The City of Glendale has officially adopted its first Mural Ordinance which will take effect in October 2026. More than five years in the making, the ordinance marks a significant milestone for arts and culture in Glendale, creating a new framework to support and celebrate public art throughout the city. As a regional leader in developing a formal ordinance for murals on private property, Glendale has established a model for other municipalities to consider and utilize as they develop their own policies.
The Mural Ordinance is intended to update the existing mural design review standards and establish a clear set of procedures for mural installation, maintenance, and de-installation. It provides a permitting procedure pursuant to which murals may be installed on existing public and/or private structures.
“Public art has the power to transform spaces, tell our community’s stories and create a stronger sense of place,” said Director of Library, Arts & Culture Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada. “This ordinance provides the clarity and structure needed to support murals while preserving the creativity and artistic expression that make them meaningful.”
The City has launched an online Mural Permit Application via the Glendale Permits Portal that creates a transparent process for submitting mural permit applications with the intention of expediting the mural approval process.
On September 29, 2026, City Council approved a Resolution which stated that the first 100 applications for murals that can be seen from the public right of way will be charged the Mural Design Review Fee – Small Commercial Business/Non-profit fee (regardless of commercial business size) with the intention to promote the expansion of murals across Glendale.
For more information about the Mural Ordinance and Mural Permit Application, please visit glendaleartsandculture.org/murals.
