# Sign Regulations in Guadalupe, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Guadalupe, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/guadalupe
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/42559208#42559208)

## At a glance

Guadalupe, California regulates 9 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Commercial District, Industrial District, PF, Open Space District, Mixed-use District, Multifamily Residential District zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 50 square feet (Sec. § 18.51.050B.1-7). Most commercial signs in Guadalupe require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial District, Industrial District, PF, Open Space District, Mixed-use District, Multifamily Residential District | 8 | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Residential District | 3 | 6 feet | 35 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Commercial District, Industrial District, PF, Open Space District, Mixed-use District, Multifamily Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed the eave or parapet of the roof | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 18.51.050A.1-6 |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — | — | One monument sign for each 125 linear feet of parcel frontage | On landscaped mounds | — | § 18.51.050B.1-7 |
| Directional Structure | 4 feet for ground-mounted structures | 4 square feet for ground-mounted structures; 6 square feet for wall-mounted structures | — | — | — | — | — | § 18.51.050C.1-5 |
| Temporary Sign/Banner | Not to exceed roof eave line of nearest building | — | — | — | A maximum of 2 temporary signs permitted | — | — | § 18.51.050D.1-9 |
| Projecting Sign | Not to exceed eave or parapet line of wall or structure | — | — | — | — | May extend over public rights-of-way including public sidewalks | — | § 18.51.050E.1-4 |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | Not to exceed the height of the underside of a canopy, awning or marquee | — | — | — | — | May locate over rights-of-way including sidewalks | — | § 18.51.050F.1-4 |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — | — | One freestanding sign for each 125 linear feet of parcel frontage | On landscaped mounds | — | § 18.51.050I.1-8 |
| Digital Display Sign | Same height limits as for other permitted signs of the same type and location | — | — | — | One digital display sign per property | — | — | § 18.51.050J.1-10 |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | 35 square feet | — | — | One monument sign for each 125 linear feet of parcel frontage | On landscaped mounds | — | § 18.51.050B.1-7 |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 feet | 35 square feet | — | — | One freestanding sign for each 125 linear feet of parcel frontage | On landscaped mounds | — | § 18.51.050I.1-8 |
| Temporary Sign/Banner | Not to exceed roof eave line of nearest building | — | — | — | A maximum of 2 temporary signs permitted | — | — | § 18.51.050D.1-9 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Noncommercial Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 18.51.040D-E |

## Prohibited signs in Guadalupe

- Any sign designed for emitting sound.
- Any sign or sign structure which has become a public nuisance due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment.
- Any sign which obstructs in any manner the ingress to, or egress from, a door, window, fire escape, or other access way required by building codes adopted by the City of Guadalupe.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained.
- Any sign that encroaches into any City right-of-way and/or easement, except under-canopy, and projecting signs.
- Any sign that flashes, blinks, moves, changes color, appears to change color, changes intensity, or contains any part of attachment which does the same.
- Any sign that is inconsistent with the traffic safety sight area, pursuant to Resolution No. 2009-24 (Adopted City of Santa Maria Traffic Standards Manual).
- Any sign structure located so that it interferes with visibility at an intersection, public right-of-way, driveway, or other ingress/egress.
- Any pole sign.
- Any sign located or displayed on or over public property except as expressly permitted in this chapter.
- Any sign attached to a tree or utility pole.
- Any sign structure erected or maintained which has less horizontal or vertical clearance from communication lines and energized electrical power lines than that prescribed by the state, or rules and regulations duly promulgated by agencies thereof.
- Any sign structure adversely affecting traffic control or safety.
- Balloons, balloon-like objects, and blimps.
- Roof signs.
- Any sign on public property or property in which the City holds an interest unless otherwise authorized by this chapter.
- Bow/feather signs.
- Sandwich board signs (also referred to as 'A-signs').
- Inflatable signs, including those that exhibit motion through the use of a blower and controlled release of air.
- Triangle pennant signs.
- Mobile Billboard Advertising Displays.

## Signs exempt from permit in Guadalupe

- Flags of a governmental entity (e.g., United States, California, and other governmental entities).
- Signs and devices erected by a public agency not subject to this chapter.
- Signs erected by a public utility or common carrier to warn of dangers (e.g., the location of underground facilities and railroad crossings).
- Signs required to be maintained or posted by law or governmental order, rule, or regulation.
- Signs located entirely within structures.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Master Sign Plan Required. On a multi-tenant building or multi-building site, a master sign plan shall be prepared by the owner for review and approval by the Director or his/her designee.
- Sites with multiple tenants shall be required to submit a master sign program, for approval by the Director or his/her designee, to determine the share of total sign area for each tenant space.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Guadalupe, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Guadalupe+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-guadalupe

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