# Sign Regulations in Manteca, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Manteca, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/manteca
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44092426#44092426)

## At a glance

Manteca, California regulates 25 sign types across 7 zoning districts. A-Frame Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft. tall, 12 sq. ft. per face, and 3 ft. wide (Sec. § 17.54.040B.1, Exempt Signs with Limitations). Most commercial signs in Manteca require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Residential Zoning Districts | 1 | 6 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Multi-Family Residential Zoning Districts | 1 | 6 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts | 6 | 75 ft. | 500 sq. ft. per sign face | — |
| Central Business District | 1 | Roofline | No max. | — |
| Industrial Zoning Districts | 5 | 20 ft. | 200 sq. ft. per elevation | — |
| Open Space and Public/Quasi-Public Zoning Districts | 2 | 10 ft. | 100 sq. ft. per elevation | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 36 inches | 50 sq. ft. | — |

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

### Commercial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign, Monument (Site <1 acre) | 6 ft. | 25 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1/entrance | 1/entrance | — | Table 17.54.080-1, Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards |
| Freestanding Sign, Monument (Site >1 acre) | 8 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1/entrance | 1/entrance | — | Table 17.54.080-1, Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards |
| Freestanding Sign, Pylon (Site >1 acre) | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1 per 10 acres | 1 per 10 acres | — | Table 17.54.080-1, Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards |
| Freestanding Sign, Freeway-Oriented | 75 ft. | 500 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1/site within 1,000 ft. of a state highway | 1/site within 1,000 ft. of a state highway | — | Table 17.54.080-1, Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards |
| Attached Signs for Building/Tenants ≥5k sq. ft. | Roofline | 200 sq. ft. per elevation | — | — | No maximum | Wall sign | — | Table 17.54.080-1, Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards |
| Attached Signs for Building/Tenants <5k sq. ft. | Roofline | 100 sq. ft. per elevation | — | — | No maximum | Wall sign | — | Table 17.54.080-1, Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards |

### Industrial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Signs for Building/Tenants >10k sq. ft. | Roofline | 200 sq. ft. per elevation | — | — | No maximum | Wall sign | — | Table 17.54.080-1, Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards |
| Attached Signs for Building/Tenants <10k sq. ft. | Roofline | 100 sq. ft. per elevation | — | — | No maximum | Wall sign | — | Table 17.54.080-1, Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards |
| Freestanding Signs, Monument (Site <1 acre) | 6 ft. | 25 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1/entrance | 1/entrance | — | Table 17.54.080-1, Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards |
| Freestanding Signs, Monument (Site >1 acre) | 8 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1/entrance | 1/entrance | — | Table 17.54.080-1, Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards |
| Freestanding Signs, Pylon (Site >1 acre) | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1 per 10 acres | 1 per 10 acres | — | Table 17.54.080-1, Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 ft. | 12 sq. ft. per face | 3 ft. | — | 1 per street frontage | Outside of clear visibility triangle, not in public right-of-way without permit | — | § 17.54.040B.1, Exempt Signs with Limitations |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. per street frontage | — | — | — | Interior or exterior of window | — | § 17.54.040B.2, Exempt Signs with Limitations |
| Construction Sign | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | § 17.54.040B.3, Exempt Signs with Limitations |
| Garage, Yard, Estate, and Other Home-Based Sale Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 4 | Private property | — | § 17.54.040B.4, Exempt Signs with Limitations |
| Real Estate Sign (Single-Family Residential) | 5 ft. | 10 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 | Private property, out of required clear visibility triangle | — | § 17.54.040B.5.a, Exempt Signs with Limitations |
| Real Estate Sign (Multi-Family and Commercial) | 6 ft. | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-site, per street frontage | — | § 17.54.040B.5.b, Exempt Signs with Limitations |
| On-Site Directional Sign | 36 inches | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On-site | — | § 17.54.040B.6, Exempt Signs with Limitations |
| Noncommercial Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Private property | — | § 17.54.040B.7, Exempt Signs with Limitations |

## Prohibited signs in Manteca

- Permanent signs not expressly permitted by this Chapter are prohibited.
- Any sign not specifically in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
- Signs painted or mounted on roofs or placed above the roofline (except for mansard roofs).
- Animated signs or flashing signs, with the exception of time and temperature signs and electronic message signs permitted under a use permit.
- Pennants, banners, balloons, or other paraphernalia composed of paper, cloth, or other flexible material, except as otherwise permitted.
- Signs which rotate, move, reflect, blink, or incorporate elements that do so, except time and temperature signs and electronic reader signs.
- Signs placed on the public right-of-way or affixed to an element or structure on the public right-of-way, or located on a publicly owned tree, fence, or utility pole, or otherwise posted on public property, except where required by a governmental agency or permitted as part of kiosk sign program.
- Inflatable balloon signs, including, but not limited to, individual balloons, balloon strings, and other inflatable objects made of a flexible material and inflated so as to be lighter than air.
- Signs affixed to vehicles where the primary purpose of the vehicle is advertising.
- Signs attached to light standards, unless part of a Master Sign Program or Street Banner Program.
- Off-site signs, except as otherwise permitted.
- On-site signs that identify an activity, product, or service no longer conducted or available at the site on which the sign is located.
- Pole signs.
- Abandoned signs.
- Signs on fences.

## Signs exempt from permit in Manteca

- All devices which are excluded from the definition of a sign as set forth in this Code.
- Official traffic signs or other municipal governmental signs, legal notices, advertisements prescribed by law and placed by governmental entities, and signs indicating the location of buried utility lines or any notice posted by a governmental officer in the scope of his or her duties.
- Direction, warning, or information signs or structures required or authorized by law, or by Federal, State, County, or City authority, including, but not limited to, traffic control signs (e.g., stop, yield), highway route number signs, and construction zone signs.
- Utility company signs identifying cables, conduits, danger, and so forth.
- Street address signs consistent with the City-adopted Building Code or relevant provisions of the City Municipal Code.
- Historical and/or memorial tablets and identification plaques installed by or on behalf of a recognized governmental historical agency.
- Time and temperature signs containing no advertising copy.
- Signs and advertising for the California State Lottery as authorized by California Government Code, Section 8880 et seq.
- Change of copy that does not alter the size, location, or illumination of a sign.
- Signs prohibiting trespassing or hunting.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Program shall be required for all new nonresidential developments of three or more separate tenant spaces that share either the same parcel or structure and use common access and parking facilities.
- Applications for a building permit for a sign, a Master Sign Program, or Site Plan and Design Review shall be made on the form(s) prescribed by the Community Development Department.
- The application and review procedures for building permits for Master Sign Programs, and Site Plan and Design Review for signs shall be as provided in Chapter 17.10 (Entitlements).
- Applications for a Variance from the terms of this Chapter shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission according to the Variance procedures set forth in Section 17.10.120 (Variance).

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

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