# Sign Regulations in McFarland, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** McFarland, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/mcfarland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/McFarland/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.142SI)

## At a glance

McFarland, California regulates 17 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Signs in the Commercial, Office, and Industrial zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 32 sq. ft., with a 5 ft. setback from R-O-W setback (Sec. 17.142.030 Table 1). Most commercial signs in McFarland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial, Office, and Industrial | 8 | Awning valance flap or canopy fascia only, 8-inch max letter height | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Institutional, Churches | 1 | Wall below eave, 6 ft. for monument | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Service Station | 1 | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. (fuel price signs not counted in max area) | — |
| C-0, C-1, C-2, PCD, M-1, M-2, M-3 | 8 | Awning valance flap or canopy fascia only, 8-inch max letter height | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | 8 inches | 12 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial/Industrial/Agricultural Districts | 2 | 24 inches | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| Nonresidential Zoning Districts | 1 | — | 100 sq. ft. (total) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |

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

### Commercial, Office, and Industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Below eave, below fascia or parapet wall | — | — | — | 1 per street or parking lot frontage, plus 1 per secondary bldg. frontage | Centered on building wall or tenant frontage | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. setback from R-O-W | 1 per street frontage | — | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | Awning valance flap or canopy fascia only, 8-inch max letter height | — | — | — | 1 per awning or canopy | Awnings on 1st story window and doors only | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Projecting Sign | Bottom of sign minimum of 8 ft. above sidewalk | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage | First floor of building, max 3 ft. projection over public sidewalk | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Real Estate Sign | Wall below eave, 6 ft. for monument | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per 1st story window or glass door | 1st story window or glass door | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Pylon Sign / Freestanding Sign / Pole Sign | — | — | — | 5 ft. setback from R-O-W | 1 per street frontage | — | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Mural and Prints | Same as Wall Sign | Same as Wall Sign | — | — | 1 per building | Side or rear walls of buildings only | — | 17.142.030 Table 1; 17.142.040(C) |

### C-0, C-1, C-2, PCD, M-1, M-2, M-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Below eave, below fascia, or parapet wall | — | — | — | 1 per street or parking lot frontage, plus 1 per secondary frontage | Centered on building wall or tenant frontage | — | 17.142.030 Table 1; 17.142.040(H) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. setback from R-O-W | 1 per street frontage | — | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | Awning valance flap or canopy fascia only, 8-inch max letter height | — | — | — | 1 per awning or canopy | Awnings on 1st story window and doors only | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Projecting Sign | Bottom of sign minimum of 8 ft. above sidewalk | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage | 1st floor of building, max. 3 ft. projection over public sidewalk | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Real Estate Sign | Wall below eave; 6 ft. for monument | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per 1st story window or glass door | 1st story window or glass door | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Pylon Sign / Freestanding Sign / Pole Sign | — | — | — | 5 ft. setback from R-O-W | 1 per street frontage | — | — | 17.142.030 Table 1 |
| Mural and Prints | Same as Wall Sign | Same as Wall Sign | — | — | 1 per building | Side or rear walls of buildings only | — | 17.142.030 Table 1; 17.142.040(C) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Construction Site Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | Up to 2 per site | — | — | 17.142.080(A)(7) |
| Future Tenant Identification Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage | — | — | 17.142.080(A)(8) |
| Accessory Sign (ATM, gas pump, EV charging station) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.142.080(A)(3) |
| Affiliation Signs | — | 1 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | Max 3 per business | — | — | 17.142.080(A)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in McFarland

- Cabinet (can) signs that are mounted flush against a building wall except for corporate logos; cabinet signs with opaque backgrounds and illuminated letters are allowed as projecting signs only.
- Electronic message signs except time and/or temperature signs.
- Signs that advertise an activity, business, service, or product no longer conducted or sold on the premises thirty days after the discontinuance or abandonment, except signs listed on or eligible for the city's vintage sign inventory.
- Signs that blink, flash, or move in any manner, have any portions that move or have the appearance of moving except for signs listed in the vintage sign inventory, clocks, time, and temperature displays, and public service signs.
- Balloons, lighter-than-air devices, and inflatable signs and objects except as may be allowed through temporary sign permit.
- Banners, pennants, ribbons, spinners, streamers or other similar devices except as specifically allowed through a temporary sign permit.
- Any type of sign mounted on the roof of a building, including mansard roofs, and similar architectural roof-like elements.
- Advertising, banners, bills, cards, notices, placards, posters, signs, stickers, or other devices designed to attract attention of the public that are posted or affixed upon any street, street furniture, right-of-way, public sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, EV charging stations, lamppost, fencing, fire hydrant, tree, alley, telephone pole, public telephone, lighting system, or other public alarm or communication system.
- Signs emitting audible sounds, odors, or visible matter.
- Signs which simulate in color or design a traffic sign or signal or which make use of words, symbols or characters in such a manner to interfere with, mislead, or confuse pedestrian or vehicular traffic as determined by the planning commission.
- Signs utilizing paper, cloth, plastic, or any material that is permitted to hang loose or dangle from any sign.
- Any advertising sign permanently attached or affixed to the ground that does not contain the name of the person owning or maintaining the same plainly displayed thereon.
- Vehicle signs of any type. Vehicles including trailers, wagons and similar utility vehicles shall not be utilized as support for any mobile, portable, or stationary signs or conspicuously parked or left standing so as to constitute a sign. There shall not be maintained on any vehicle or trailer parked in a public right-of-way, or on public or private property in order to be visible from a public right-of-way, any sign for advertisement purposes, except for standard advertising or identification painted on or permanently attached to a business vehicle not parked on the site being advertised abutting a public right-of-way, bumper stickers, 'for sale' placards, or window stickers on vehicles in a sales lot.
- No sign shall be placed or maintained on property adjacent to a freeway, highway, or interstate highway within the city limits if the sign is designed to be viewed primarily by persons traveling on such freeway, except as allowed under Section 17.142.080.
- All signs intended or used to advertise, inform, or attract attention to activities conducted on property other than the property where the sign is located (offsite advertising signs).
- Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
- Signs are not allowed at home occupations.

## Signs exempt from permit in McFarland

- Political election signs placed on private property subject to size, height, and posting duration regulations.
- Signs within interior arcades, courtyards, malls, stadiums, ballparks, or similar spaces not intended to be seen from a public street or adjacent property.
- Accessory signs manufactured as a standard integral part of a mass-produced accessory to commercial, public, or semi-public uses (e.g., automated teller machines, gasoline pumps, EV charging stations) with company name and/or logo only and no advertising message.
- Affiliation signs providing notices of services (e.g., credit cards accepted, trade affiliations), not to exceed one square foot each, with a maximum of three per business.
- City-owned signs for community benefit, including city light post banners.
- Site address signs (limited to two per address), within specified size limits for residential and non-residential uses.
- Identification signs on construction sites (up to one per frontage/entrance, max two), size and height limited, to be removed prior to occupancy.
- Future tenant identification signs (one wall or freestanding sign per street frontage), limited in size and height.
- Residential real estate/open house signs (one per street frontage), subject to size, height, and illumination restrictions.
- Traffic control signs required by law to regulate traffic and promote public safety, provided no commercial business name or logo is included.
- Banners on property to which their message pertains and banners containing non-commercial messages not exceeding fifty square feet, for up to thirty days (max sixty days per calendar year without a permit).
- Public/community message signs posted on public bulletin boards or kiosks, or established by the city on public non-residential property.
- Freeway oriented signs approved by the planning commission for certain types of businesses, within specified commercial/industrial zones and proximity to a freeway offramp, subject to planning commission review and conditions.
- All routine general maintenance and repair of signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For murals and prints, an application must be submitted for review by the community development department which will then make a recommendation to the planning commission, who will approve, conditionally approve, or deny any proposed mural.
- Application for sign review and permit is required for all signs except those identified as exempt under Section 17.142.080; the application must include a scale drawing and may require filing of plans or other pertinent information as required by the planning commission.
- All sign applications will be reviewed by city planner prior to going to the planning commission for determination. Signs may also be reviewed by the city engineer.
- All applications for permits to erect, reerect, construct, alter, or relocate a sign will be voted on by the planning commission within 120 days of receipt of a complete application and fees.
- Failure to obtain sign review approval and permit may result in denial or removal, and there is a defined appeals process to the city council.
- A temporary sign permit is required for temporary signage in all non-residential zoning districts.
- Multi-tenant shopping centers share monument or pylon signs, indicating a coordinated sign plan may be required for such developments.
- The planning commission may require the filing of plans or other pertinent information necessary to ensure compliance with the ordinance.

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

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