# Sign Regulations in Colfax, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Colfax, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/colfax
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Colfax/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_ARTIVGEDERE_CH17.112SI)

## At a glance

Colfax, California regulates 24 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Street Numbers in the Commercial District (CR), Highway Commercial District (CH), Industrial District (I) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 2 sq. ft., with a Below roof line or 10' from property line setback (Sec. Table: Commercial/Industrial Sign Standards). Most commercial signs in Colfax require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1-20, R-1-10, R-1-5, RM-1, R-M-2, R-MHS, mobilehome subdivision, mobilehome park) | 3 | 6 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial District (CR), Highway Commercial District (CH), Industrial District (I) | 13 | As determined pursuant to section 17.40.070 | 120 sq. ft. | — |
| Agricultural District (A) | 5 | 6 ft | 4 sq. ft. | — |
| Historic District (H) | 7 | 35 ft measured from ground level to top of sign | 120 sq. ft. | — |
| Open Space District (O) | 2 | 6 ft | 2 sq. ft. | — |
| Special Public Service District (SPSD) | 2 | 6 ft | 2 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 6 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Commercial District (CR), Highway Commercial District (CH), Industrial District (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Numbers | 6 ft | 2 sq. ft. | — | Below roof line or 10' from property line | 1 | Below roof line or 10' from property line, where reasonable and applicable | — | Table: Commercial/Industrial Sign Standards |
| Civic Sign (Wall/Flat/Freestanding) | 6 ft | — | — | 10' from property line | 1 | 10' from property line, where reasonable and applicable | — | Table: Commercial/Industrial Sign Standards |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq. ft. | — | 10' from property line | 1 | 10' from property line, where reasonable/applicable or within a window/on wall | — | Ch. 17.112.180(C); Table: Commercial/Industrial Sign Standards |
| Future Tenant Identification Sign | As determined pursuant to section 17.40.070 | As determined pursuant to section 17.40.070 | — | As determined | 1 | As determined | — | Table: Commercial/Industrial Sign Standards |
| Roof Sign | 6 ft above roof line | — | — | 6 ft above roof line | 1 | 6 ft above roof line | — | Table: Commercial/Industrial Sign Standards |
| Freestanding Sign | As determined via 17.40.070. Bottom of sign must be 16' above ground | 120 sq. ft. | — | 10' from property line; bottom 16' above ground | 1 | 10' from property line, ground-mounted | — | Table: Commercial/Industrial Sign Standards |
| Freestanding Multi-tenant Sign | As determined via 17.40.070 | As determined via 17.40.070 | — | As determined | 1 | As determined | — | Table: Commercial/Industrial Sign Standards |
| Master Sign Program | As determined via 17.40.070 | 30 sq. ft. minimum per business; cumulative maximum 200 sq. ft. or five at 40 sq. ft. | — | 10' from property line | 1 | 10' from property line, where applicable | — | Table: Commercial/Industrial Sign Standards |

### Agricultural District (A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Civic Sign (Wall/Flat/Freestanding) | 6 ft | 3 sq. ft. | — | 10' from property line | 1 | 10' from property line, where reasonable and applicable | — | Table: Agricultural Sign Standards |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq. ft. | — | 10' from property line | 1 | 10' from property line, where reasonable and applicable | — | Table: Agricultural Sign Standards |
| Name Plate & Street Numbers (Wall/Flat/Freestanding) | 6 ft | 2 sq. ft. | — | 10' from property line | 1 | 10' from property line, where reasonable and applicable | — | Table: Agricultural Sign Standards |
| Agriculture Sign | 6 ft | 2 sq. ft. | — | 10' from property line or attached to wall | 1 | 10' from property line or attached to building wall | — | Table: Agricultural Sign Standards |
| Window Sign | — | Maximum 4 sq. ft.; Not to exceed 25% of window area | — | — | 1 | Within window | — | Table: Agricultural Sign Standards |

### Historic District (H)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Civic Sign (Wall/Flat/Freestanding) | 6 ft | 3 sq. ft. | — | 10' from property line | 1 | 10' from property line, where reasonable and applicable | — | Table: Historic District Sign Standards |
| Business Sign (Wall/Flat/Freestanding/Projecting/Window) | 6 ft above roof line | — | — | — | 1 | Wall/flat attached; Window sign within window; Projecting sign noted | — | Table: Historic District Sign Standards |
| Real Estate Sign (Wall/Flat/Freestanding) | 6 ft | 4 sq. ft. | — | 10' from property line or attached | 1 | Attached to building or 10' from property line, where reasonable and applicable | — | Table: Historic District Sign Standards |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | 35 ft measured from ground level to top of sign | — | — | 2' from curb line, 7' above walking surface | 1 | 2' from curb line of street/alley/vehicle access area | — | Table: Historic District Sign Standards |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 120 sq. ft. | — | 10' from property line | 1 | 10' from property line, where reasonable and applicable | — | Table: Historic District Sign Standards |
| Sandwich Board | 4 ft | — | — | — | 1 | On the property or business site | — | Table: Historic District Sign Standards |
| Window Sign | — | Maximum 4 sq. ft.; Not to exceed 25% of window area | — | — | 1 | Within the window | — | Table: Historic District Sign Standards |

## Prohibited signs in Colfax

- Any sign not in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 17.112 (the Sign Ordinance).
- Roof signs extending more than six feet above the eave or parapet line, except when approved as a complementary architectural feature (does not apply to integral roof signs).
- Beacons (any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere, or which rotates or moves).
- Signs emitting audible sounds, odors, or visible matter.
- Portable signs not specifically permitted by the provisions of this chapter.
- Signs within the public right-of-way except those permitted by a governmental agency, and otherwise permitted for digital billboard signs.
- Signs in any location that interferes with vehicular, bicycle, or pedestrian circulation or safety.
- Signs in proximity to utility lines that have less horizontal or vertical clearance from authorized communication or energized electrical power lines than that prescribed by state law or applicable regulations.
- Signs blocking driveways, door or window openings, or fire escapes.
- Electric reader board signs that are not exempt as interior signs or not otherwise specifically permitted (e.g., digital billboards, master sign program).
- Signs that simulate, by virtue of size, shape, color, lettering, or design, a traffic sign or signal, or with characters/graphics that interfere with or confuse motorists or pedestrians.
- Abandoned signs (signs not maintained for 30 days after notice, or pertaining to a business no longer in existence at that location).
- Any sign not structurally safe or not maintained in good condition.
- No sign may be attached or constructed so as to interfere with required building ventilation or in violation of fire or building codes.
- No sign that moves, swings, rotates, or creates the appearance of motion by chains or other devices.
- No temporary accessory or sandwich board sign and banner may be used at the same time for a business.
- Any sign exceeding permitted height, area, or location standards without permit/approval.
- No sign shall be illuminated with non-stationary or non-constant intensity/color light.
- No sign copy may continue after a business closes or the subject matter changes; such sign must be removed within 30 days.
- No sign, except as otherwise permitted, shall extend over a public right-of-way without an encroachment permit and required clearances.
- No hazardous or dangerous sign may remain after notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Colfax

- Official federal, state, or local government flags, emblems, and historical markers.
- Official federal, state, or local government traffic, directional, and information signs and notices issued by any court, person, or officer in performance of public duty.
- Temporary signs warning of construction, excavations, or similar hazards.
- Temporary holiday decorations.
- "No Trespassing" signs not more than one square foot in size, placed at each corner and entrance to a property and at intervals of not less than 100 feet.
- Parking lot and other private traffic directional signs not exceeding three square feet in area, limited to the guidance of pedestrian or vehicular traffic (restrictions apply for off-site use).
- For each service station, pricing and grade signs as required by the state.
- Legal or ordinance enforcement signs not exceeding three square feet in area and erected by private individuals or businesses and not otherwise regulated by the Code.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All sign applications are subject to sign review by the planning director for compliance with the ordinance. Unless expressly exempt, no sign may be erected, displayed, reconstructed, or altered until a sign permit is granted as set forth in this chapter.
- Signs associated with projects subject to design review must also have a sign permit from the planning director, reviewed as part of the design review process.
- Planning commission approval is required for sign applications combined with a project before the planning commission (e.g., conditional use permit, general plan amendment, rezone).
- A master sign program is required for a unified commercial area, such as a retail shopping, commercial, or business center, and must be processed prior to the installation of any signs in that area.
- Any sign that conforms to an approved master sign program may be approved by the planning director, but individual sign permits are still required.
- No signs shall be erected, placed, painted, or maintained except in conformance with an approved master sign program, if one exists, for that property; the master sign program is enforced as part of the sign ordinance.
- Amendments to a master sign program must be approved by the planning director.
- Revisions to a sign (other than copy/text) require a modification application per section 17.36.180.
- Sign permits may be appealed per Chapter 17.44.
- Any deviation from approved master sign program standards requires new approval; all individual signs within such a program remain subject to review/permitting.

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

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