City of Glendale Adopts First Ever Mural Ordinance Promoting Public Art Throughout the City
GLENDALE, CA –– 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.
About the Arts & Culture Commission
The mission of the Glendale Arts & Culture Commission is to enrich the human experience, reinforce Glendale’s identity and civic pride through arts and culture, and to recognize the importance of arts to our quality of life and to the local economy. This is accomplished by consciously integrating arts and culture into the daily life of the people of Glendale through urban design, planning, economic development, and education. For more information about the Glendale Arts & Culture Commission see the website: GlendaleArtsAndCulture.org
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ABOUT LIBRARY, ARTS & CULTURE
Founded in 1907, the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department includes eight neighborhood libraries including the Brand Library & Art Center, a regional visual arts and music library and performance venue housed in the historic 1904 mansion of Glendale pioneer Leslie C. Brand, and the Central Library, a 93,000 square foot center for individuals and groups to convene, collaborate and create. The department also serves as the chief liaison to the Glendale Arts and Culture Commission which works to continually transform Glendale into an ever-evolving arts destination. Glendale Library Arts & Culture is supported in part through the efforts of the Glendale Library Arts & Culture Trust (GLACT) GLACT.org. For more information visit GlendaleLAC.org, or contact Library, Arts & Culture at (818) 548-2021 or via email at LibraryInfo@GlendaleCA.gov.
@MyGlendaleLAC #MyGlendaleLAC
ABOUT GLENDALE
Known as the “Jewel City,” Glendale is the fourth largest city of Los Angeles County. With a population of almost 200,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers nearly 50 public parks & facilities, with easy access to a municipal airport. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, and banking. Visit GlendaleCA.gov for more information and follow us on social media @MyGlendale.
