Signs on homes in Pasadena: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Pasadena Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Pasadena's code says

Pasadena code What Pasadena's code adds
Election and other noncommercial signs	At most 25 square feet cumulative per residential dwelling unit. § 17.48.115 · code text Noncommercial signs shall not exceed a cumulative total of 25 square feet per residential dwelling unit, and no single sign shall exceed 16 square feet. At most 16 square feet per sign. Applies: Single sign. § 17.48.115 · code text Noncommercial signs shall not exceed a cumulative total of 25 square feet per residential dwelling unit, and no single sign shall exceed 16 square feet. At most 10 feet high; not above the edge of the roof. § 17.48.115 · code text No sign shall exceed 10 feet in height measured from existing grade and shall not be located above the edge of the roof. At least 5 feet from the street property line. Applies: Setback from the street property line. § 17.48.115 · code text Noncommercial signs shall be setback a minimum setback of 5 feet from the street property line.
Signs that need no permit	Noncommercial signs on residential uses are exempt from Building Permit review. Applies: Noncommercial sign. § 17.48.115 · code text A noncommercial sign shall be exempt from Building Permit review. Limited to 2 per street address; characters 4 to 8 inches high for residential uses, at least 2 inches wide. Applies: Site address. § 17.48.040 · code text Limited to two for each street address. Individual numbers and letters shall have a minimum height of four inches and width of two inches and shall not exceed a height of eight inches for residential uses and 24 inches for nonresidential uses. No more than 4 signs, each no more than 1 square foot. Applies: Incidental residential signs, such as beware of dog, keep off grass and private property. § 17.48.040 · code text Signs in residential zoning districts that are no more than one square foot in area (e.g., beware of dog, keep off grass, private property, etc.) No more than four of these signs shall be allowed.
Other temporary signs	1 sign per street frontage; 3 sq. ft.; 4 ft.; 2 days within a 30-day period. Applies: Yard sale sign. § 17.48.120 · code text 1 sign per street frontage. \| 3 sq. ft. Commercial, noncommercial and temporary signs shall not exceed a total of 25 sq. ft. \| 4 ft. \| 2 days within a 30-day period. Event signs: any number, 4.5 sq. ft. each, 6 ft high; remove 10 days after the event. Applies: RS, RM and PS Districts. In RS and RM Districts, all commercial, noncommercial and temporary signs together: 25 sq. ft. at most. § 17.48.120 · code text No restriction. \| 4.5 sq. ft. in the RS, RM, and PS districts. In RS and RM Districts, commercial, noncommercial and temporary signs shall not exceed a total of 25 sq. ft. \| 6 ft. \| Shall be removed 10 days after the event.

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Frequently asked questions

What signs may I put up at my home in Pasadena?

Pasadena's code: At most 25 square feet cumulative per residential dwelling unit. (§ 17.48.115); At most 16 square feet per sign. (Single sign.) (§ 17.48.115).

Signs on homes in Pasadena

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