Berkeley, CA · Alameda County
Custom Signs in Berkeley, CA
Our home turf — signs built a few blocks from your storefront.
Your local sign company in Berkeley
Our shop is right here in Berkeley on University Avenue, so when we say we're a local sign company, we mean it. For 20+ years we've designed, built, and installed custom signs for Berkeley businesses — from Shattuck Avenue storefronts and Telegraph Avenue retail to Fourth Street boutiques and the West Berkeley maker district. Channel letters, blade signs, monument signs, ADA and wayfinding, vehicle graphics — fabricated in-house and installed to code.
Signs we make for Berkeley businesses
Interior Signage
Window graphics, wall decals, lobby signs, and dimensional letters for any indoor space
Exterior Signage
Building signs, channel letters, monument signs, and outdoor displays built to last
ADA & Wayfinding
ADA-compliant signs, Braille, tactile lettering, and directional wayfinding systems
Services
Design, installation, maintenance, and repair. We handle the whole job.
Specialty Signs
Vehicle wraps, digital displays, trade show graphics, and corporate identity programs
Neighborhoods & districts we serve in Berkeley
We design, fabricate, and install across Berkeley's commercial corridors — including:
Berkeley Sign Permits
Sign permits & code in Berkeley
Who handles it: City of Berkeley Planning & Development Department — Land Use Division for Design Review, then Building & Safety for the building permit.
Most exterior business signs in Berkeley go through a two-step process: Design Review of the sign first, then a building permit. Sign standards live in Berkeley Municipal Code Title 20. We handle both steps so you don't have to.
- Most storefront signs need Design Review through the Land Use Division (510-981-7410), then a building permit from Building & Safety (510-981-7500).
- In commercial districts (C-1 / C-2 / C-3), wall signs are limited to 15% of the building face, up to 150 sq ft; ground signs to 1 sq ft per foot of street frontage, up to 200 sq ft.
- Projecting signs may extend up to 5 ft from the wall, with at least 8 ft of clearance above the sidewalk.
- Pole signs, ground signs over 20 ft tall, and signs above the third floor (or 40 ft) are prohibited.
Source: Berkeley Municipal Code Title 20 (§§ 20.16, 20.24).
Sign codes change and every address is different — these notes are a starting point, not legal advice. We confirm the current requirements for your exact zoning district and frontage before we fabricate anything.
Berkeley sign FAQs
Do I need a permit for a storefront sign in Berkeley?
Almost always. Most exterior business signs require Design Review through the Planning Department's Land Use Division and then a building permit — only a narrow list of signs is exempt (BMC 20.16.090). We manage the full process for you and confirm the current requirements with the City before fabrication.
How big can my sign be in Berkeley?
In Berkeley's commercial districts, wall signs are generally capped at 15% of the building face (up to 150 sq ft) and ground signs at 1 sq ft per foot of street frontage (up to 200 sq ft). Your exact zone and frontage set the real limit, so we verify with Planning before we build.
Get a Berkeley, CA Quote
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Serving Berkeley and the greater Bay Area. Rather talk it through?