# Sign Regulations in Colton, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Colton, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/colton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-26
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Colton/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT18ZO_CH18.50SI)

## At a glance

Colton, California regulates 12 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the Residential Signs (RE and R-1 Zones) zoning district are capped at Roofline tall and 6 sf (Sec. Table 18.50-2). Most commercial signs in Colton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Signs (RE and R-1 Zones) | 1 | Roofline | 6 sf | — |
| Multiple-family Residential Signs (R-2, R-3, MU-D & MU-N Zones) | 3 | 8 ft. | 6 sf | — |
| Nonresidential Signs | 5 | 50 ft. | 500 sf | — |
| Business Districts (per Zoning Map Overlay) | 1 | 35 ft. | 672 sf (cumulative area - max. 2 sign faces) | — |
| Gateway | 1 | 55 ft. | 1,344 sf (cumulative area - max. 2 sign faces of 672 sf each) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### Residential Signs (RE and R-1 Zones)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Roofline | 6 sf | — | — | 1/home | 1/home | — | Table 18.50-2 |

### Multiple-family Residential Signs (R-2, R-3, MU-D & MU-N Zones)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign, project identification | Roofline | 6 sf | — | — | 1/frontage, either type | 1/frontage, either type | — | Table 18.50-2 |
| Freestanding Sign, project identification | 8 ft. | 6 sf | — | — | 1/type | 1/type | — | Table 18.50-2 |
| Wall Sign, tenant | Roofline | 4 sf | — | — | 1/tenant | 1/tenant | — | Table 18.50-2 |

### Nonresidential Signs

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Roofline | — | — | — | 1/Each Public Frontage for storefront tenants with an exclusive exterior entrance. | 1/Each Public Frontage for storefront tenants with an exclusive exterior entrance. | — | Table 18.50-2 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 6 ft. | 50 sf | — | — | 1/Street Frontage | 1/Street Frontage | — | Table 18.50-2 |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign | 20 ft. | 50 sf | — | — | — | — | — | Table 18.50-2 |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of window area per building elevation | — | — | 1/Window per building elevation per establishment | 1/Window per building elevation per establishment | — | Table 18.50-2 |
| Freestanding freeway-oriented pylon Sign | 50 ft. | 500 sf | — | — | 1/site w/minimum 150 ft. freeway frontage | 1/site w/minimum 150 ft. freeway frontage | — | Table 18.50-2 |

## Prohibited signs in Colton

- Signs painted or mounted on roofs or placed above the roof line (except for roof parapet walls and mansard roofs)
- Animated Signs and flashing Signs, with the exception of time and temperature signs and electronic reader Signs
- Commercial Flags, pennants, Banners, balloons or other paraphernalia composed of paper, cloth or other flexible material, unless otherwise permitted
- Signs which rotate, move, reflect, blink or incorporate elements that do so, except time and temperature Signs and electronic reader Signs
- Off-Premises Advertising Displays (billboards), except as otherwise provided
- Signs placed on the public right-of-way or affixed to an element or structure on the public right-of-way, except where required by a governmental agency or permitted as part of Kiosk Sign program, Gateway Sign or Business District Sign
- Portable Signs, including A-frame Signs, unless otherwise permitted
- Inflatable Balloon Signs, including, but not limited to individual balloons, balloon strings, and other inflatables made of a flexible material and inflated so as to be lighter than air, except when part of a bona fide special event Approved through a Special Events Permit
- Can Signs, except as allowed by Section 18.50.090.B.3.f
- Pole Signs and other freestanding Signs constructed with a single supporting pole that is not covered with architectural cladding or other covers so as to appear as a solid base or structure, or supported by one or more structural elements that are less than one-fourth the width of the Sign Face
- Signs made of paper and placed on the exterior of a building and handwritten Signs/flyers placed in windows
- Signs located in the public right-of-way or located on a publicly owned tree, fence, or utility pole or otherwise posted on public property
- Signs made of neon, except that neon tubing may be used as a source of illumination, provided it is behind the face of the Sign, or used as a logo, or included as part of an interior window sign
- Signs affixed to vehicles where the primary purpose of the vehicle is advertising
- Signs exceeding two square feet in area carried by individuals while standing, sitting or traveling along any public sidewalk, other public property or any private property when visible from a public right-of-way
- Signs attached to light standards unless part of a Uniform Sign Program
- Beacons, except when part of a bona fide special event approved through a Special Events Permit
- Painted Signs (which does not include Murals or temporary Window Signs), except where attached to building walls and it is determined that the Sign is complementary to an overall building design and approved through a Sign Permit at the discretion of the Director of Development Services

## Signs exempt from permit in Colton

- Official traffic Signs or other municipal governmental Signs, legal notices, advertisements prescribed by law and placed by governmental entities, and Signs indicating the location of buried utility lines or any notice posted by a governmental officer in the scope of his duties
- Street address Signs consistent with Section XIV(B) of Security Ordinance Number 0-13-89, notwithstanding anything in this section, may be illuminated and may contain reflective paint or material
- Direction, warning or information Signs or structures required or authorized by law, or by federal, state, county, or City authority
- Noncommercial Flags attached to poles that identify the United States, the state of California and other countries and states, counties and municipalities, nationally recognized organizations or corporations, and any other vertical or horizontal flag with no text, characters, or other message
- Historical and/or memorial tablets and identification plaques installed by or on behalf of a recognized governmental historical agency
- Permanent Window Signs not exceeding four square feet per Street Frontage
- Time and temperature Signs containing no advertising Copy
- Interior Signs within a structure not visible from the exterior of the structure, except temporary Window Signs
- Signs and advertising for the California State Lottery as authorized by California Government Code, Section 8800 et seq.
- Kiosk Signs and other similar identification Signs placed on City property and Approved by the Planning Commission and/or City Council that are used to identify and promote economic development efforts or significant commercial enterprises in the City
- Signs carried by individuals while standing, sitting, or traveling along any public sidewalk or other public property not to exceed two square feet
- Signs placed within community sports facilities as defined in Section 12.24.141
- Construction Signs are allowed on private property outside of the public right-of-way and any required clear vision triangle
- Future Tenant Signs
- Real estate for sale or rental Signs provided they are not located in the public right-of-way
- Directional Signs whose function is guiding traffic, parking, and loading on private property, with no advertising/Commercial Message
- Nameplates identifying (and Copy limited to) the address of the Building, property, or tenant to a maximum of one square foot per Sign
- Political signs complying with the following regulations

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Uniform Sign Program shall be required for all new multi-tenant developments of three or more separate tenants that share either the same parcel or structure and use common Access and parking facilities
- Gateway Signs, Business District Signs and Off-Premises Advertising Displays (Billboards) shall require approval of a Conditional Use Permit by the Planning Commission
- Review and Approval of a Uniform Sign Program is the responsibility of the Planning Commission
- The Uniform Sign Program shall include criteria for building-attached and freestanding Signs, including Directional Signs, for tenants, anchors, and the integrated development itself to establish consistency of Sign type, location, Logo and/or letter height, lines of Copy, illumination, and construction details of Signs for the project

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

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