 6 feet.

Signs on awnings

If a sign is located on an awning, the business may not have any wall signs or projecting signs.

• Illumination: None or indirect
  • Exception: Marquees for movie theaters or places of entertainment may directly illuminate awning signs during business hours
• Size: Maximum of 30 square feet

Mixed Use Office sign rules apply except for the following:

Wall signs

You may paint or place a sign directly against a flat building wall.

• Number of signs: No limit
• Illumination: 
  • All hours: None or indirect 
  • Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only 
• Size: 
  • In the Urban Mixed Use District:
    • 3 square feet per foot of business street frontage for up to 50 feet of street frontage, plus an addition square foot per foot of street frontage above 50 feet
      • Example: If business has 75 feet of frontage along front property line(s), then 175 square feet of wall signs are allowed (3 square feet for the first 50 feet of frontage, plus an additional 25 square feet)
    • Cannot cover more than 75% of the surface of a wall, excluding openings
  • In all other districts listed:
    • 3 square feet per foot of business frontage, or 150 square feet, whichever is less
    • Cannot cover more than 75% of the surface of a wall, excluding openings
• Height: 
  • In the Urban Mixed Use District:
    • 60 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to or the lowest residential windowsill on the wall the building is attached to, whichever is lower
  • In all other districts listed:
    • 25 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to or the lowest residential windowsill on the wall the building is attached to, whichever is lower

Projecting signs

• Number of signs: 1 per business
• Illumination: 
  • All hours: None or indirect
  • Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only 
• Size: Maximum of 32 square feet
• Height: 24 feet or the height of the wall the sign is attached to or the lowest residential windowsill on the wall the building is attached to, whichever is lower
• Projection: Cannot project more than 75% of the distance between the street property line and the curb, or 6-feet 6-inches, whichever is less
  • Example: If the distance between the street property line and curb is 8 feet, then a sign may project 6 feet.

Signs on awnings

If a sign is located on an awning, the business may not have any wall signs or projecting signs.

• Illumination: None or indirect
  • Exception: Marquees for movie theaters or places of entertainment may directly illuminate awning signs during business hours
• Area: Maximum of 40 square feet

Freestanding signs

Freestanding signs or a sign tower are allowed in place of a projecting sign if the building is setback from the property line. If a freestanding sign or sign tower exists, a projecting sign is not allowed.

• Number of signs: 1 per lot
• Illumination: Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only 
• Size: Maximum of 30 square feet
• Height: 24 feet or lower
• Projection: Cannot project more than 75% of the distance between the street property line and the curb, or 6-feet, whichever is less

Residential districts

Oil company signs

An automobile service station may have 2 oil company signs max.

• Height: 
  • Freestanding signs: No more than 24 feet high
  • Signs attached to a building: Cannot go above the roofline
• Area:
  • No more than 180 square feet
  • No more than 80 square feet for all sign parts that are within 10 feet of the street property line and are along each street frontage

Other signs

An automobile service station may be allowed to have additional signs (permanent and temporary).

• Height:
  • Freestanding signs: No more than 12 feet high
  • Signs attached to a building: Cannot go above the roofline
• Area: No more than 20 square feet for each sign or a total of 80 square feet for all signs on the premises

For all automobile service station signs:

• Illumination: None, indirect, or direct
  • Direct illumination is allowed during business hours only 

Commercial and industrial districts

Oil company signs

You may attach signs for an oil company to a building or place freestanding signs on your property when an automobile service station is located on-site.

• Number of signs: 2
• Illumination: None, indirect, or direct
• Size: 
  • Maximum of 180 square feet 
  • Maximum of 80 square feet for any part that is within 10 feet of the street property line
• Projection: No more than 5 five beyond street property line or building setback line
• Height: 
  • When attached to a building: no more than 60 feet or above the roofline of the building, whichever is lower
  • In C-3 Zoning District: 100 feet or lower
• Incidental signs (permanent and temporary): 
  • Size: 
    • Other permanent and temporary signs may be no more than 40 square feet
    • All signs may total no more than 180 square feet
  • Height: No higher than the roofline of the building.
  • Projection: Not beyond the street property line or building setback line

Residential- and neighborhood-commercial districts

Oil company signs

You may attach signs for an oil company to a building or place freestanding signs on your property when an automobile service station is located on-site.

• Number of signs: 2
• Illumination: Subject to controls for the zoning district the property is located in
• Size: 
  • Maximum of 180 square feet 
  • Maximum of 80 square feet for any part that is within 10 feet of the street property line
• Projection: No more than 5 five beyond street property line or building setback line
• Height: Subject to controls for the zoning district the property is located in
• Incidental signs (permanent and temporary): 
  • Size: 
    • Other permanent and temporary signs may be no more than 30 square feet
    • All signs may total no more than 180 square feet
  • Height: No higher than the roofline of the building.
  • Projection: Not beyond the street property line or building setback line

Mixed use districts

Oil company signs

You may attach signs for an oil company to a building or place freestanding signs on your property when an automobile service station is located on-site.

• Number of signs: 2
• Illumination: Subject to controls for the zoning district the property is located in
• Size: 
  • Maximum of 180 square feet 
  • Maximum of 80 square feet for any part that is within 10 feet of the street property line
• Projection: No more than 5 five beyond street property line or building setback line
• Height: Subject to controls for the zoning district the property is located in
• Incidental signs (permanent and temporary): 
  • Size: 
    • Other permanent and temporary signs may be no more than 30 square feet
    • All signs may total no more than 180 square feet
  • Height: No higher than the roofline of the building.
  • Projection: Not beyond the street property line or building setback line.

In the property information map, select "Historic Preservation" from the list on the left menu of the property information map.

If your property is subject to Article 10 or Article 11, you will need a historic preservation review. 

Email pic@sfgov.org to get in touch with a historic preservation planner.