# Sign Regulations in Corning, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Corning, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/corning
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Corning/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.67OUADSIRE)

## At a glance

Corning, California regulates 24 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Welcome/Wayfinding Sign - Off-Premises in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall, 350 cubic ft, and 15 ft (incl. support structures) wide (Sec. 17.67.090). Most commercial signs in Corning require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 | 1 | — | 2 sq ft | — |
| R-2, R-3, R-4 | 2 | 4 ft | 32 sq ft per side | — |
| C-1 | 2 | 25 ft | 50 sq ft per side | — |
| C-2 | 5 | 35 ft | 75 sq ft per side | — |
| C-3, CH, SPMU, M-1, M-2 | 4 | 45 ft | 120 sq ft per side | — |
| Commercial Zones, Industrial Zones | 1 | 5 ft | 15 sq ft per side | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 30 ft | 350 cubic ft | — |

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

### C-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall, Projecting, or Suspended Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Building façade | — | 17.67.050.A.4.a |
| Wall, Projecting, or Suspended Sign (Priority Zone 1) | — | — | — | — | — | Priority Zone 1 (per Corning Façade Improvement Program) | — | 17.67.050.A.4.b |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 75 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per parcel | On parcel | — | 17.67.050.A.4.c |
| Freestanding Sign (Priority Zone 1) | 35 ft | 75 sq ft per side | — | — | — | Priority Zone 1 (per Corning Façade Improvement Program) | — | 17.67.050.A.4.c |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 2 | Exceeding 35 ft | Exceeding either 75 sq ft per side or 35 ft tall | — | — | 2 per parcel only via permit | On parcel | — | 17.67.050.A.4.d |

### C-3, CH, SPMU, M-1, M-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall, Projecting, or Suspended Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Building façade | — | 17.67.050.A.5.a |
| Freestanding Sign | 45 ft | 120 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per parcel | On parcel | — | 17.67.050.A.5.b |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 2 | Exceeding 45 ft | Exceeding either 120 sq ft per side or 45 ft tall | — | — | 2 per parcel only via permit | On parcel | — | 17.67.050.A.5.c |
| Freestanding Freeway-Oriented Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per parcel | Within 1,000 ft of Interstate 5 right-of-way | — | 17.67.050.A.5.d |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Site Sign | — | 40 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per parcel | On building site during construction only | — | 17.67.040.A.3 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 16 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale/rent/lease | — | 17.67.040.A.4 |
| Parking Lot/Private Traffic Directional & Misc. Info Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Commercial, industrial, public zones | — | 17.67.040.A.5 |
| Price Sign (Fuel Sales) | — | 20 sq ft per sign per frontage (single display); 40 sq ft per sign per frontage (double display) | — | — | 2 per frontage | At fuel sales business on premises | — | 17.67.040.A.6 |
| Sign Painted on Wall | — | Limited to permitted area/height for other signs in that zone | — | — | — | On wall (all zones) | — | 17.67.040.A.10 |
| Off-Premise Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business and 1 per parcel | On commercial or industrial zoned property | — | 17.67.070 |
| Flag Sign | 10 ft (including support struct.) | 25 sq ft (one side only) | — | — | 1 per business | Allowed only in Commercial Downtown, commercial, and industrial zones. Not in residential zones. | — | 17.67.080 |
| Welcome/Wayfinding Sign - Off-Premise | 30 ft | 350 cubic ft | 15 ft (incl. support structures) | — | 1 per intersection, max 2 citywide | Within 100 ft of Edith Ave/Hwy 99W/Solano St or South Ave/Hwy 99W intersection. | — | 17.67.090 |

## Prohibited signs in Corning

- It is unlawful for any person to construct, maintain, display or alter a sign within the city, except in conformance with this chapter, the Uniform Sign Code, the Outdoor Advertising Act, and other applicable California law.
- Billboards are prohibited, except 'welcome/wayfinding signs' as permitted by section 17.67.090.
- Dangerous or hazardous signs, as determined by the building official, are prohibited.
- Obsolete signs which advertise a business no longer operating on the site are prohibited.
- Signs erected at or near the intersection of any street or driveway to obstruct free and clear vision are prohibited.
- Roof signs where the highest point of the sign exceeds the highest point of the roof to which it is affixed are prohibited.
- Political signs on public property are prohibited.
- Signs that do not comply with these regulations are prohibited.
- Signs mounted on vehicles for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products and services or directing people to a business or activity are prohibited, except for standard advertising or identification practices where such signs are painted on or permanently attached to a business or commercial vehicle.
- Signs constructed, maintained, displayed or altered not in conformance with the Uniform Sign Code, the Outdoor Advertising Act, and other applicable California law are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Corning

- Official federal, state or local government flags, emblems and historical markers, traffic directional and information signs and notices issued by any court, person or officer in performance of a public duty or any other sign that is required to be posted by any government agency.
- Temporary signs warning of construction, excavation or similar hazards so long as the hazard exists.
- One temporary sign per parcel (up to forty square feet per side) indicating owner, builder, architect and pertinent data regarding building construction on the site during construction only.
- Temporary real estate signs indicating that the property on which the sign is located is for sale, rent or lease (one such sign with a single display surface not exceeding sixteen square feet per side, per frontage).
- Parking lot and other private traffic directional signs, and miscellaneous permanent information signs in commercial, industrial or public zones indicating address, hours and days of operation, menus, or similar information.
- Price signs for fuel sales (up to two per frontage, up to twenty square feet each for single display, or forty square feet each for double display, on the premises and not within public right of way).
- Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions.
- Temporary window signs.
- Clustered service club signs.
- Signs painted on walls which do not exceed the square footage or height that would be allowed for any other type of sign.
- Temporary political signs when placed on private property.
- Temporary banners, advertisements and directional signs for community activities or events when approved by the City of Corning and located on public property.
- No permit is required for the installation, replacement or refacing of these exempted signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In general, applicants for sign permits may need to acquire sign construction permits issued in accordance with the Uniform Sign Code and are advised to consult with the Corning Building and Safety Department before installing outdoor advertising signage.
- One freestanding sign per parcel may be permitted in the C-1 zone upon the securing of a use permit in each particular case.
- A second freestanding sign or a sign exceeding height or area limits may be permitted in C-2 and in C-3, CH, SPMU, M-1 & M-2 zones upon approval of a use permit.
- An administrative use permit is required for any off-premises sign, subject to specific conditions including planning commission approval.
- Planning commission must approve the design of all off-premise signs.
- Welcome/wayfinding signs require an encroachment permit, building permit, and prior to issuance of a building permit, submission of a scaled colored drawing or photo of the sign at its location for review by the planning commission. The building permit will be denied if the planning commission determines the sign does not conform to these regulations.
- Whenever conflict occurs between the regulations in this chapter and another, the more restrictive regulation shall apply.

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

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