Emeryville — Signage

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Emeryville regulates signs in Article 16 of its Planning Regulations (commonly part of Title 9). The sign rules balance city aesthetics, traffic/public-safety concerns, and free-speech protections while routing most non-exempt commercial signs through the City's design-review procedures. See the rules on design review for how sign approvals are processed and how the Director vs. Planning Commission role works.

The rest of this page sticks strictly to what the Emeryville ordinance says about signs (quotes minimized; § citations provided). If the ordinance text does not provide a required detail (for example, the geographic map of a zone), that gap is called out explicitly below.

District-by-district sign rules (Emeryville-specific)

RM — Medium Density Residential (RM)

• Purpose for signs (what the sign article intends): regulate neighborhood appearance, safety and legibility while allowing limited commercial identification for small-scale commercial uses in residential areas. See § 9-5.1601 for the Article purpose.
• Sign types allowed (sign rules that apply in this district): In addition to exempt signs, commercial establishments in RM may have one (1) sign up to 10 sq ft per establishment, subject to minor design review. Illumination is limited to downward-facing indirect light; internal illumination is prohibited. See § 9-5.1608.
• Typical permitted uses, dimensional standards, and where RM applies: Not found in retrieved materials (zone map/uses and dimensional table are outside Article 16 in the retrieved files). Verify with the jurisdiction for the RM map and the full allowed-use list.
• Practical note: If your building contains a ground-floor business in an RM building, expect a tighter sign budget (10 sq ft) and a director-level minor design-review requirement. See the Emeryville Development Standards for other dimensional relationships you will need to coordinate.

All Other Zones

• Purpose: These are the default rules that apply to every zone except RM (the ordinance labels these as "Sign Regulations in All Other Zones"). See § 9-5.1609.
• Aggregate sign area for an individual establishment: 1 sq ft per linear foot of public frontage (public frontage is defined as building frontage on a public street or the publicly accessible façade where the main entrance is located). This is the controlling dimension for freestanding storefronts and multi-tenant buildings unless a Master Sign Program applies. See § 9-5.1609(b)(1).
• Standards for specific sign types (wall, awning, projecting, monument, etc.) are in Table 9-5.1607; some larger or unusual sign types (monument > 6 ft tall, or > 60 sq ft) require a Master Sign Program or Planning Commission approval. See § 9-5.1607.
• Illumination: internal illumination is not allowed for signs in the RM zone and the ordinance limits internal illumination generally—external lighting must be downward-facing and shielded; electronic or animated signs are broadly prohibited except small pedestrian-oriented info signs or as specifically allowed under major design review. See § 9-5.1606(d) and § 9-5.1604(b).

Master Sign Programs (site-level / multi-tenant)

• When required: A Master Sign Program is required for developments with five (5) or more retail tenant spaces; optional for other multi-tenant nonresidential or mixed-use projects. Applications must include site plans, building elevations, aggregate-area computations, and tenant sign standards. Approval findings require that the program promote visual harmony, compatibility with building design, and not exceed aggregate area limits for individual tenants. See § 9-5.1613.

Nonconforming Signs

• Nonconforming signs that were legal when installed may be continued and maintained; they generally cannot be moved, enlarged, or altered unless the change eliminates the nonconformity; abandoned or severely damaged nonconforming signs must be removed or brought into compliance per § 9-5.1614.

Decision‑relevant standards (quick table)

(See Table 9-5.1607 for specific limits by sign type; illustration figures and the table text are part of the ordinance.)

How approvals are processed (practical synthesis)

• The Director first determines whether a sign is prohibited, exempt, or requires design review (minor or major). See § 9-5.1603.
• Small tenant signs typically go through minor design review; larger or nonstandard signs, and Master Sign Programs, go to the Planning Commission for major design review. See § 9-5.1612 and § 9-5.1613.
• All signs must also meet the City's Design Principles (architectural compatibility, legibility, materials, and limits on animated/moving signs) used in design-review decisions. See § 9-5.1611; the Emeryville Design Review page provides process context.

When your design review application is prepared, include scaled drawings, aggregate-area computations, and a materials/illumination description (as required for Master Sign Programs). See § 9-5.1613(b).

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

• Confirm that the sign type is not listed among prohibited signs § 9-5.1604.
• Determine whether the sign is an exempt type under § 9-5.1605 (A‑frame, address, temporary window, small noncommercial, real estate, etc.).
• Calculate aggregate sign area using 1 sq ft per linear foot of public frontage where applicable § 9-5.1609(b)(1).
• If in RM, confirm commercial sign limit (10 sq ft) and illumination restrictions § 9-5.1608.
• If development has ≥ 5 retail tenants, prepare a Master Sign Program submittal (site plan, elevations, tenant standards) § 9-5.1613(b).
• Prepare design-review application (minor vs major) per sign type and size § 9-5.1612.
• Describe illumination, materials, and maintenance plan that comply with the Design Principles and illumination rules § 9-5.1611; § 9-5.1606(d).
• Verify whether a building permit is required and follow the California Building Standards Code / Title 24 for structural/electrical compliance before installation. (The ordinance notes building permits may still be required.)

Note: the ordinance excludes public sidewalk signs from Article 16 and points to Chapter 34 of Title 5 for sidewalk rules (verify if you plan sidewalk A-frames).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

If you own or manage a business in Emeryville, most storefront signs are allowed but capped by an aggregate formula of 1 sq ft per linear foot of public frontage; small temporary signs and a range of exempt signs (A‑frames, small real‑estate signs, etc.) are permitted with specific size limits. Larger or unusual signs, electronic displays, and multi‑tenant identity signage will trigger design review or require a Master Sign Program; prohibited types include illuminated cabinet-box signs, reader-boards, and off‑site billboards. See § 9-5.1604–9-5.1613 for the controlling rules.

Source References

• Emeryville Planning Regulations, Article 16 (Signs): § 9-5.1601 – § 9-5.1615, Emeryville Code (full Article and figures). See: https://ecode360.com/EM4426 (ordinance text)
• Prohibited signs: § 9-5.1604 (list and details).
• Exempt signs: § 9-5.1605 (A‑frames, real estate, flags, small noncommercial signs, temporary window signs).
• Calculation rules and “All Other Zones”: § 9-5.1609 (aggregate area = 1 sq ft per linear foot).
• Standards for specific sign types (Table 9-5.1607): § 9-5.1607 (wall, awning, projecting, monument limits).
• RM-specific sign rules: § 9-5.1608.
• Temporary commercial signs: § 9-5.1610 (max 2 signs; 32 sq ft; 45 days).
• Design Principles & review criteria: § 9-5.1611 and procedures § 9-5.1612.
• Master Sign Programs: § 9-5.1613.
• Nonconforming signs: § 9-5.1614.

Additional internal context pages you may find helpful as you prepare an application: Emeryville Zoning, Development Standards, Design Review, Overlay Districts, and the state California Building Standards Code.

Retrieved passages

• Emeryville Zoning Code (Section 9-5.1609) High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code (Section 9-5.1609) High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code (Section 9-5.1605) High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code (Section 9-5.1605) High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code (Section 9-5.1612.) High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code (Section 9-5.1612) High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code (section may) High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code (article establishes) High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code (article or) High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code (Article 16) High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code (article or) High relevance show source text
• Emeryville Zoning Code (Section 9-5.1605) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Emeryville Planning Regulations, Article 16 (Signs): **§ 9-5.1601 – § 9-5.1615**, Emeryville Code (full Article and figures). See: (ordinance text) (Article 16)
• Prohibited signs: **§ 9-5.1604** (list and details). (§ 9-5.1604)
• Exempt signs: **§ 9-5.1605** (A‑frames, real estate, flags, small noncommercial signs, temporary window signs). (§ 9-5.1605)
• Calculation rules and “All Other Zones”: **§ 9-5.1609** (aggregate area = **1 sq ft per linear foot**). (§ 9-5.1609)
• Standards for specific sign types (Table 9-5.1607): **§ 9-5.1607** (wall, awning, projecting, monument limits). (§ 9-5.1607)
• RM-specific sign rules: **§ 9-5.1608**. (§ 9-5.1608)
• Temporary commercial signs: **§ 9-5.1610** (max **2** signs; **32 sq ft**; **45 days**). (§ 9-5.1610)
• Design Principles & review criteria: **§ 9-5.1611** and procedures **§ 9-5.1612**. (§ 9-5.1611)
• Master Sign Programs: **§ 9-5.1613**. (§ 9-5.1613)
• Nonconforming signs: **§ 9-5.1614**. (§ 9-5.1614)
• Emeryville_ZoningCode.md

• Official Emeryville code library