# Sign Regulations in Colusa, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Colusa, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/colusa
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Colusa/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=APXAZO_ART31OUADSIRE)

## At a glance

Colusa, California regulates 23 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Construction Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 32 sq ft per side, with a Min 10 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 31.03(a)(11)). Most commercial signs in Colusa require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft per street frontage | — |
| R-3, R-4 | 2 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| C-N | 7 | 25 ft or building main roof line, whichever is lower | See formula (max 50 sq ft per site) | — |
| C-G, C-H, M-U, M | 7 | 25 ft or building main roof line, whichever is lower | See formula (max 240 sq ft per site) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Name/Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 31.03(a)(1) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Flat against building wall | — | Sec. 31.03(a)(2) |
| For Sale, Rent, or Lease Sign (Residential Use) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale, rent, or lease | — | Sec. 31.03(a)(3) |
| For Sale, Rent, or Lease Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale, rent, or lease | — | Sec. 31.03(a)(3) |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft | 10 sq ft per side | — | — | 2 | — | — | Sec. 31.03(a)(4) |
| Temporary Banner Sign (New Business Establishment) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On site of new business establishment | — | Sec. 31.03(a)(5) |
| Construction Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per side | — | Min 10 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage | Property undergoing permitted construction | — | Sec. 31.03(a)(11) |
| Construction Sign (Longer Term Option) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | — | Property undergoing construction | — | Sec. 31.03(d) |

### C-N

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (C-N) | 25 ft or building main roof line, whichever is lower | See formula (max 50 sq ft per site) | — | — | — | Placed parallel to the wall, protrudes no more than 2 ft | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(1)(a) |
| Freestanding, Temporary, or Pole Sign (Minor Use Permit) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(2)(a) |
| Signs Above Roof Line (Minor Use Permit) | Up to district height limit | — | — | — | — | Above building roof line | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(2)(b) |
| Signs Exceeding Standards/Placement (Minor Use Permit) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(2)(c) |
| Prohibited/Exceptional Signs (Major Use Permit) - Option 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(3)(a) |
| Prohibited/Exceptional Signs (Major Use Permit) - Option 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(3)(b) |
| Prohibited/Exceptional Signs (Major Use Permit) - Option 3 | — | — | — | — | — | On vehicles, trailers, boats, storage boxes, etc. | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(3)(c) |

### C-G, C-H, M-U, M

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (C-G, C-H, M-U, M) | 25 ft or building main roof line, whichever is lower | See formula (max 240 sq ft per site) | — | — | — | Attached to building or approved structure, projects not more than 4 ft from wall | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(1)(b) |
| Freestanding, Temporary, or Pole Sign (Minor Use Permit) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(2)(a) |
| Signs Above Roof Line (Minor Use Permit) | Up to district height limit | — | — | — | — | Above building roof line | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(2)(b) |
| Signs Exceeding Standards/Placement (Minor Use Permit) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(2)(c) |
| Prohibited/Exceptional Signs (Major Use Permit) - Option 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(3)(a) |
| Prohibited/Exceptional Signs (Major Use Permit) - Option 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(3)(b) |
| Prohibited/Exceptional Signs (Major Use Permit) - Option 3 | — | — | — | — | — | On vehicles, trailers, boats, storage boxes, etc. | — | Sec. 31.03(c)(3)(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Colusa

- Signs which obstruct a fire escape or other required access.
- Signs which emit sound, with the exception of a permitted drive-through or menu sign.
- Signs which adversely affect traffic control or safety, including signs which interfere with visibility for drivers at an intersection, public right-of-way, or driveway.
- Signs which have less horizontal or vertical clearance from overhead utilities than required by state agencies.
- Signs which are illegible or which have become a public nuisance due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment.
- Signs which are unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained.
- Signs which contain obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit matter.
- Signs which violate federal, state or local laws.
- Signs painted directly onto the exterior wall of a commercial or industrial building, unless as a part of an artistic mural and subject to approval of a major use permit, or such painted sign serves as the sole form of identification of an organization or business on its premises, as approved by the planning director.

## Signs exempt from permit in Colusa

- Residential name and/or address signs (one per residence, not exceeding two square feet in size), if non-illuminated and kept in good repair.
- Home occupation signs, not exceeding two square feet, placed flat against building wall, if non-illuminated and kept in good repair.
- For sale, rent or lease signs (one per site street frontage, size limits as specified), if non-illuminated and kept in good repair, and removed upon sale or lease.
- Portable signs (maximum two per business or organization, limited in height and size), if non-illuminated and kept in good repair.
- Temporary banner signs (up to 32 square feet) installed during the application for a permanent business sign and removed when permanent sign is installed, if non-illuminated and kept in good repair.
- Temporary non-commercial signs (subject to size and duration limits), if non-illuminated and kept in good repair.
- Additional temporary sign for up to 72 hours during a one-time event at residential property (must be removed within 24 hours after the event), if non-illuminated and kept in good repair.
- Temporary signs not exceeding 32 square feet for non-commercial special or one-time events (subject to posting and removal timelines), if non-illuminated and kept in good repair.
- Official flags of any state, nation, or governmental entity displayed in accordance with the flag code.
- Changes to an on-premise sign face that do not structurally alter the sign or its size provided that the changes are consistent with regulations.
- Signs on property undergoing permitted construction (maximum size and height limits, one per street frontage), provided not illuminated and removed within 30 days of completion or expiration events.
- Traffic control, informational, or directional signs placed by public agencies so authorized, or by authorization of public agencies controlling such properties.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs may require approval through a minor use permit or use permit unless exempt as provided in Section 31.03(a).
- When signs do not comply with standard provisions and are proposed under variance situations (e.g., exceeding area, height, or different placement), approval through a use permit process is required (minor or major use permit as specified).
- Signs with painted murals as artistic displays require approval of a major use permit, as referenced in Section 31.04(i) and Section 31.03.c.3.
- Renewal of permits for construction signage beyond one year requires approval by the planning director.

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

---

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