# Sign Regulations in Delano, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Delano, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/delano
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-26
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Delano/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT20ZO_CH20.14SIRE)

## At a glance

Delano, California regulates 40 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Apartment Identifications in the Residential Districts (R-A, R-1, R-2, R-3) zoning district are capped at Below eave line for wall sign and 4 ft. for monument sign tall and 12 square feet, with a 5 ft. setback from property line setback (Sec. Table 14.A). Most commercial signs in Delano require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | — | 10 inches by 10 inches | — |
| Residential Districts (R-A, R-1, R-2, R-3) | 8 | 15 ft. | 76 square feet | — |
| Commercial Districts (DC, GC, NC) | 12 | Below the second floor, or 20' whichever is less | 300 s.f. | — |
| Employment Districts (CRC, I) | 7 | 50 ft., unless a flag test or other suitable mechanism determines that a greater height is required due to vegetation or other factors that adversely detract from the 50 foot provision | 125 s.f. per face | — |
| Community Facilities District (CF) | 2 | 25 ft. for freestanding sign; 4 ft. for monument sign | 30 s.f. per face | — |
| General Commercial (GC) | 1 | 50 ft., unless a flag test or other suitable mechanism determines that a greater height is required due to vegetation or other factors that adversely detract from the 50 foot provision | 100 s.f. per face | — |
| Community Retail Commercial (CRC) | 1 | 45 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| Industrial (I) | 1 | 45 feet | 300 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Sale premises | — | Ord. No. 2011-1235, § 1(exh. A), 9-6-2011 |
| Food Vending Vehicle Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Right and left side of the food vending vehicle | — | Ord. No. 2020-1313, § 4(Exh. A), 3-16-2020 |
| No Smoking Sign | — | — | — | — | — | City buildings | — | Ord. 943(part), 1993: Ord. 874 § 2(part), 1988 |
| Alcoholic Beverage Warning Sign | — | 10 inches by 10 inches | — | — | — | Premises offering wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages for sale | — | Ord. 865 (part), 1988 |
| Traffic Control Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Street intersections | — | Ord. 2008-1175 § 1(part), 2008 |
| Parking Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Portions of streets or alleys | — | Ord. 2008-1175 § 1(part), 2008 |
| Loading Zone Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Streets and alleys | — | Ord. 2008-1175 § 1(part), 2008 |
| Reserved Space Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Street in front of commercial premises | — | Ord. 2008-1175 § 1(part), 2008 |

### Residential Districts (R-A, R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per occupied unit. | Wall or door | — | Table 14.A |
| Apartment Identification | Below eave line for wall sign and 4 ft. for monument sign | 12 square feet | — | 5 ft. setback from property line | One per street frontage. | 5 ft. setback from property line | — | Table 14.A |
| Institutional Signs | Below eave line for wall sign and 4 ft. for monument sign | 24 square feet | — | 10 ft. setback from front and 5 foot setback from side property line | One per use. | 10 ft. setback from front and 5 foot setback from side property line | — | Table 14.A |
| Neighborhood Identification | 4 ft. | 48 square feet | — | — | 2 per major entrance. | At major entrances to project / neighborhood or residential subdivision of five or more dwelling units | — | Table 14.A |
| Mobilehome Park Identification | 10 ft. for wall; 4 ft. for monument | 24 square feet | — | 10 ft. setback from property line | One per street frontage up to two per major entrance. | 10 ft. setback from property line | — | Table 14.A |
| Project Identification Sign (Temp.) | 15 ft. | 76 square feet | — | 10 ft. setback from any street | 2 for subdivisions more than 5 acre, otherwise one sign. | 10 ft. setback from any street. Located on the site of the project/subdivision. | — | Table 14.A |
| Pedestrian Project Directory | 5 ft. | 4 square feet | — | — | To be determined by the Community Development Director | May not be located in any required setback | — | Table 14.A |
| Real Estate - Residential | 5 ft. | 6 square feet | — | — | One per residence | Within the subject property | — | Table 14.A |

### Commercial Districts (DC, GC, NC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification (Single Tenant) - Monument | 4 feet | 24 s.f. in NC zone district, otherwise 32 s.f. | — | 5 ft. from property line | One per street frontage | Shall be setback 5 ft. from property line | — | Table 14.A |
| Building Identification (Multiple Tenant) - Monument | 4 feet | 24 s.f. in NC zone district, otherwise 32 s.f. | — | 5 ft. from property line | One per street frontage | Shall be setback 5 ft. from property line | — | Table 14.A |
| Center Identification (Multiple Tenant) | Below eave line for a wall sign; 15' for a freestanding sign and 4' for a monument sign | 100 s.f. | — | 5 ft. min. from property line | One per each street frontage | Shall be setback 5 ft. min. from property line | — | Table 14.A |
| Pedestrian Business Directory (Multiple Tenant) | 6 ft. for monument; below eave line for wall sign | 15 s.f. | — | — | To be determined by the Planning Director | May not be located in any required setback | — | Table 14.A |
| Institutional Signs | 4 ft. for monument; below eave line for wall sign | 15 s.f. | — | — | One per use. | Not in setback | — | Table 14.A |
| High Rise Building Identification | To be determined by City Council upon recommendation of Community Development Director | 300 s.f. | — | — | Two per building | Above the windows of the highest floor and below the eave line | — | Table 14.A |
| Secondary Tenant Identification | Below the second floor, or 20' whichever is less | 22 s.f. max. per sign | — | — | Four per building | Near the entrance of the tenants they identify | — | Table 14.A |
| Center or Project Monument | 4 ft. | 40 s.f. | — | — | One per street frontage | At main entrance | — | Table 14.A |

## Prohibited signs in Delano

- No sign shall be posted on city-installed traffic control signs or posts, city property, or city easement.
- It is unlawful for anyone to place, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement, or inscription on any public lands on any part of the park or roads adjacent to the park.
- It is unlawful for any person to place or maintain or display any device, sign or painting upon or within view of the streets or sidewalks which purports to be, or is an imitation of or resembles an official warning sign or signal.
- Signs or sign structures having any animated, moving or rotating parts are prohibited.
- Flashing or otherwise light-animated signs which contain or are illuminated by lights which are intermittently on and off, change in intensity, or which create the illusion of flashing are prohibited.
- Signs which make sounds are prohibited.
- Signs or sign structures which resemble, obscure, imitate, or otherwise limit the effectiveness of traffic control signs or devices are prohibited.
- Signs or sign structures which create a potential safety hazard by obscuring a clear view of pedestrian or vehicular traffic are prohibited.
- Balloons and/or other inflatables used to draw attention to a use or event are prohibited unless expressly permitted.
- Flags, pennants, streamers, spinners, festoons, windsocks, valances, or similar displays are prohibited unless expressly permitted.
- Moveable or portable signs or sign structures, including signs attached to or painted on trailers or vehicles parked for the purpose of gaining unauthorized sign area, are prohibited.
- Signs or sign structures drawn or painted onto or otherwise affixed to trees or rocks are prohibited.
- Building-mounted signs or sign structures placed on or above the eave line of a pitched or mansard roof, or above the top of a wall of a building with a flat or parapet roof are prohibited.
- Signs or sign structures placed within, on, or over public right-of-way, on public land, or on utility poles are prohibited unless an encroachment permit has been approved.
- Any sign that projects more than twelve inches from a building wall is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Delano

- Signs advertising a garage sale for which a permit has been issued may be exempt from other requirements of this Code.
- Noncommercial signs, whether on-site or off-site, shall not require the issuance of any permit unless the sign qualifies as a structure that is subject to a building permit under the California Building Code and/or City Ordinance.
- Real estate signs up to a maximum six square feet in area and, if freestanding, a maximum of five feet in height shall not require a sign permit.
- On-site construction announcement signs up to a maximum thirty-two square feet in area and, if freestanding, not exceeding six feet in height, shall be permitted without a sign permit.
- Temporary posters pertaining to future limited-term events within thirty days of placement shall be permitted without a sign permit.
- Temporary garage/yard sale signs no more than six square feet in area and four feet in height are permitted without a sign permit.
- Holiday window painting containing no commercial messages is permitted without a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits or for approval of Planned Sign Programs shall be made on forms provided by the Community Development Director.
- Initial Planned Sign Programs shall be reviewed by the Community Development Director.
- Signs within the Planned Sign Program shall have one or more common design elements, such as colors, materials, illumination, sign type, sign shape, letter size and letter type.
- The Community Development Director shall review and may approve a sign permit for a Planned Sign Program for any new business park, industrial complex, shopping center, office complex or retail center.

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

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