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City of Sacramento Public Art Forms & Policies

Murals in the City of Sacramento: Guidance and Best Practice

General Provisions

In cases where the property owner is the City of Sacramento, mural projects must follow the established Temporary Public Art Policy or projects run through Art in Public Places have a city process in place. For more information about the Temporary Public Art Policy, click here.

The City of Sacramento does not currently have a formal policy for murals created on private property.

The following information is a living resource of best practices and guidance. This page will be updated as changes and modifications are made through public input, city staff input, and practical experience.

This page will be helpful if you are considering a mural on your own, or on another’s private property in the City of Sacramento.

  1. PAY YOUR ARTISTS. ARTWORK IS REAL WORK- APP suggests that artists be fairly compensated for their time, talent, and labor.
  2. CONSTRUCT A CLEAR AGREEMENT WITH YOUR ARTISTS / PROPERTY OWNER - Permission for murals must be granted by the property owner. It is best to have written documentation of this agreement and the agreed-upon terms of production/installation signed by the artist and the property owner.
  3. NOTIFICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – Not all mural projects are collaborative community mural projects. However, it is a good practice to always have some level of engagement especially with the adjacent and near by property owners who will see and interact with the mural each day. Minimally, you should share your design plans with these neighbors and ask if they have any comments or questions. You don’t need “approval”, but people like to at least be considered when something is happening in their community. Please note that you are not required to change your design to accommodate input from the public, but it may be beneficial to know what the community response is to your proposed design.
  4. HISTORIC DISTRICTS - Sacramento boasts many beautiful historic buildings and historic districts. We also enjoy vibrant and exciting murals throughout the city. To help protect both of these, it is necessary to understand if your proposed mural is within a historic district. If the building has unpainted brick, stone, or other masonry surfaces, or includes historic windows or doors, or is 45-years old or older, please contact the City’s Historic Preservation staff before painting. Property owners or artists should email a photo of the proposed mural location and the property address to: preservation@cityofsacramento.org. You can also verify if your property is in an historic district by looking at the City of Sacramento's GIS Map of Historic Districts. This quick check helps ensure Sacramento’s murals continue to enhance the city’s visual landscape while protecting its historic fabric. Failure to perform this check could result in the mural needing to be removed.
  5. SIGNAGE AND ADVERTISING - Murals in any area of the city which are signage or advertising in nature require a permit. For details and information please review the City of Sacramento Code of Ordinances regarding signs: Chapter 15.148 SIGNS
  6. ENCROACHMENT PERMITS – While the mural itself does not require a permit, if you block the public right-of-way during the installation with scaffolding, lifts, or other equipment, you will need an encroachment permit and you will be required to protect passers-by with cones and/or other traffic controls. Minor Permits | City of Sacramento

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