Brentwood — Signage

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Brentwood regulates signs primarily in Title 17 of its zoning ordinance: private-property signs outside the Downtown zone are governed by Chapter 17.640, signs on public property by Chapter 17.645, and the sign-permit procedure by Chapter 17.835. The Downtown (DT) zone has its own sign rules in a separate chapter noted by the sign ordinance. See the general Brentwood Zoning framework to understand how these parts fit together. Chapter 17.640 is message-neutral, allows message substitution, and emphasizes safety and aesthetics.

What governs signs in Brentwood

• The core sign rules are in the city’s Sign Ordinance, Chapter 17.640 (private property outside DT) and are enforced through a Sign Permit process in Chapter 17.835. Signs on city property are separately regulated by Chapter 17.645. The sign ordinance explicitly excludes city property and the Downtown (DT) zone from its scope, directing you instead to Chapters 17.645 and 17.280, respectively.
• The ordinance is content-neutral, permits message substitution for noncommercial speech, and prohibits new billboards.

Core citywide standards (outside DT, on private property)

• Permit: A sign permit is generally required unless a specific exemption applies.
• Compatibility review: Discretion is limited to structural, architectural, location, safety, and compatibility factors—not the sign’s message.
• Prohibited signs: Roof signs, signs over the roofline, billboards, animated signs, flashing/blinking lights (with narrow athletic-event exception), inflatable advertising, flex wing signs, and others are prohibited as stated.

District-by-district summary

Below are the Brentwood-specific districts and areas where the sign rules change or are layered with additional requirements.

Citywide private property (all zoning districts outside DT)

• Purpose: Implement content-neutral, safety- and aesthetics-focused sign regulation under Chapter 17.640.
• Typical allowed categories and size/placement:
  • Nonresidential establishments: total sign area at up to 1 sq ft per linear foot of street frontage (corner-lot bonus applies), subject to number/height/placement limits; no off-site commercial messages.
  • General physical limits: max area per sign type and placement: freestanding sign area up to 75 sq ft; wall/projecting signs up to 10% of the building face; permanent window signs up to 25% of aggregate window area; max of 3 total wall/projecting/freestanding signs per establishment; 1 freestanding sign per parcel; freestanding sign height up to 8 ft.
  • Location clearances: projecting signs need 8 ft pedestrian clearance and 17 ft vehicular clearance into rights-of-way if allowed; no signs projecting into ROW unless expressly permitted.
  • Lighting types permitted for building-mounted signs include internally illuminated pan channel letters, halo-lit reverse channel letters, exposed neon, external lighting; cabinet signs require opaque faces with push-through/cut-out lettering.
• Where it applies: All private property citywide, except on city property and within DT.

Residential property (e.g., R-1 lots and other legal residential uses)

• Purpose: Allow low-scale identification, information, and noncommercial expression without visual clutter.
• Typical permitted signs (no sign permit required):
  • At all times, cumulative sign area up to 16 sq ft per dwelling; categories include noncommercial messages, on-/off-site real estate signs, and limited garage-sale signs with time/place restrictions. No illumination.
  • Mounting limits: doors, walls, windows, or fences; not on roofs, eaves, soundwalls, or vegetation.
  • Flags up to 24 sq ft per parcel are allowed (no commercial message flags).
• Where it applies: Any legal residential use citywide (e.g., R-1 properties), outside DT.

Nonresidential zoning districts (commercial/office/industrial outside DT)

• Purpose: Provide adequate identification and wayfinding while maintaining compatibility and safety.
• Typical permitted signs (permit type varies):
  • Area formula of 1 sq ft/lf frontage (with corner-lot bonus) sets the total budget; see general physical limits, number, height, location, and lighting above. Off-site commercial messages are not permitted.
  • Vehicle service stations: total sign area up to 150 sq ft plus what state law requires for fuel-price signage.
• Where it applies: All nonresidential zones outside DT on private property.

DT (Downtown) Zone

• Purpose/Applicability: The sign ordinance defers DT sign standards to a separate chapter for the Downtown zone. The sign rules here do not apply to DT; see Chapter 17.280 Downtown regulations. Not found in retrieved materials; confirm with the city.
• Where it applies: Properties within the DT zone boundary. Verify with Brentwood Overlay Districts.

Public Property (city property, rights-of-way) — Chapter 17.645

• Purpose: The city acts in a proprietary capacity; public property is generally not a public forum for signs unless specifically designated. A permit is required unless expressly exempted.
• Typical permitted programs and limits:
  • Light-standard banner program (downtown and major/minor arterials): city/city‑cosponsored or qualifying local institutions, up to 6 months/year, with technical standards, insurance, and indemnification.
  • City-sponsored special event off-site signs: only at specified corners (Sand Creek/Fairview; Sand Creek/O’Hara; Dainty/Central; Chestnut/Sellers), max 4 signs/event (1 per location), placed ≤30 days before and removed ≤5 days after, max 32 sq ft each.
  • Cluster sign structures for new subdivisions: at intersections of thoroughfares; spacing ≥1,000 ft; max height 11 ft; max area 40 sq ft; refundable bond required; used only for subdivision development advertising.
  • Neighborhood identification signs: max 2 per neighborhood; at street-corner entrances; mounted on a legal fence/wall; max 15 sq ft copy area; external ground-mounted illumination only.
• Where it applies: City-owned property and rights-of-way as defined in Chapter 17.645.

BB (Brentwood Boulevard) Zone

• Purpose/Applicability: The Brentwood Boulevard Specific Plan (BBSP) is the primary regulator for BB properties and supersedes many Title 17 provisions for development standards; signage details were not retrieved. Verify BBSP signage controls with the city.
• Where it applies: Properties zoned BB along Brentwood Boulevard between Delta Road and Second Street.

Planned Development (PD) districts with sign program requirements

Several PDs explicitly require an approved master/planned sign program, which controls over the general rules for those sites. Applicants should also expect Brentwood Design Review findings to reference the city’s commercial/industrial design guidelines where cited by the PD or sign chapter.

• PD‑5 Subarea B (commercial): “All signage… shall be in accordance with the master sign program” for the subarea.
• PD‑34: “All signage… shall adhere to a planned sign program,” subject to conditional use permit approval.
• PD‑41: “All signage… shall be in accordance with the master sign program” approved by the city.
• PD‑67 (Cox Property): “All signage shall be subject to the master sign program approved for the Cox Property.”
• PD‑69: “Advertising signs. All signs shall adhere to the approved master sign program for this project.”
• PD‑30 (subarea B example): “Signs subject to Chapter 17.640.” If no PD sign program is adopted, the citywide sign ordinance applies.

Temporary and special sign types (outside DT, private property)

• Banner signs: One at a time; max four 30‑day display periods/year with 60‑day blackout between; size ≤ the lesser of 50 sq ft or 10% of the building face; no illumination; securely fastened; not in ROW unless Chapter 17.645 allows.
• Temporary window signs: Up to seven days/month; coverage ≤ 25% of aggregate window area; not located between 3–5 ft above grade.
• Real estate signs: On‑site aggregate 32 sq ft per parcel or multi‑tenant site; individual tenant on‑site window signs up to 8 sq ft; off‑site real estate signs up to 16 sq ft when allowed; height ≤ 8 ft; remove ≤10 days after closing; no illumination.
• Construction site signs: On-site only during active construction; ≤ 24 sq ft; height ≤ 8 ft; remove at final inspection/CO.
• Commercial mascots (e.g., sign twirlers): Addressed in Chapter 17.640; confirm operational limits locally.
• Off-site directional signs (private property): Planning Commission may approve limited off-site directional signs for places of worship, hospitals, schools, etc.

Prohibited signs snapshot

• New billboards (citywide policy), roof signs, signs above roof/parapet, animated and flashing signs (except at athletic-event sites), inflatable advertising, flex wing signs, portable signs (except as otherwise allowed), changeable-copy/searchlights/streamers/propellers/discs (except as permitted).

Permit pathways and review

• Most permanent signs require a Sign Permit under Chapter 17.835, processed by the Director or Planning Commission depending on the case, using compatibility criteria and any specific standards in Chapter 17.640.
• Administrative approvals may be issued by the Director for certain categories (e.g., nonresidential signs within the frontage‑based area budget; one identification sign for multifamily management offices), while more complex packages (e.g., master sign programs) go to the Planning Commission.
• Multi-tenant centers and large single-tenant retail sites often use a master sign program; the Planning Commission can approve a coordinated package that may deviate from baseline standards if it meets specific findings.

Decision-relevant standards (selected)

Checklist

• Confirm if the site is Downtown (DT) or on city property; if yes, use DT or public‑property rules instead of Chapter 17.640.
• If in a PD or specific plan area, check for an adopted master/planned sign program that controls signage.
• Calculate nonresidential sign area using the frontage formula and verify the sign count/height/placement/lighting standards.
• For residential properties, keep total to 16 sq ft and follow mounting/no‑illumination rules.
• For banners/temporary window signs, confirm frequency, duration, size, and blackout periods.
• Screen for prohibited types (roof, billboard, animated/flash, inflatable, flex wing, etc.).
• Determine whether administrative approval suffices or a Planning Commission action/master sign program is needed.
• Apply for a Sign Permit under Chapter 17.835 and, if applicable, any Brentwood Design Review tied to a larger project.
• If using public property (e.g., event signs or light‑standard banners), obtain the Chapter 17.645 permit and follow location/time/insurance rules.
• Consider how signs interact with Brentwood Landscaping and Screening (visibility) and Brentwood Parking areas where applicable.

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps

• DT (Downtown) sign standards (Chapter 17.280): Not found in retrieved materials; Verify with the jurisdiction.
• BBSP signage controls (BB zone): Not found in retrieved materials; Verify with the jurisdiction.
• City Commercial and Industrial Design Guidelines cited in master sign program findings: Not found in retrieved materials.

Plain-English Summary

Brentwood’s rules say most permanent business signs on private property outside Downtown need a sign permit, must fit within a frontage-based area budget, and are limited in number, size, height, placement, and lighting. Homes can display up to 16 square feet of simple, non-lit signage. Some areas—public property, Downtown, and many Planned Developments—have their own special rules or require a master sign program, so always check which district you’re in before you design and apply.

Source References

• Chapter 17.640 Sign Ordinance (scope, permits, compatibility, message neutrality, area/height/number/lighting limits, prohibited signs, banners, residential/nonresidential/temporary allowances)
• Chapter 17.645 Signs on Public Property (public-forum policy, permits, light-standard banner program, special-event off-site sign locations/timing/size, cluster signs, neighborhood ID)
• Chapter 17.835 Sign Permit (process, review authority and criteria)
• PDs requiring master/planned sign programs: PD‑5 Subarea B, PD‑34, PD‑41, PD‑67, PD‑69 (advertising signs), PD‑30 (where Chapter 17.640 applies)
• Downtown and BB references: DT regulated by Chapter 17.280 (not retrieved); BB zone governed by the BBSP (signage not retrieved)

Retrieved passages

• Brentwood Zoning Code (section as) High relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (chapter is) High relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (section may) High relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (Chapter 17.645.) High relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (section when) High relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (Chapter 10.28) High relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (§ 9) High relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (chapter or) Medium relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (Chapter 17.645) Medium relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (chapter shall) Medium relevance show source text
• Brentwood Zoning Code (chapter or) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Chapter 17.640 Sign Ordinance (scope, permits, compatibility, message neutrality, area/height/number/lighting limits, prohibited signs, banners, residential/nonresidential/temporary allowances) (Chapter 17.640)
• Chapter 17.645 Signs on Public Property (public-forum policy, permits, light-standard banner program, special-event off-site sign locations/timing/size, cluster signs, neighborhood ID) (Chapter 17.645)
• Chapter 17.835 Sign Permit (process, review authority and criteria) (Chapter 17.835)
• PDs requiring master/planned sign programs: PD‑5 Subarea B, PD‑34, PD‑41, PD‑67, PD‑69 (advertising signs), PD‑30 (where Chapter 17.640 applies) (Chapter 17.640)
• Downtown and BB references: DT regulated by Chapter 17.280 (not retrieved); BB zone governed by the BBSP (signage not retrieved) (Chapter 17.280)
• Brentwood_ZoningCode.md

• Official Brentwood code library