# Sign Regulations in California City, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** California City, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/california-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/California_City/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT8BURE_CH8SICO)

## At a glance

California City, California regulates 14 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 ft. (18 ft. for commercial centers) tall, 80 sq. ft., and 12 ft. wide, with a 10 ft. from property lines; 20 ft. apart. setback (Sec. Sec. 9-4.403). Most commercial signs in California City require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 30 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| R-1, Interim Zones | 5 | 2 ft. above grade | 32 sq. ft. each | — |
| Agricultural Zones | 1 | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 12 ft. (18 ft. for commercial centers) | 80 sq. ft. | 12 ft. | 10 ft. from property lines; 20 ft. apart. | — | Not within rights-of-way without City Council approval; 10 ft. minimum from property lines; 20 ft. apart. | — | Sec. 9-4.403 |
| Pole Sign | 30 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from property lines; 25 ft. apart. | — | Not to extend into street/right-of-way or across property lines. | — | Sec. 9-4.404 |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq. ft. | Length not more than 3x width | — | — | Attached flat against building, parallel thereto. May also be below soffit/perpendicular with 12 in. clearance to soffit, 8 ft. vertical clearance along pedestrian ways. | — | Sec. 9-4.405 |
| Subdivision/Residential Project Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to entrance gateway structure or monument; located in landscaped area at primary entrance. | — | Sec. 9-4.406 |
| Institutional Sign - Monument | 6 ft. | — | — | — | Max 2 per frontage, max 6 per lot | On property of institution, not in right-of-way. | — | Sec. 9-4.408 |
| Institutional Sign - Wall | Not beyond roof line/parapet | — | — | — | Max 2 per frontage, max 6 per lot | On property of institution, not in right-of-way. | — | Sec. 9-4.408 |
| Political Sign (up to 32 sq. ft.) | — | 32 sq. ft. (building permit required if larger) | — | — | — | Anywhere on private property with permission; allowed in rights-of-way (not medians) per conditions. | — | Sec. 9-4.307 |
| On-site Traffic Control Sign | 6 ft. | — | — | — | — | On-site, as needed for egress/regulation. | — | Sec. 9-4.303(p) |

### R-1, Interim Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Name and Occupation | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | 15 ft. from street or property line. | 1 per lot | Attached parallel to front wall of building. | — | Sec. 9-4.401(a) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign - For Sale/Lease/Rent (up to 1 year) | 2 ft. above grade | 4 sq. ft. | — | 15 ft. from street or property line. | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 9-4.401(b) |
| Construction Sign | 2 ft. above grade (bottom) | 4 sq. ft. | — | 15 ft. from street or property line. | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 9-4.401(c) |
| Other Sale/Lease/Hire Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | 15 ft. from street or property line. | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 9-4.401(d) |
| Development/Subdivision Sale Signs | — | 32 sq. ft. each | — | 15 ft. from street or property line. | 2 per lot | — | — | Sec. 9-4.401(e) |

### Agricultural Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Product Sign | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from ultimate street right-of-way. | 1 per legal lot | On-site (same property as products raised/produced). | — | Sec. 9-4.407 |

## Prohibited signs in California City

- Wind activated signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Signs not specifically permitted by this chapter are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to constitute a traffic or pedestrian hazard.
- Illuminating lights shall be shielded from the direct view of traffic.
- The words 'stop,' 'look,' 'danger,' or any other word of similar import, shall not be used if they would confuse or mislead traffic.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of public streets within the triangular area formed by connecting two points twenty-five (25) ft. from intersecting lines, unless the sign faces are less than 2.5 ft or more than 8 ft above curb grade and its support has a maximum horizontal dimension of not more than 1 ft.

## Signs exempt from permit in California City

- Signs prohibiting trespassing and hunting or fishing not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Warning signs required by law or erected by public agencies, including railroad signal signs.
- Utility company signs identifying public telephones, cables, conduits, or hazards.
- Public notices and announcements authorized by courts or public officials, including highway directional signs.
- Street location signs and other public directional signs and signs of an instructive nature required by enforcement agencies, not exceeding four square feet in area and 30 inches in height.
- Advertising signs on buses and taxis and signs attached to bus stops and shelters.
- Signs painted on or attached flat against vehicles which identify or advertise a business, provided the vehicle is primarily used for business and parked on private property as a normal function.
- Window display signs limited to painting signs on glazing or placards attached to inside storefront windows, as long as glazing is not covered in excess of 50%.
- Signs not visible outside the limits of the lot upon which the sign is located.
- Residential name and address signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Portable, temporary, off-site directional real estate signs used for open house activities, not exceeding 2.5 ft in height, 4 sq. ft. in area, and not located in road or street right-of-way; only displayed when real estate is open for inspection.
- The official flag of a government, government agency, public institution, religion, corporation or similar entity, limited to one flat pole (no more than three flags), max height 30 ft, max flag dimension 8 ft, not attached to the building.
- Flags flown on a temporary basis for the purpose of honoring declared national or civic holidays that do not exceed 8 ft in the largest dimension.
- Signs placed on public property pursuant to a signed lease or agreement.
- Electronic time and temperature signs as part of an on-site advertising sign, as regulated by development standards.
- Exit, entrance, or other on-site traffic control signs not exceeding 6 ft in height and containing no advertising.
- Sign regulations may be waived if the signs are included as part of a project for which a Planned Unit Development (PUD) plan is required.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No permanent and temporary sign shall be erected or maintained without a sign permit.
- Applications for a sign permit for permanent signs require plans showing position of the sign, design, size, colors, and location on the premises.
- For signs included as part of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) plan, sign regulations may be waived.
- Applications for sign permits must include information on all existing signs on the premises.
- A plan (two copies) is required for permanent sign applications showing details per Sec. 9-4.302(a).

## Full detail

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/california-city