Title 19 — ZONING›Chapter 19.25 — SIGNS
Commerce Municipal Code § 19.25.090 Residential zones sign regulations
Commerce Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-19 · Commerce
Cite as: Commerce Municipal Code § 19.25.090 · Text as of 2026-10-19
19.25.090 - Residential zones sign regulations.¶
The number and type of signs allowed within residential zones are set forth in Table 19.25.100A. Signs in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 zones shall conform to the following provisions:
A. Roof signs and projecting signs are not permitted.
B. No sign shall extend above roof level of a building to which it is attached.
C. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as permitting any type of sign in conjunction with a commercial use allowed as a home occupation.
D. No permanent murals, figures, or pictures shall be painted or drawn on any exterior walls.
(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)
19.25.100 - Nonresidential zones sign regulations.¶
Table 19.25.100A sets forth the sign regulations applicable to all nonresidential zones.
Table 19.25.100A
PERMITTED SIGNS BY USE OR SIGN TYPE
| Use or Sign Type | Type of Sign and Number Permitted | Size Restrictions | Other Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family residential development (4 acres or more) | 2 nonilluminated neighborhood identification signs at each neighborhood entry point | Area = 10 sf maximum Height = 6 ft. maximum | None |
| Multifamily unit residential complex (5 units or more) | 1 permanent building identification wall sign | Area = 10 sf maximum Height = 6 ft. maximum | No more than 1 sign per individual land parcel |
| Model Home, House for Sale | Real estate signs | Maximum 10 sf total sign area per individual land parcel | None |
| Freestanding signs in nonresidential zones | 1 on-site sign with a maximum of 2 supports allowed for properties with less than 800 lineal feet of street frontage. 1 additional on-site sign allowed for properties with 800 or more lineal feet of street frontage | Area = Maximum 1 sf per 1 foot of street frontage, and maximum area of 800 sf Height = 20 ft. maximum at front property line, plus 1 foot for each foot the sign is set back from the property line, and maximum height of 42 ft. | Minimum of 100 lineal feet of street frontage required No on-site sign shall exceed in area the equivalent of its distance in lineal feet from any residential zone, school, park, the Civic Center, or other recreational facility No on-site sign shall be located within 200 feet of any residential zone, school, park, City Council-designated City beautification area or City identification area, or the Civic Center |
| Wall or roof signs in nonresidential zones | In place of a permitted freestanding or readerboard sign, 1 roof sign and up to 3 wall signs, provided total combined roof and wall sign area does not exceed maximum permitted area | Area = Maximum 3 sf per 1 foot of building frontage for aggregate wall and roof sign area Height (roof signs) = Maximum of 5 ft. per building story, and maximum of 25 ft. above roof level | In no case shall the size of a wall sign exceed 35% of the wall area on which it is located |
| Readerboard sign in nonresidential zones | 1 sign per property with Conditional Use Permit in place of a permitted freestanding sign | Area = Maximum 1 sf per 5 feet of street frontage, and maximum area of 500 sf Height = 20 ft maximum at front property line, plus 1 foot for each foot the sign is set back, and a maximum height of 30 ft. | Not permitted under any circumstances within 750 linear feet of The Citadel property |
| Public Property | None permitted | No sign may project over a public right-of-way |
(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)
19.25.110 - Temporary signs.¶
Temporary signs such as flags, streamers, banners, nonmetallic balloons twelve inches or less in diameter, and pennants used for special promotions may be permitted subject to the following standards:
A. A business shall be limited to a maximum of five promotional periods per calendar year, with the exception of automobile dealerships, which shall be limited to nine promotional periods in a calendar year.
B. A promotional time period shall consist of fourteen days or less. No more than two time periods can occur consecutively. If two promotional time periods are not consecutive, the time periods must be separated by at least fourteen days.
C. A maximum of four temporary signs are allowed per event, including a maximum of two exterior temporary banners.
D. Total sign area for temporary signs and exterior banners shall not exceed the total square footage of permanent on-site signage permitted under this chapter for the subject business. This does not include temporary inflatable objects such as air balloons.
E. All signs and banners must be exclusively attached to the building structure. Streamers, pennants, balloons, etc., may be detached from the building structure, but may not be on or attached to public property or on adjacent private property, and not attached to utility poles or light standards within the public right-of-way. All temporary signs, including streamers, pennants, balloons, etc., must be at least ten feet above surrounding ground level, measured from the bottom of the sign (streamer, pennant, etc.) to the surrounding ground level.
F. A temporary sign permit must be obtained for each promotional time period prior to placement of temporary signs, flags, banners, pennants, or balloons. Placement of all temporary signs, flags, banners, pennants, and balloons shall be subject to the approval of the director.
G. Only one inflatable object such as a balloon larger than twelve inches in diameter, an inflatable statuary, or an air balloon is allowed and must be included as part of a permitted promotional period pursuant to this section, and shall not exceed seventy-five feet in height above grade or fifty feet above the building height.
(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)
19.25.120 - Redevelopment signs.¶
A. Pursuant to Section 5273 of the California Business and Professions Code, a sign advertising businesses and activities within a redevelopment project area may be established. One such sign is permitted within each redevelopment project area.
B. Each such sign shall have a maximum area of eight hundred square feet and maximum height of forty-two feet.
C. Such signs shall be limited in number to one per freeway traversing the City of Commerce.
(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)
19.25.130 - Master sign plan.¶
A. A master sign plan shall be required for all new nonresidential development projects with three or more tenant spaces, or for any nonresidential development involving the reconstruction and reuse of existing buildings with three or more tenant spaces.
B. For the purposes of this section, a master sign plan shall be defined as an illustrative plan indicating the number, location, height, dimensions, orientation, materials, design, and colors of all proposed signage.
C. Approval of a master sign plan by the planning commission shall be required whenever the director or designee determines that a master sign plan is needed because of special project characteristics (e.g., the size of proposed signs, limited site visibility, a business within a business, the location of the site relative to major transportation routes, etc.) or when unique, creatively designed signs are being proposed and certain aspects of the sign's design (e.g., animation) might not otherwise be allowed. Supporting documentation to the satisfaction of the director shall be required when requesting a master sign plan.
(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)
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