# Sign Regulations in Blythe, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Blythe, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/blythe
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Blythe/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_TIT17ZO_DIVIIIDEPEST_CH17.26SI)

## At a glance

Blythe, California regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Portable Sign (A-Frame Sign)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall, 3 feet wide, 4 feet high (maximum for sign face), and 3 feet wide, with a Not within 5 feet of public street or intersection visibility area setback (Sec. 17.26.190). Most commercial signs in Blythe require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones, Medium-Density Residential Zones, High-Density Residential Zones | 6 | 6 feet | 8 square feet | — |
| Multiple-Family Residential Zones | 5 | 6 feet | 24 square feet per sign (one per entry; two per entry if single-faced) | — |
| Agricultural Zones, Commercial Zones, Industrial Zones | 6 | 50 feet; 75 feet if fronting Interstate-10 | 96 square feet | — |
| Public/Quasi-Public Zones | 1 | 50 feet | 96 square feet | — |
| Downtown Area | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 25 feet above grade; no part exceeds height of structure; may not extend more than 6 inches from wall; none on buildings with fewer than 5 units in residential zones | 32 square feet (no dimension exceeding 8 feet); aggregate for all semipermanent signs is 64 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Multiple-Family Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building-Mounted or Freestanding ID Sign (Complex ID) | 6 feet | 24 square feet per sign (one per entry; two per entry if single-faced) | 6 feet | — | Up to 2 per entry (if not double-faced) | Either building-mounted or freestanding; up to 2 per entry if single-faced, otherwise 1 per entry | — | 17.26.110.A |
| Pedestrian Entrance Sign | 6 feet | 9 square feet | 6 feet | — | 1 per entrance | Building-mounted or freestanding, within 30 feet of entrance, oriented to pedestrian traffic | — | 17.26.110.B |
| Freestanding Vehicular Entrance Sign | 6 feet | 9 square feet | 6 feet | — | 1 per vehicular entrance | Freestanding, within 30 feet of vehicular entrance, oriented to vehicular traffic | — | 17.26.110.C |
| Rental Information Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | 6 feet | — | 1 per street frontage (complexes 15+ units) | Permanent, 1 per street frontage; only for complexes with 15+ units | — | 17.26.110.D |
| Additional Permanent Signs | 6 feet | 24 square feet aggregate | 6 feet | — | Up to 3 (1 freestanding, 2 building-mounted) | Up to 1 freestanding and 2 building-mounted signs, total area not to exceed 24 sq ft | — | 17.26.110.E |

### Agricultural Zones, Commercial Zones, Industrial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Complex ID) | 50 feet; 75 feet if fronting Interstate-10 | 96 square feet | — | Not within 5 feet of street ROW or intersection cutoff area (see 17.26.100.A.1) | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage; must be on same lot as land use | — | 17.26.120.A.1; 17.26.140 |
| Building-Mounted Sign (Tenant ID) | 8 feet | — | — | — | 1 per tenant | Mounted flush with building; 1 per separate business | — | 17.26.120.A.2 |
| Building-Mounted Sign (General) | Within 2 feet of top of building face | — | — | — | 2 per building (1 per side) | Installed within 2 feet of the top of the face of building; 2 building-mounted signs per building max | — | 17.26.120.A.3 |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Under canopy; only if business fronts parking lot or street | — | 17.26.120.A.4 |
| Pedestrian Entrance Sign (Directional) | 6 feet if freestanding | 18 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance | Building-mounted or freestanding, within 30 feet of entrance, oriented to pedestrian traffic | — | 17.26.120.A.5 |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | 1 per window | One per window, affixed or applied to inside of glass | — | 17.26.120.A.6 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Semipermanent Sign | 8 feet (freestanding); on buildings, not higher than finished floor line of second floor or eave/top of wall on single-floor buildings | 32 square feet (no dimension exceeding 8 feet); aggregate for all semipermanent signs is 64 sq ft | 8 feet | — | Up to 10 per site | Freestanding or attached | — | 17.26.170 |
| Temporary Sign | 8 feet (or finished floor of second floor if on multi-story building) | 32 square feet (any sign); aggregate area on any lot not to exceed 32 sq ft | 8 feet | — | Up to 50 per permit | Freestanding or attached; must be >200 feet from another identical/similar temporary sign; not simultaneously visible within city boundaries | — | 17.26.180 |
| Banner (Temporary, Commercial/Industrial uses) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per building street frontage | Building wall; one per street frontage within 6 months of business opening; for 60 days max | — | 17.26.180.H |
| Portable Sign (A-Frame Sign) | 4 feet | 3 feet wide, 4 feet high (maximum for sign face) | 3 feet | Not within 5 feet of public street or intersection visibility area | 1 per business | Directly adjacent to business to which permit is issued; not within 5 feet of public street or intersection cutoff area; 6-foot clearance on sidewalk must be maintained | — | 17.26.190 |
| Art Mural | 25 feet above grade; no part exceeds height of structure; may not extend more than 6 inches from wall; none on buildings with fewer than 5 units in residential zones | — | — | — | No explicit limit | On walls meeting city location and zone qualifications | — | 17.26.160 |

## Prohibited signs in Blythe

- Any sign not in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
- Abandoned signs.
- Advertising vehicles.
- Signs affixed to vehicles parked on private property which collectively exceed two square feet, or two linear feet in any dimension.
- Commercial flags.
- Animated or flashing signs within twenty-five feet of or projecting into any public right-of-way.
- Portable commercial signs.
- Off-premises signs.
- Signs which identify or advertise activities which are illegal under federal, state, or local laws in effect at the location of such signs or activities.
- Building-mounted signs placed on or above the roof or above the eave line of any structure.
- Signs which purport to be, are an imitation of, or resemble an official traffic sign or signal.
- Signs which, by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination may be confused with or construed as a traffic-control sign, signal or device, or the light of an emergency vehicle, or which obstruct the visibility of any traffic or street sign or signal device.
- Signs that create a potential safety hazard by obstructing a clear view between any combination of vehicles and/or pedestrians.
- Balloon signs, inflatable animal or other figures, or other inflatable displays, whether tethered or not, except as otherwise permitted by a sign permit.
- Neon signs, except those specifically approved as an activity's major identification sign.
- Signs drawn or painted onto or otherwise affixed to trees or rocks unless specifically permitted in this chapter.
- Advertising statuaries.
- Translucent or transparent signs on internally illuminated awnings so that they allow light to shine through the letters of the copy.
- Any signs not specifically allowed in this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Blythe

- Signs which are designed and located such that they can be viewed exclusively from within a building or an enclosed outdoor area.
- Official notices issued by any court or public body or officer and notices posted by any public officer in the performance of a public duty or by any person giving legal notice.
- Directional, warning, or informational signs required by or authorized by law or by a governmental authority, including signs necessary for the operation and safety of public utility uses.
- Signs installed, owned, controlled, or maintained by the city and signs displaying information to the public on behalf of the city.
- Markings on pavement which are solely directional.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit shall be required for any sign, except as provided herein (17.26.040.C).
- A permanent sign permit is required for all permanent signs prior to erection or placement, unless otherwise exempted by this chapter (17.26.200.A).
- A semipermanent sign permit is required for all semipermanent signs prior to erection or placement, unless otherwise exempted by this chapter (17.26.200.B).
- A temporary sign permit is required for all temporary signs prior to erection or placement, unless otherwise exempted by this chapter (17.26.200.C).
- A portable sign permit is required for all portable signs prior to erection or placement, unless otherwise exempted by this chapter (17.26.200.D).
- Planned sign program review is required for submissions which: (a) include three or more permanent signs, (b) are in conjunction with review of a site development project by the planning director, or (c) include a request for a sign adjustment to a sign previously approved under a planned sign program (17.26.200.G.1).
- Art murals require an art mural permit, with application review by the art in public places committee and final approval by the city council (17.26.160.B–C).
- Sign applications must include sign plans indicating design and placement (17.26.200.E.5).
- Applications for adjustments to planned sign programs (e.g., sign area, number, location, height) must be submitted to the planning director and can be granted if consistent with code (17.26.200.H).

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

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