# Sign Regulations in Chino, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chino, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/chino
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-26
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Chino/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT16SI)

## At a glance

Chino, California regulates 11 sign types across 1 zoning district. Bus Bench Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at No restriction tall and No restriction (Sec. Table 16.05-1—Sign Regulation Matrix).

## Sign rules by zoning district (1 zone)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 8 FT | 32 SF per sign face | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bus Bench Signs | No restriction | No restriction | — | — | One sign per bus bench | Placed on the bench's backrest | — | Table 16.05-1—Sign Regulation Matrix |
| Construction Site Identification Signs | 8 FT | 32 SF per sign face | — | — | One sign per boundary street frontage or one sign per site entry, up to a maximum of 2 signs | One sign per boundary street frontage or one sign per site entry, up to a maximum of 2 signs | — | Table 16.05-1—Sign Regulation Matrix |
| Customer Convenience Signs | No restriction | One SF per sign face | — | — | One sign affixed on or near each building entrance | One sign affixed on or near each building entrance | — | Table 16.05-1—Sign Regulation Matrix |
| Directional Signs for Churches (off-site) | As deemed appropriate by the City Engineer | 1.5 SF per sign face | — | — | Two signs per church | Attached to existing standards or posts in the street right-of-way | — | Table 16.05-1—Sign Regulation Matrix |
| Memorial Signs and Plaques | No restriction | One SF per sign face | — | — | As deemed appropriate by the Director of Community Development | As deemed appropriate by the Director of Community Development | — | Table 16.05-1—Sign Regulation Matrix |
| Name Plates | No restriction | One SF per sign face | — | — | One sign per unit | One sign per unit, affixed on or near a building entrance | — | Table 16.05-1—Sign Regulation Matrix |
| Property Address Signs | As deemed appropriate by the Director of Community Development | 2 SF per sign face | — | — | One sign per building or divided tenant space | One sign per building or divided tenant space | — | Table 16.05-1—Sign Regulation Matrix |
| Public Convenience Signs | No restriction | One SF per sign face | — | — | As deemed appropriate by the Director of Community Development | As deemed appropriate by the Director of Community Development | — | Table 16.05-1—Sign Regulation Matrix |

## Prohibited signs in Chino

- Signs that move, rotate, simulate motion, or designed or operated as to flash, scintillate or in any way simulate motion, excepting time and temperature signs, barber poles and electronic message boards
- Signs on a roof or above the roof line of a building or structure
- Signs painted on the wall of a building or structure within any residential or commercial zoning district
- Portable signs, except as otherwise expressly provided by this title
- Vehicle signs
- Off-site signs, except directional signs within the public right-of-way and publicly owned electronic message boards as otherwise provided by this title
- Rotating, revolving, or otherwise moving signs designed to attract attention by visual means through the movement or semblance of movement of the whole or any part of the sign, including rotation, special lighting or wind actuated devices, and signs that flash, blink or reflect light by means of a glossy, polished, or mirrored surface
- Searchlights (except as allowed by Subsection 16.05.050.E), open flames, pennants and loudspeakers used to call attention to a product, service or property
- Balloons and banners (except as allowed by Table 16.05.1)
- Signs which emit or amplify any sounds or noise
- Signs illuminated by lighting which changes in color or intensity of color
- Signs which generate particulate matter, including but not limited to, bubbles, smoke, fog, confetti or ashes
- Swooper signs
- Signs placed on, affixed to, or erected on or over public property, rights-of-way, or waterways, except signs which are exempt pursuant to Section 16.03.050
- Signs which identify or advertise a product or service not available on the premises, except off-site real estate signs allowed pursuant to Section 16.05.060
- Signs erected on roofs
- Internally illuminated signs with a directly exposed source of light and neon signs, except as may be allowed pursuant to Subsection 16.05.050.D
- Providing a border around the interior of a window consisting of neon/LED lighting
- Externally illuminated signs where the source of light is directly visible to pedestrians or vehicular traffic
- Signs which emit or reflect light by means of direct fluorescence, phosphorescence, or 'day-glow' colors
- Signs which obstruct the visual lines of sight at corners or intersections for drivers of motor vehicles
- Signs which may obstruct the free use of any exit, entrance, window, vent, emergency access, fire lane or standpipe
- Signs which may interfere with, obstruct, confuse or mislead traffic
- Any sign illumination which, in the opinion of the community development director, exhibits undue glare
- Signs affixed to trucks, automobiles, trailers or any other vehicle that advertise, identify or provide direction to a use or activity not related to its lawful making of deliveries or sales of merchandise or rendering of services from such vehicles. Parking of legitimate delivery, sales or service vehicles in an off-site location or on-site within a parking lot adjacent to a public street for the purpose of advertising
- Any sandwich board 'A' frame sign or other portable sign, except those signs allowed pursuant to Section 16.05.060
- Changeable copy signs except those specifically allowed by Section 16.05.060 of this title
- Any sign identifying a home occupation
- Any sign consisting of several sheets of paper connected together by perforations, tape, staples or any other means
- Any other signs not specifically allowed by provisions of this chapter; however, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any sign, notice or advertisement required by law

## Signs exempt from permit in Chino

- Name plates not exceeding one SF in area
- Public Convenience Signs not exceeding one SF in area
- Customer Convenience Signs not exceeding one SF in area
- Memorial Signs and Plaques installed by local civic and community service organizations recognized by the city council
- Traffic or Other Municipal Signs
- Utility Company Signs
- Property Address Signs
- Interior Signs not visible from the outside
- Official and Legal Notices issued by a court or governmental agency
- Official Flags of the United States of America, the State of California, the County of San Bernardino, and the City of Chino
- Political Signs in compliance with Table 16.05.1
- Signs on Fuel Pumps
- Construction Site Identification Signs in compliance with Table 16.05.1
- Real Estate Signs in compliance with Table 16.05.1
- Directional Signs for Churches in compliance with Table 16.05.1
- Future Tenant Identification Signs in compliance with Table 16.05.1
- Incidental signs for automobile repair shops, gasoline service stations and automobile dealers with service facilities in compliance with Table 16.05.1
- Bus bench signs, provided such signs only contain the name and/or insignia of local community service organizations recognized by the city council
- Window signs in compliance with Table 16.05.1, provided such signs are placed on the interior side of the window, except for holiday displays, which may be placed on the exterior side of the window
- Help wanted and employment available/opportunity signs in compliance with Table 16.05.1, provided such signs are placed only during the time an employment opportunity exists
- Banners placed on the fence of the Chino Junior Fairgrounds limited to one banner per street frontage
- Yard sale signs, provided that a maximum of three signs (one on-site and two off-site directional signs) are permitted
- Signs for public schools
- A-Frame (sandwich board) signs in compliance with Table 16.05.1, provided such signs do not exceed forty-two inches in height and twenty-four inches in width and are not placed in the public right-of-way or within any required landscaped area
- Balloons at private residences for a private party or event

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign program shall be required for all new commercial centers, industrial parks and complexes, multi-tenant commercial and industrial buildings, and residential subdivisions larger than three hundred acres
- An application for sign program approval shall be prepared and filed with the director of community development
- No sign, including copy change or a temporary sign, shall be placed, installed, constructed, displayed or altered without a sign plan approved by the city

## Full detail

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

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