# Sign Regulations in Bishop, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bishop, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/bishop
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Bishop/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT10VETR_CH10.16TRCODE_10.16.090PUWODIERSTSI)

## At a glance

Bishop, California regulates 12 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the Downtown Bishop Specific Plan area zoning district are capped at 8.5 ft. minimum clearance from ground tall, 32 sq. ft. (includes both sides), and May not project further than 6 ft. from the building wide, with a No setback required setback (Sec. 17.85.040 Table, 17.85.050.C.4). Most commercial signs in Bishop require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Downtown Bishop Specific Plan area | 12 | 8.5 ft. minimum clearance from ground | 60 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 20 ft. | 60 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Downtown Bishop Specific Plan area

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | 8.5 ft. minimum clearance from ground | 30 sq. ft. | — | No setback required | Multiple | Ground floor facade, must not project beyond, above, or below the face of the awning | — | 17.85.040 Table, 17.85.060, 17.85.050.C.4 |
| Marquee Sign | 8.5 ft. minimum clearance from ground | 60 sq. ft. | — | No setback required | 1 per building frontage | Ground floor facade, no extension above roof or parapet line | — | 17.85.040 Table |
| Projecting Sign | 8.5 ft. minimum clearance from ground | 32 sq. ft. (includes both sides) | May not project further than 6 ft. from the building | No setback required | 1 per business frontage | Ground floor facade, subject to height limitations | — | 17.85.040 Table, 17.85.050.C.4 |
| Wall Sign | No higher than parapet of the building | 30 sq. ft. | — | No setback required | Multiple | On building wall it identifies | — | 17.85.040 Table, 17.85.040.A.2, 17.85.050.C.4 |
| Neon Signage | No higher than parapet of the building | 30 sq. ft. | — | N/A | 1 per business frontage | On building | — | 17.85.040 Table, 17.85.060.F.3 |
| Temporary Banner | 8.5 ft. minimum clearance from ground | 30 sq. ft. | — | N/A | 1 per building frontage | Ground floor facade only | — | 17.85.040 Table |
| Monument Sign | 5 ft. from ground | 30 sq. ft. | — | N/A | 1 per building frontage | Freestanding with solid base, on the property | — | 17.85.040 Table |
| Murals as Signage | In consultation with city | In consultation with city | — | N/A | In consultation with city | On building | — | 17.85.040 Table |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | 8.5 ft. minimum clearance from ground | 30 sq. ft. | — | No setback required | Multiple | Ground floor facade, must not project beyond, above, or below the face of the awning | — | 17.85.040 Table |
| Marquee Sign | 8.5 ft. minimum clearance from ground | 60 sq. ft. | — | No setback required | 1 per building frontage | Ground floor facade, no extension above roof or parapet line | — | 17.85.040 Table |
| Projecting Sign | 8.5 ft. minimum clearance from ground | 32 sq. ft. (includes both sides) | May not project further than 6 ft. from the building | No setback required | 1 per business frontage | Ground floor facade, subject to height limitations | — | 17.85.040 Table; 17.85.050.C.4 |
| Wall Sign | No higher than parapet of the building | 30 sq. ft. each (multiple allowed, subject to aggregate maximum for business) | — | No setback required | Multiple | On building wall it identifies | — | 17.85.040 Table; 17.85.040.A.2 |
| Neon Signage | No higher than parapet of the building | 30 sq. ft. | — | N/A | 1 per business frontage | On building | — | 17.85.040 Table, 17.85.060.F.3 |
| Temporary Banner | 8.5 ft. minimum clearance from ground | 30 sq. ft. | — | N/A | 1 per building frontage | Ground floor facade only | — | 17.85.040 Table |
| Monument Sign | 5 ft. from ground | 30 sq. ft. | — | N/A | 1 per building frontage | Freestanding with solid base, on the property | — | 17.85.040 Table |
| Murals as Signage | In consultation with city | In consultation with city | — | N/A | In consultation with city | On building | — | 17.85.040 Table |

## Prohibited signs in Bishop

- All forms of advertising statuary are prohibited in all zones.
- Moving image signs that blink, flash, shimmer, glitter, rotate, oscillate, move, or give the appearance of such motion are prohibited.
- Animated signs and commercial mascots are prohibited in all zones.
- Electronic message signs and centers with electronically controlled rotating messages on a timed schedule for changing copy more than 4 times per 24-hour period are prohibited (excluding electronic changeable message copy signs and traffic control signs).
- Ground-mounted signs installed or placed in the public right-of-way are prohibited (except government and community signs and commercial directory programs).
- Highly reflective and fluorescent (day-glow) signs are prohibited.
- Off-site signs are prohibited.
- Signs posted on trees, utility poles, traffic signposts, light posts, traffic signals, or any official traffic control device are prohibited (excluding approved decorative streetlight banners).
- Signs placed or maintained so as to interfere with free ingress to or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or parking lot are prohibited.
- Signs which simulate or imitate any traffic sign or signal, or which use words, symbols, or characters that interfere with, mislead, or confuse pedestrian or vehicular traffic are prohibited.
- Signs prohibited by a specific plan, master plan, area plan, or similar land use document adopted by the city council are prohibited.
- Vehicles used only for general signage, or parked where the primary purpose is to display a commercial message, are prohibited.
- Reflective and glossy materials are not allowed in sign construction.
- Plastic signs unable to withstand ultraviolet exposure are not permitted.
- Signs may not be placed on or project into public rights-of-way unless specifically permitted elsewhere.
- Feather flags (temporary attention getting devices such as feather flags, sign spinners, or inflatable attention devices) are not permitted.
- Billboards are not permitted.
- Abandoned signage (empty sign cabinets and out of business signage) must be removed within 30 days after business closure.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bishop

- Works of art, including murals, sculptures, and paintings, when not used as a sign or attention getting device, are exempt.
- Any public purpose/safety sign and any other notice or warning required by federal, state, or local law, regulation, or resolution are exempt.
- Temporary, noncommercial decorations or displays, and signs or other materials displayed on traditionally accepted civic, patriotic, and/or religious holidays are exempt provided they are maintained safely and attractively.
- Window signs not exceeding 40% of the total ground floor transparency, with one window sign per business, are exempt. Window signage is not allowed above the ground floor, and no illumination directed at window signs is allowed.
- Menu display boxes for drive-thru up to an aggregate of 15 square feet, subject to building and electrical codes, are exempt.
- Vehicle station fuel price signs required by state law (one sign per station not exceeding 12 square feet or as required by law, no information other than required/allowed by law, and not LED or internally illuminated) are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required prior to installation or display of any sign, except those exempted in Section 17.85.070.
- Permits for temporary signs may be approved on an annual basis provided the applicant submits a plan for all temporary signs for a 12-month period and the plan is approved by the planning department.
- For any approval of a sign not conforming strictly to standards, an exception may be granted by the approving authority with written findings, but not for prohibited signs.
- Design exceptions may not be approved for prohibited signs.
- Applications for sign permits must be made to the planning department using the provided form.
- Each business requires a separate sign permit.
- A permit is required for a change in business name on a sign.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Bishop, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bishop+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bishop

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