Oakland, CA · Alameda County
Custom Signs in Oakland, CA
Custom signs for Oakland businesses, minutes from our shop.
Your local sign company in Oakland
From Downtown and Jack London Square to Temescal, Rockridge, and the Fruitvale, we design, manufacture, and install custom signs for Oakland businesses — and our Berkeley shop is just minutes up the road. Storefront channel letters, blade and projecting signs, monument signs, ADA and wayfinding packages, banners, and vehicle wraps, all built in-house and installed to Oakland code.
Signs we make for Oakland 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 Oakland
We design, fabricate, and install across Oakland's commercial corridors — including:
Oakland Sign Permits
Sign permits & code in Oakland
Who handles it: City of Oakland Bureau of Planning (Planning & Building Department), with building and electrical permits through Building Services.
Most new or altered business signs in Oakland need a zoning permit and Design Review before they can be built. Sign standards are set out in Oakland Planning Code Chapter 17.104. We take care of the design-review submittal and permits.
- New or altered business signs generally require a zoning permit and Design Review under Planning Code Chapter 17.136, followed by building/electrical permits.
- Total sign area is generally 1 sq ft per foot of lot frontage, capped at 200 sq ft in commercial zones and 300 sq ft in industrial zones.
- Freestanding signs are capped at 20 ft in many commercial and industrial zones (10 ft in others); attached signs can't exceed the height of the wall.
- Interior signs set 18 inches or more behind the window are exempt, and new billboards / off-site advertising signs are prohibited.
- Multi-tenant buildings can use a Master Sign Program for more flexibility across tenants.
Source: Oakland Planning Code Chapter 17.104 & 17.136.
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.
Oakland sign FAQs
Do I need a permit for a business sign in Oakland?
Most new or altered business signs need a zoning permit and Design Review (Planning Code Ch. 17.136). Some small or interior signs may be exempt — we confirm the thresholds with the Planning & Building Department before you order anything.
How much total signage am I allowed in Oakland?
Generally 1 sq ft of sign per foot of lot frontage, capped at 200 sq ft in commercial zones (300 in industrial), across all of your business signs. Multi-tenant buildings can use a Master Sign Program. We size everything to your specific lot and frontage.
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Serving Oakland and the greater Bay Area. Rather talk it through?