# Sign Regulations in Barstow, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Barstow, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/barstow
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-26
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Barstow/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT5BURELI_CH5.70TROCFASIRA)

## At a glance

Barstow, California regulates 16 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freeway Oriented Signs in the Commercial District zoning district are capped at 50 feet tall and 300 square feet (Sec. Sec. 19.06.060(f)(3)). Most commercial signs in Barstow require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (Single-family) | 2 | 5 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| Multiple-family Residential District | 2 | 4 feet | 30 square feet | — |
| Diverse Use (DU) and Human Services (HS) Districts | 2 | 4 feet | 30 square feet | — |
| Commercial District | 4 | 50 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| Industrial District | 4 | 50 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| Open Space and PF Public Facilities Districts | 3 | 20 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| SP Specific Plan District | 1 | — | — | — |
| PUD Planned Unit Development | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 50 feet | 300 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freeway Oriented Sign | 50 feet | 300 square feet | — | — | 1 per parcel | Visible from freeway | — | Sec. 19.06.060(f)(3) |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign | 25 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Business frontage | — | Sec. 19.06.060(d)(4)b |
| Monument Sign | 5 feet | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Business frontage | — | Sec. 19.06.060(d)(4)b |
| Wall Sign | — | — | 75% of business frontage | — | 1 per street frontage | Each street frontage | — | Sec. 19.06.060(d)(4)c |

### Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freeway Oriented Sign | 50 feet | 300 square feet | — | — | 1 per parcel | Visible from freeway | — | Sec. 19.06.060(f)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Business frontage | — | Sec. 19.06.060(d)(5)b |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Business frontage | — | Sec. 19.06.060(d)(5)b |
| Wall Sign | — | — | 30% of business frontage | — | 1 per street frontage | Each street frontage | — | Sec. 19.06.060(d)(5)c |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 10 feet | Varies by type | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Private property | — | Sec. 19.06.060(e) |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of total window area | — | — | — | Commercial and industrial districts | — | Sec. 19.06.060(e) |
| Construction Site Sign | 10 feet | 48 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | All zone districts | — | Sec. 19.06.060(e) |
| Subdivision or Model Home Site Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per street entrance | Private property in subdivision | — | Sec. 19.06.060(e) |
| Non-commercial Temporary Sign | — | 4 square feet (residential), 25 square feet (non-residential) | — | — | — | Private property | — | Sec. 19.06.060(e) |
| Fueling Station Sign | 25 feet | 45 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Fueling station | — | Sec. 19.06.060(f) |
| Permanent Directional Sign | 42 inches | 4 square feet per face | — | — | — | Same parcel or center as the sign | — | Sec. 19.06.060(f) |
| Freeway Oriented Sign | 50 feet | 300 square feet | — | — | 1 per parcel | Visible from freeway | — | Sec. 19.06.060(f)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Barstow

- Off-site signs unless allowed in section 19.06.060(d)(f).
- Portable signs, such as 'A-Frame' or 'sandwich board' type sign structures.
- Signs that create a safety hazard by obstructing clear view of pedestrians and/or vehicular traffic.
- Roof signs are prohibited except when other signing alternatives are considered impractical or unreasonable by the director.
- Pennants and flags except as allowed for special events, promotional events and automobile dealers.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons except as allowed for special events.
- Animated or revolving signs where the physical structures or extensions of the sign structure are in motion.
- Signs or sign structures which, by color, text, location and/or shape conflict with a traffic control sign or device.
- Signs that depict specific sexual activities or specified anatomical parts as defined under chapter 19.24.
- Vehicle signs, unless the vehicle is used for transporting goods or for services for business purposes.
- Signs in the public right-of-way, except as approved by the city.
- Signs that make sounds, emit odors, produce smoke or beacons.
- Signs that contain fighting words or obscene language, or create a clear and present danger to the general public.
- Billboard signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Barstow

- Signs within a structure and not visible from outside.
- Non-advertising warning signs or trespassing signs on private property posted no closer than 100 feet apart not exceeding three square feet in area.
- Signs, flags, emblems, notices erected, or issued, by a constituted governmental body, public agency, court, person, or officer in performance of a public duty.
- Utility company signs not exceeding six square feet identifying conduits, cables, danger, or providing other such similar notice.
- Non-advertising displays, signs, and decorations commemorating municipal, state or nationally designated holidays.
- Property identification in compliance with section 12.20.060.
- One single-faced identification nameplate or sign on an apartment house, boarding or rooming house, or similar use, not exceeding six square feet in area.
- One nameplate or occupational sign denoting the name, occupation, address and telephone number of an occupant in a commercial building or public institutional building, provided that said sign does not exceed two square feet in area.
- Civic event signs are allowed on private property in all districts.
- Signs on a coin operated vending machine, telephone booth, news rack, or other such incidental signs.
- Incidental informational signs.
- Temporary signs posted prior to an election.
- Protected, non-commercial messages are expressly allowed wherever commercial messages are allowed.
- Shingle (projecting/under canopy) signs are allowed.
- Signs located on the site of a public school for grades K through 12 that is not regulated by the City of Barstow.
- Special event window signs not exceeding 25 percent of any window area.
- All signage located within any public park or public facility, including bus stop shelters.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Where specified in this code, certain signs shall require the approval of a conditional use permit prior to the issuance of a sign or construction permit.
- Sign programs shall be processed in a manner consistent with the review and approval of a conditional use permit pursuant to chapter 19.30.
- Requests to modify an approved sign program shall be through a conditional use permit modification.

## 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 9 zoning districts in Barstow — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Barstow+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-barstow

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