San Francisco, CA · San Francisco County
Custom Signs in San Francisco, CA
Bay Area sign expertise, across the bridge in San Francisco.
Your local sign company in San Francisco
We bring 20+ years of Bay Area sign experience across the bridge to San Francisco — channel letters, blade signs, storefront signs, and awnings for businesses from Union Square and the Financial District to the Mission, the Marina, and the Sunset. SF's multi-department sign review is involved; we manage Planning, Building, and right-of-way approvals so your sign goes up permitted and to code.
Signs we make for San Francisco 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 San Francisco
We design, fabricate, and install across San Francisco's commercial corridors — including:
San Francisco Sign Permits
Sign permits & code in San Francisco
Who handles it: SF Planning reviews zoning compliance, the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) issues the permit, and Public Works approves any sign over the public sidewalk.
A permit is required to install, replace, or relocate most exterior business signs and all awnings in San Francisco. Rules live in Planning Code Article 6, and review runs across several departments at the Permit Center. We coordinate the whole thing.
- Most exterior business signs and all awnings need a permit; non-commercial signs and a short list of temporary/maintenance items are exempt (Planning Code §603).
- In smaller neighborhood-commercial districts (NC-1), wall signs are limited to 50 sq ft or 1 sq ft per foot of frontage, whichever is less; larger NC-2 districts allow up to 100 sq ft.
- Projecting 'blade' signs in neighborhood-commercial districts are capped at 24 sq ft.
- New billboards and general advertising signs have been banned citywide since 2002 (Prop G, Planning Code Sec. 611).
- One application can cover up to five identical signs; illuminated signs need a separate electrical permit.
Source: SF Planning Code Article 6 (Signs).
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.
San Francisco sign FAQs
Do I need a permit for my sign or awning in San Francisco?
Yes for most exterior business signs and all awnings — you'll go through Planning and DBI via the Permit Center. Non-commercial signs and certain temporary or maintenance items are exempt (Planning Code §603). We manage the multi-department review for you.
Can I put up a billboard or large advertising sign in SF?
No — San Francisco has banned new general advertising signs (billboards) citywide since 2002 (Prop G / Planning Code Sec. 611). On-premises business signs are allowed within your district's size and height limits, which we design to.
Get a San Francisco, CA Quote
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Serving San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. Rather talk it through?