Contra Costa County — Signage

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Contra Costa County regulates signage through its countywide Sign Ordinance for unincorporated areas, with additional district-specific rules still embedded in some legacy zoning chapters. The modern, content‑neutral framework is in Chapter 88‑6, adopted in 2022, and it applies to signs on private property and within the public right‑of‑way, with special carve‑outs by land use district, and a master sign program for multi‑tenant and planned developments (§ 88‑6.202, § 88‑6.204, § 88‑6.628 ). Always confirm your parcel’s zoning on the County’s map and read any applicable district chapter of Division 84 alongside the sign ordinance; if you are also pursuing site work that triggers design review or development standards, coordinate those submittals up front.

Bottom line: In unincorporated areas, single‑family residential districts only allow exempt signs, while other districts allow a limited menu of attached and freestanding/monument signs subject to strict size, height, location, and proximity rules (§ 88‑6.608, § 88‑6.610, § 88‑6.612, § 88‑6.614 ).

Countywide sign basics (unincorporated areas)

• Content‑neutral regulation; prospective only; shared responsibility for compliance (§ 88‑6.206, § 88‑6.208, § 88‑6.210 ).
• Permit decisions require findings on compatibility and location; decisions are appealable (§ 88‑6.410, § 88‑6.412 ).
• Nonconforming signs can continue until removed/damaged/redeveloped/subdivided (§ 88‑6.414 ).
• Prohibited signs include animated, mobile, moving, A‑boards, flashing/rotating, portable or vehicle‑mounted ads, painted wall/bench/building ads, cloth banners (other than flags), exposed‑wire support, freeway‑oriented signs, and external neon; no freestanding sign within 1,000 ft of a school, playground, or park (§ 88‑6.416 ).
• Exempt signs: certain government/required‑by‑law signs; if size is not specified by law, max 10 sq ft (§ 88‑6.418 ).
• On private property, additional exemptions include one flagpole (to 25 ft or roofline) with up to three flags (15 sq ft each), a sign not visible from street/adjacent property, and a temporary sign to 12 sq ft and 6 ft tall for up to 60 consecutive days (§ 88‑6.606(a)–(c) ).
• Location rules: signs must be on a building frontage or lot frontage, limited to two frontages of any one building (§ 88‑6.614 ).

What the code allows by sign type

• Freestanding/monument: max area 1 sq ft per 1,000 sq ft of lot area; absolute max 35 sq ft per sign and 50 sq ft total across all freestanding/monument signs per lot; height up to 12 ft or roofline, whichever is lower; max two display faces (§ 88‑6.610(a)–(c) ).
• Attached (projecting, shingle, wall, window): projecting/shingle each to 5 sq ft; wall sign up to 10% of wall area; window sign up to 10% of window area; vertical clearance at least 8 ft for projecting/shingle; wall sign no higher than 15 ft above grade and not above eaves/fascia/parapet; most attached signs limited to 1 ft projection (except shingle up to 6 ft) (§ 88‑6.612(a)–(b) ).
• Temporary “for‑sale”/project entry signs: one per lot for sale, or one at a development entrance, up to 18 months, with clean removal deadlines (§ 88‑6.616(a)–(b) ).

District-by-district — where signs are allowed in unincorporated areas

Single-Family Residential (R-6, R-7, R-10, R-12, R-15, R-20, R-40, R-65, R-100) and Water Recreational (F-1), and single-family in P‑1

• Purpose/permitted uses: Low‑density residential and water recreation. See Contra Costa County Zoning.
• Key signage rule: Only exempt signs are allowed (e.g., small temporary yard sign, flags); no freestanding, monument, wall, window, shingle, or projecting signs unless a non‑residential use is approved by land use permit (§ 88‑6.608(b) ).
• Dimensional/location: Follow the exempt sign limits noted above (§ 88‑6.606 ).

Two-Family and Multi-Family Residential (D-1; M-6, M-9, M-12, M-17, M-29) and multi-family in P‑1

• Purpose/permitted uses: Duplexes and apartments; see Land Use.
• Allowed signs: Exempt signs; plus one or more freestanding/monument signs that meet universal size/height limits (§ 88‑6.610), and one wall sign per lot that meets attached‑sign criteria (§ 88‑6.612) (§ 88‑6.608(c) ).
• Location: On building or lot frontage; at most two frontages (§ 88‑6.614 ).

Agricultural (A-2, A-3, A-4, A-20, A-40, A-80)

• Purpose/permitted uses: Agriculture and related rural uses.
• Allowed signs: Exempt signs; and one or more freestanding/monument signs per lot meeting the universal size/height limits (§ 88‑6.608(d), § 88‑6.610 ).
• Note: The private‑property exemptions reference grower/farm‑stand signage via § 88‑20.404, but Chapter 88‑20 is now reserved; confirm current standards with the County (§ 88‑6.606(d) and editor’s note on Chapter 88‑20 repeal ).

Office — O-1 Limited Office district

• Purpose/permitted uses: Low‑intensity office. In addition to Chapter 88‑6 rules, O‑1 still has its own sign cap: one sign per parcel, max 10 sq ft; no rotation/flashing/animation; height limited to the roof eave line or 20 ft (whichever is lower); no freestanding signs; no sign may face an abutting residential district (§ 84‑44.1802 ).
• Practical effect: O‑1 is more restrictive than the general sign ordinance (e.g., it bans freestanding signs that § 88‑6.610 otherwise allows). Verify which provision controls for your site.

Commercial districts (N-B Neighborhood Business; R-B Retail Business; C-B Central Business; C; C‑M) and other business districts

• Purpose/permitted uses: Retail, service, mixed commercial; see Zoning.
• Allowed signs: Apply universal attached and freestanding/monument standards (§ 88‑6.610, § 88‑6.612, § 88‑6.614 ). Non‑accessory signs may be restricted or prohibited in certain planned commercial districts (see “Planned Neighborhood Business” below).
• Master sign program: For multi‑tenant sites and P‑1 projects, a comprehensive program may approve coordinated exceptions to number, height, location, and area if compatibility objectives are met (§ 88‑6.628 ).

Industrial districts (L-I Light Industrial; W-3 Waterfront; H-I Heavy Industrial)

• Purpose/permitted uses: Manufacturing, logistics, waterfront industry.
• Allowed signs: Apply universal freestanding/monument and attached sign standards (§ 88‑6.610, § 88‑6.612 ).

Planned Neighborhood Business district (within Planned District regulations)

• Purpose/permitted uses: Planned retail center. Height: no structure other than a building, including signs, may exceed building height; non‑building‑attached signs capped at 25 ft (§ 84‑50.1412 ).
• Sign types: Nonaccessory signs and most roof signs prohibited (limited exceptions for gas station pump island canopy signage) (§ 84‑50.1414 ).
• Practical effect: Expect tighter controls than the universal standards; coordinate early if pursuing a variance or exception.

Signs in the public right‑of‑way (unincorporated areas)

• Permit + encroachment required; bus shelter signs are exempt from the sign permit but still must meet other laws (§ 88‑6.804, § 88‑6.806, § 88‑6.808 ).
• Directional signs allowed if they meet spacing, clearance, and area rules; max 16 sq ft; detailed siting limits near curbs, driveways, bus stops, medians, state rights‑of‑way, and sight‑distance zones (§ 88‑6.810(a)–(b) ).
• Standard terms include annual permit term, liability insurance, maintenance, removal for safety, and revocation rights (§ 88‑6.810(c) ).

Special topics you might not expect

• Offsite advertising on vessels: Offsite commercial signs on vessels are prohibited on waters within the County’s jurisdiction; limited exemptions for onsite vessel identification and sailboat sails (§ 88‑18.602, § 88‑18.604 ).
• Enforcement: Abandoned/unsafe or overstayed temporary signs may be summarily removed; remedies include fines and abatement (§ 88‑6.1002, § 88‑6.1004 ).
• Historic and overlay contexts: If your site is within a historic area or a special corridor, additional standards may apply—check Historic Preservation and Overlay Districts.

Quick standards table (unincorporated areas)

Practical guidance

• Start with your zoning district and whether the property is in a planned district or overlay; some districts (e.g., O‑1) are stricter than Chapter 88‑6 on sign type/size (§ 84‑44.1802 ). Use the zoning overview and confirm with staff.
• For multi‑tenant centers or P‑1 projects, a master sign program can right‑size standards across tenants while ensuring visual compatibility (§ 88‑6.628 ).
• Mind the universal prohibitions—especially the Countywide ban on A‑boards, cloth banners, and freeway‑oriented signs (§ 88‑6.416 ).
• Coordinate signs with site visibility, parking circulation, and landscaping/screening; the zoning administrator considers compatibility and sightlines in sign findings (§ 88‑6.410 ).
• Structural and electrical aspects live under the California Building Standards Code; this page covers land‑use/zoning limits only.

Checklist

• Confirm the site is in unincorporated Contra Costa County.
• Identify your base zoning district and whether you are in O‑1, a planned commercial district, or P‑1.
• Select sign type(s) allowed for the district and use: exempt, attached, freestanding/monument.
• Calculate maximum area/height (lot‑based limits for freestanding; percentage‑based for wall/window).
• Site only on building/lot frontage, and on no more than two frontages.
• Verify you are not within 1,000 ft of a school/playground/park if proposing freestanding signs.
• If within the public right‑of‑way, secure both a sign permit and encroachment permit; respect spacing/clearance/size caps for directional signs.
• If multi‑tenant or P‑1, consider a master sign program to coordinate exceptions.
• Confirm no district‑specific caps conflict (e.g., O‑1 one‑sign, 10‑sq‑ft rule).
• If any existing signs are nonconforming, plan for eventual removal or alteration triggers.
• If near a historic resource or overlay, check any added constraints.
• Keep temporary signs within time/size/height limits and remove on schedule.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If your property is in unincorporated Contra Costa County, single‑family zones allow only small exempt signs. Apartments and agricultural parcels can add limited freestanding/monument and one wall sign if they meet strict size and height caps. Most business and industrial sites can use attached and freestanding/monument signs under countywide standards—but some districts like O‑1 and planned retail centers are stricter, so check those chapters before you design. A‑boards, banners, freeway‑oriented, and neon‑outlined signs are out countywide.

Source References

• Contra Costa County Sign Ordinance: § 88‑6.202, § 88‑6.204, § 88‑6.206, § 88‑6.208, § 88‑6.210, § 88‑6.410, § 88‑6.412, § 88‑6.414, § 88‑6.416, § 88‑6.418, § 88‑6.602, § 88‑6.604, § 88‑6.606, § 88‑6.608, § 88‑6.610, § 88‑6.612, § 88‑6.614, § 88‑6.616, § 88‑6.628, § 88‑6.802–810, § 88‑6.1002, § 88‑6.1004
• Zoning district sign provisions: O‑1 Limited Office § 84‑44.1802; Planned Neighborhood Business § 84‑50.1412, § 84‑50.1414
• Offsite Vessel Advertising: § 88‑18.602, § 88‑18.604; related findings/purpose in Article 88‑18.2

Also see: Contra Costa County zoning & planning overview, Contra Costa County Development Standards, Contra Costa County Overlay Districts, Contra Costa County Historic Preservation, Contra Costa County Nonconforming Uses.

Retrieved passages

• Contra Costa County Zoning Code (Article 88-6.2.) High relevance show source text
• Contra Costa County Zoning Code (§ II) High relevance show source text
• Contra Costa County Zoning Code (§ II) High relevance show source text
• Contra Costa County Zoning Code (§ II) High relevance show source text
• Contra Costa County Zoning Code (§ 8334) Medium relevance show source text
• Contra Costa County Zoning Code (Article 84-44.16.) Medium relevance show source text
• Contra Costa County Zoning Code (§ II) Medium relevance show source text
• Contra Costa County Zoning Code (§ 8157.5) Medium relevance show source text
• Contra Costa County Zoning Code (§ II) High relevance show source text
• Contra Costa County Zoning Code (Section 88-6.418) Medium relevance show source text
• Contra Costa County Zoning Code (§ II) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Contra Costa County Sign Ordinance: § 88‑6.202, § 88‑6.204, § 88‑6.206, § 88‑6.208, § 88‑6.210, § 88‑6.410, § 88‑6.412, § 88‑6.414, § 88‑6.416, § 88‑6.418, § 88‑6.602, § 88‑6.604, § 88‑6.606, § 88‑6.608, § 88‑6.610, § 88‑6.612, § 88‑6.614, § 88‑6.616, § 88‑6.628, § 88‑6.802–810, § 88‑6.1002, § 88‑6.1004 (§ 88)
• Zoning district sign provisions: **O‑1 Limited Office** § 84‑44.1802; Planned Neighborhood Business § 84‑50.1412, § 84‑50.1414 (§ 84)
• Offsite Vessel Advertising: § 88‑18.602, § 88‑18.604; related findings/purpose in Article 88‑18.2 (§ 88)
• ContraCostaCounty_ZoningCode.md

• Official Contra Costa County code library