# Sign Regulations in Davis, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Davis, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/davis
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44632690#44632690)

## At a glance

Davis, California regulates 10 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Announcement Sign or Bulletin Boards in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 6 feet if ground-mounted tall and 20 square feet, with a 5 feet from street right-of-way setback (Sec. § 40.26.020(c)(4)). Most commercial signs in Davis require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | Varies | — |
| Agricultural Districts | 2 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts | 2 | 6 feet if ground-mounted | 20 square feet | — |
| Professional and Administrative Office District | 1 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| Commercial Neighborhood and Residential Transitional Districts | 2 | — | 5 square feet | — |
| Community Retail District | 1 | 25 feet max with conditional use permit | Varies | — |
| Central Commercial, Commercial Service, Industrial and Industrial Research Districts | 1 | 8 feet max | Varies | — |
| Commercial Mixed Use District | 1 | 8 feet max | Varies | — |
| Mixed Use District | 1 | 6 feet max | Varies | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | Varies | — | — | — | — | — | § 3.01.010, § 3.01.080, § 40.14.110(e) |
| Noncommercial Advertising Sign | — | Varies by district | — | — | — | On property owned by the sign owner | — | § 40.26.020(a)(1), § 40.26.020(a)(5) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | Varies by district | — | — | One per site per street frontage | On the property to which they refer | — | § 40.14.110(b)(8) |

### Agricultural Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate or Nonilluminated Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | 50 feet from the front lot property line | One per permitted use | On the property on which erected | — | § 40.26.020(b)(1) |
| Noncommercial Advertising Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | 50 feet from the front lot property line | One per property | On the property | — | § 40.26.020(b)(3) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | 5 feet from street right-of-way | One per premises | On the premises advertised | — | § 40.26.020(c)(1) |
| Announcement Sign or Bulletin Board | 6 feet if ground-mounted | 20 square feet | — | 5 feet from street right-of-way | One per institution | At least 5 feet from street right-of-way lines | — | § 40.26.020(c)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Davis

- No permanent sign shall be installed within the public right-of-way unless displayed by a governmental entity or pursuant to a revocable encroachment permit.
- Signs shall not be located on property without prior authorization from the property owner, or in the case of public parks or any public property without the permission of the city.
- Signs shall not be located where the view of approaching or intersecting traffic would be obstructed.
- Signs shall not be located as to interfere with the safe movement of vehicles, bicycles, and/or pedestrians entering, leaving, or crossing a public right-of-way.
- Signs shall not be located on the roofs of buildings or structures except as allowed by specific provisions.
- Signs shall not be attached to any traffic control sign, utility pole, street sign, or tree, except for temporary signs installed by a government agency for public information and/or special events.
- Signs shall not be mounted, attached, or painted on a trailer, boat, or motor vehicle when parked, stored, or displayed conspicuously on private premises close to the public right-of-way or within public right-of-way in a manner intended to attract the attention of the public for advertising purposes.
- Moving, flashing, or animated signs including but not limited to searchlights, streamers and spinners are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs, such as, but not limited to, balloons, gas inflated signs or similar inflated signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs, except for sidewalk signs as allowed, are prohibited.
- Cabinet signs are prohibited.
- Vinyl materials on signs within twenty-five feet of the sidewalk, except window signs, are prohibited.
- Outdoor image projections or any other similar devices are prohibited.
- No sign shall exceed the size, height and locational limitations of the district in which it is located, nor project beyond the setback line of the property in which located unless otherwise provided.
- No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to create a traffic hazard.
- No sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color except for time of day and temperature signs.
- No exposed reflective type bulbs and no strobe light or incandescent lamp shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign so as to expose the face of the bulb, light or lamp to any public street or adjacent property, except for public informational signs disclosing such items as time of day and temperature.
- Signs which advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located are prohibited.
- Banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similar devices are prohibited unless they are specifically permitted otherwise.
- Signs which rotate, spin, or otherwise move are prohibited unless they are specifically permitted otherwise.
- Signs shall be flat against the building and not project over the public right-of-way in all districts except where specifically stated otherwise.
- Billboards and signboards are prohibited except for temporary 'open house' real estate signs not exceeding eight square feet in area, and portable signs within the C-C zoning district as established in specific subsections.

## Signs exempt from permit in Davis

- Street address numbers, house numbers, 'No Trespassing,' 'No Parking,' and other warning signs.
- Days and hours of operation.
- Public information, identification, special event, directional, and other signs erected by a government agency, or a public utility or other quasi-public agent in the performance of a public duty.
- City entry, community or district identification signs.
- Names of buildings, dates of erection, commemorative tablets and the like, when carved into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum or other permanent type material.
- Credit card, or trade association signs not exceeding one-half square foot each and not exceeding five per establishment.
- Directional on-site signs, provided that such signs are limited to a maximum of six square feet.
- Real Estate Sign: The sign may be a ground sign, a window sign, or a wall sign. Only one such sign is allowed per site per street frontage.
- Noncommercial advertising signs of the ideas or beliefs of the owner or occupant of the property upon which such advertising display is placed, sociological, religious or economic subjects of public interest or general concern are permitted.
- Nonadvertising signs not exceeding one square foot in area, such as 'No Trespassing,' 'Private Drive,' 'Bad Dog,' or a person's name, are permitted without regard to the other requirements of this chapter.
- Signs on vehicles of any kind, provided the sign is painted or attached directly to the body of the original vehicle and does not project or extend beyond the original manufactured body proper of the vehicle, and the sign is incidental to the vehicle's primary use and the vehicle is not used primarily for advertising purposes, are not governed by this chapter.
- Artworks which do not identify a business or a product are not considered signs.
- Community signs and directional signs erected on public property in accordance with an adopted redevelopment agency sign program are permitted without regard to other requirements of this chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require the review and approval of the director.
- Temporary sign permit or a certificate of compliance required as determined by the director.
- Sign programs shall be prepared for all new and renovated centers.
- The review of the design and placement of signs and outdoor advertising, including temporary signs, shall be a function of the community development and sustainability director or designee.

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

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