# Sign Regulations in Atwater, California

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Atwater, California, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Atwater, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/atwater
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Atwater/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.69SIRE)

## At a glance

Atwater, California regulates 43 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Freestanding Identification Signs in the Commercial center zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 250 sq ft, with a Min 10 ft behind public right-of-way setback (Sec. 17.69.540.A.1-6). Most commercial signs in Atwater require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Residential zones | 7 | 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| Multifamily zone | 4 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial zones | 4 | 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| Commercial center | 9 | 12 ft | 300 sq ft per sign | — |
| General commercial zone | 7 | 12 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Central commercial zone (C-C zone) | 7 | 8 ft | 200 sq ft (total per parcel or lot, all signs combined) | — |
| Industrial zones, Industrial Zone (M-1, M-2) | 5 | 50 ft | 600 sq ft | — |
| Planned development zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| Institutional uses | 4 | 20 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| Religious centers (churches) | 5 | 8 ft | 75% of sign area (must be combined with a permitted sign) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Residential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| For Sale or For Rent Real Estate Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft (per frontage) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-site; 1 per street frontage | — | 17.69.280.A.1 |
| For Sale, For Rent, or Open House Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft (each) | — | — | 3 | On-site | — | 17.69.280.A.2 |
| Construction Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residential development | On-site. 1 per residential development. | — | 17.69.290.A.1 |
| Subdivision Real Estate Sign | 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-site; 1 per street frontage. | — | 17.69.300 |
| Garage Sale Sign | 3 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | 2 | On private property, only during sale. | — | 17.69.420 |
| Temporary Political Sign (Residential Zone) | 3 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 2 per candidate/issue | Private property, with consent | — | 17.69.320.A |
| Non-commercial Sign | Same as for predominant use | Same as for predominant use | — | — | — | Private property | — | 17.69.460 |

### Commercial center

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Identification Sign | 12 ft | 250 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft behind public right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage, minimum 10 ft behind right-of-way. | — | 17.69.540.A.1-6 |
| Wall or Fascia Sign | — | 300 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per business frontage (+ max 1 secondary) | On business frontage | — | 17.69.540.B.1 |
| Canopy Sign | — | 30% of building frontage | — | — | 1 per business | On canopy | — | 17.69.540.B.3 |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 8 sq ft per side | — | Vertical clearance min 7’6” | 1 per business | Under canopy | — | 17.69.540.B.4 |
| Directional Sign (Exterior) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 2 per use | Exterior, up to 2 per use. | — | 17.69.540.C.1 |
| Directional Sign (Interior) | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | Any number | Interior; any number | — | 17.69.540.C.2 |
| Menu Sign | 6 ft | 48 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Drive-in/Drive-through restaurant | — | 17.69.540.D |
| Wall Menu Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Non drive-through restaurant, main entrance | — | 17.69.540.E |

### Central commercial zone (C-C zone)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | 1 per property, except in all listed prohibited areas. | — | 17.69.580.B.1 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On building facade, projected | — | 17.69.580.B.2 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage per tenant | On building frontage(s) | — | 17.69.580.B.3 |
| Canopy/Marquee Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | On canopy or marquee | — | 17.69.580.B.4 |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | Min vertical clearance 7.5 ft | 1 per building tenant | Under canopy | — | 17.69.580.B.5 |
| Building/Tenant Identification Plaque | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | On building | — | 17.69.580.B.6 |
| Window, Canopy, Marquee, Wall, Projecting, and Freestanding Signs (all combined) | — | 200 sq ft (total per parcel or lot, all signs combined) | — | — | Combined maximum | Per parcel/lot | — | 17.69.580.A.2 |

## Prohibited signs in Atwater

- It is unlawful to erect, locate, alter or relocate any sign within the City without first obtaining a sign permit or building permit from the building inspector and paying the required fees, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
- Signs that portray indecent or morally objectionable language or descriptions are prohibited.
- Signs or displays affixed to stationary motor vehicles, trailers, and similar devices where the primary purpose is advertising and intended to circumvent the ordinance are prohibited.
- Signs painted or mounted on roofs or placed above the roofline are prohibited.
- Nonpermanent or temporary signs attached to the outside of a structure for advertising purposes by hanging, nailing, posting, or similar methods are prohibited.
- Signs that simulate any traffic control signal or use words, symbols, characters, or designs that may cause a traffic hazard or nuisance by distracting or confusing a motorist or pedestrian are prohibited.
- Signs that cause glare, reflection, contain moving or rotating parts, or which flash, blink, or are otherwise animated are prohibited, except for clocks, time/temperature signs (with changes not more frequent than every five seconds), and barber poles not exceeding 10 feet in height.
- Signs not expressly permitted in a specific zone are otherwise prohibited.
- Portable signs, including A-frame signs, are prohibited.
- Electronic message boards are prohibited if they display animated messages (flashing, blinking, fading, rolling, dissolving, or any effect giving appearance of movement), emit an audio message, display a message for less than 20 seconds, have a transition between messages that is not instantaneous, or display incomplete messages requiring continuation by fading, scrolling, etc.
- Persons, including costumed persons, holding signs for the purpose of advertising a commercial enterprise (e.g., sign spinners, mascots, clowns) is prohibited.
- Commercial flags, banners, or any signs attached to poles with the intent to flap in the wind are prohibited.
- No sign shall be attached to any City street tree, utility pole, street signal, street light, street name sign, traffic warning sign, bus shelter, or similar device or facility.
- All signs must comply with adopted City codes and standards.
- All signs shall remain out of the City's recognized clear zones and public rights-of-way, and no sign shall constitute a vehicular traffic hazard by distracting or confusing a motorist.
- Signs installed, substantially altered, or relocated contrary to the ordinance are in violation and subject to enforcement and abatement.

## Signs exempt from permit in Atwater

- Flags or insignia of any government, unless displayed in connection with a commercial promotion.
- Memorial signs or tablets containing names of buildings and dates of erections.
- Public utility signs regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.
- Legal notices, identification, information or directional signs erected by governmental agencies.
- Christmas decorations and lights displayed from November 15 to January 15.
- Signs less than six feet in height (measured from the finished grade to the top of the sign) are exempt from a building permit, but are still subject to the provisions of the ordinance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs except exempt signs are subject to Planning Department review and approval; submittals must be on Planning Department forms with required drawings.
- Uniform Design Standards must be established at the site plan, use permit, or initial development plan review stage for commercial centers containing 5,000 square feet or more, and all subsequent signs must comply with those standards.
- In Planned Development zones, all signs must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission as part of the Final Development Plan or by the Planning Department thereafter.
- Electronic message boards require approval through a conditional use permit.
- Signs in scenic corridors, institutional, religious, and certain other zones/uses require specific review or approval for design, construction materials, or permits by the Planning Department or Planning Commission.
- A variance from sign requirements may be granted by the Planning Commission as per Section 17.74 of the Municipal Code.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 11 zoning districts in Atwater — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Atwater+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-atwater

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