# Sign Regulations in Merced, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Merced, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/merced
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Merced/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT20ZO_PT3GERE_CH20.62SI)

## At a glance

Merced, California regulates 39 sign types across 16 zoning districts. Shopping Center Signs in the General Commercial, Neighborhood Commercial, Shopping Center Commercial, Thoroughfare Commercial, Village Commercial, Planned Development zoning district are capped at Neighborhood/Thoroughfare: 12.5 ft (+2 ft appurtenances); Regional/Community: 25 ft (+3 ft appurtenances) tall, Neighborhood/Thoroughfare: 100 sq ft/face structure (50 sq ft signing area max); Regional/Community: 260 sq ft/face structure (130 sq ft signing area max), and Neighborhood/Thoroughfare: 8 ft; Regional/Community: 13 ft wide, with a Minimum 3 ft from property line setback (Sec. Section 20.62.140). Most commercial signs in Merced require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (16 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rural Residential, Low Density Residential, Low Medium Density Residential, Inner Village Residential, Outer Village Residential, Medium Density Residential, High Density Residential, Mobile Home Residential, Residential Planned Development | 11 | 20 feet above base of building | 24 square feet per sign | — |
| General Commercial, Neighborhood Commercial, Shopping Center Commercial, Thoroughfare Commercial, Village Commercial, Planned Development | 5 | Neighborhood/Thoroughfare: 12.5 ft (+2 ft appurtenances); Regional/Community: 25 ft (+3 ft appurtenances) | Main frontage: up to 350 sq ft; secondary frontage: up to 100 sq ft | — |
| Regional/Central Commercial | 5 | 25 ft (+3 ft appurtenances) | Main: 500 sq ft; Other: 200 sq ft | — |
| Office Commercial, Business Park, Downtown Office | 4 | 6 feet (max 4 feet unless outside Corner Vision Triangle) | 35 sq ft per sign, or 50 sq ft if >1 allowed signs are combined | — |
| Downtown Core, Downtown Commercial | 6 | No more than 6 ft above entryway; min 8 ft clearance above sidewalk | 75 sq ft | — |
| Public Facility, Public Parking District | 3 | 6 feet except no higher than 4 feet unless outside Corner Vision Triangle | 35 sq ft per sign (or 50 sq ft if two or more allowed signs are combined into one shared sign) | — |
| Parks and Open Space | 2 | 6 feet except no higher than 4 ft unless outside Corner Vision Triangle | 35 sq ft per sign (or 50 sq ft if combined) | — |
| Agriculture, Urban Transition | 3 | 8 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial | 3 | 10 ft (max 4 ft unless outside Corner Vision Triangle) | Sum of all signs max 500 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Center Commercial | 2 | 20 ft (+3 ft appurtenances) | 260 sq ft/face structure; 130 sq ft sign copy/face | — |
| Old 99 Overlay District | 2 | 25 feet | 200 sq ft | — |
| Freeway Overlay District | 3 | 90 feet | 100 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | — |
| Downtown Overlay District | 7 | If over sidewalk: 8 ft clearance min | 24 sq ft | — |
| Planned Development | 2 | — | — | — |
| Public Parking District | 3 | 6 ft (no higher than 4 ft unless outside corner vision triangle area) | 35 sq ft/sign or 50 sq ft (combined) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 20% of allowable area (commercial/industrial zones) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 16 zones)

### Rural Residential, Low Density Residential, Low Medium Density Residential, Inner Village Residential, Outer Village Residential, Medium Density Residential, High Density Residential, Mobile Home Residential, Residential Planned Development

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Building Sign (≤ 4 units on parcel) | 8 feet | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per residence | Mounted on wall of residence | — | Table 20.62.100-1 |
| Permanent Building Sign (> 4 residences on parcel) | 20 feet above base of building | 24 square feet per sign | — | — | See above (notes) | Building wall | — | Table 20.62.100-1 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (> 4 residences on parcel) | 6 feet (no higher than 4 feet unless outside corner vision triangle) | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per public driveway entrance | At public driveway entrance(s) | — | Table 20.62.100-1 |
| Temporary Building Sign (≤ 4 units) | 2 feet below bottom of roofline | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per parcel | Building wall | — | Table 20.62.100-1; 20.62.150 |
| Temporary Building Sign (> 4 units) | 2 feet below bottom of roofline | Up to 16 square feet (sum of all temporary signs) | — | — | Up to 2 per parcel | Building wall | — | Table 20.62.100-1; 20.62.150 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (≤ 4 units) | Up to 2 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | Up to 1 per unit | Freestanding on parcel | — | Table 20.62.100-1 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (> 4 units) | 1 sign up to 5 ft, all others up to 3 ft | 1 sign up to 16 sq ft, others up to 4 sq ft | — | — | Up to 5 per parcel | Freestanding on parcel | — | Table 20.62.100-1 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Commercial/Office Use) | 6 feet, max 4 feet unless outside corner vision triangle area | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per parcel | Freestanding on parcel | — | Table 20.62.100-2 |

### General Commercial, Neighborhood Commercial, Shopping Center Commercial, Thoroughfare Commercial, Village Commercial, Planned Development

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Building Sign | 2 feet below height of building | Main frontage: up to 350 sq ft; secondary frontage: up to 100 sq ft | — | — | No maximum | Building wall | — | Table 20.62.100-4 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Individual Businesses) | 8 feet (no higher than 4 feet unless outside Corner Vision Triangle) | 40 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage > 25 feet | One per each street frontage longer than 25 feet | — | Table 20.62.100-4 |
| Temporary Building Sign | 2 feet below bottom of roofline or parapet | 16 square feet per sign | — | — | One per business establishment | Building wall (one per business establishment or separate use) | — | Table 20.62.100-4; 20.62.150 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign | 3 ft for business signs; 8 ft for additional street frontage sign | 4 sq ft/business; 32 sq ft for 1 additional sign per street frontage if >4 businesses | — | — | See above | On parcel; see 20.62.152 for location/spacing restrictions | — | Table 20.62.100-4; 20.62.152 |
| Shopping Center Sign | Neighborhood/Thoroughfare: 12.5 ft (+2 ft appurtenances); Regional/Community: 25 ft (+3 ft appurtenances) | Neighborhood/Thoroughfare: 100 sq ft/face structure (50 sq ft signing area max); Regional/Community: 260 sq ft/face structure (130 sq ft signing area max) | Neighborhood/Thoroughfare: 8 ft; Regional/Community: 13 ft | Minimum 3 ft from property line | Max 2 per arterial with >400 ft frontage | Freestanding in shopping center; must meet base width/foundation requirements | — | Section 20.62.140 |

### Downtown Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Building Sign | 2 ft below roofline/parapet (single story); 15 ft above roofline for multi-story | — | — | — | — | Building wall | — | 20.62.120-1 |
| Permanent Building Sign (additional pedestrian-oriented sign) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 additional per business | Projecting or hanging over sidewalk | — | 20.62.120(C) |
| Pedestrian-oriented Projecting/Arcade/Hanging Sign (additional sign) | If over sidewalk: 8 ft clearance min | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Projecting/hanging (over sidewalk) | — | 20.62.120(C) |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign | 6 ft (4 ft unless outside corner vision triangle) | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying parcel | Freestanding on site | — | 20.62.120-1 |
| Temporary Building Sign | 2 ft below roofline/parapet for single story; 30 ft for multi-story | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Building wall | — | 20.62.120-1; Table 20.62.120-1 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (A-frame) | 6 ft | 10 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per business | Freestanding/sidewalk | — | 20.62.120-1 |
| Window Sign | — | Max 20% of window covered | — | — | No max | Inside window | — | 20.62.120(D), 20.62.180 |

## Prohibited signs in Merced

- Signs located, placed, or erected in or upon any public right-of-way, except as specifically allowed by this chapter.
- Signs illuminated with red, green, or amber lights placed in such a position that it could reasonably be perceived to interfere with, or be confused with any official traffic control device, traffic signal, or official directional guide sign.
- Signs placed within the 'corner vision triangle' as defined in Section 20.30.030 of the Merced Municipal Code, except for signs erected by a governmental agency to direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Signs placed in a location that would prevent free ingress and egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- Outdoor advertising structures located on a site other than the site on which the advertised commercial use is located or on which the advertised commercial product is produced.
- Building signs extending above the peak of a pitched roof, or the parapet line of a flat roof.
- Reflecting, flashing, sparkling, glittering, twinkling, or shimmering signs.
- Signs with open letters that can be viewed from the reverse side.
- Streamers, balloons, blimps, or other floating, inflatable, or hanging devices secured with a rope or string, unless specifically permitted with a temporary use permit.
- Signs located, placed, or attached upon any tree, utility pole, or fence, except as specifically allowed by this chapter.
- Signs placed on private property without permission of the property owner.
- Non-conforming signs and sign structures associated with an activity, business, product, events, or service that has not been sold, produced, provided, or conducted on the premises for a period of ninety (90) days.
- Signs that revolve or are animated, except barber poles.
- Signs containing statements, words, symbols, or characters of an obscene nature (obscenity determined by the development services director using the Miller v. California test).
- Signs emitting sound.
- Signs located within five (5) feet of a fire hydrant, traffic control sign, or traffic signal.
- Signs over four (4) feet in height located within the 'corner vision triangle' area adjacent to a public street intersection as defined in Merced Municipal Code Section 20.30.030.
- Signs within ten (10) feet of a driveway or alleyway entrance or exit from the public street.
- No new billboard shall be permitted within the city except as provided. Billboards outside industrial zones are considered non-conforming.
- No part of a billboard shall include a digital display sign, manual changeable copy, or electronic changeable copy.
- Rooftop or roof-mounted signs are not allowed.
- Search lights and klieg lights are prohibited, except for public safety purposes or with a special event temporary use permit.
- Signs declared unlawful by the chapter and all persons erecting or maintaining them are subject to enforcement procedures.
- Signs not erected, constructed, or located in conformance with this chapter and not classified as a legal non-conforming sign are illegal and subject to abatement.
- Signs that are a hazard or immediate serious threat to public safety may be removed or repaired by the city at the owner’s expense.
- All signs must be maintained in like-new condition, free from deterioration, rust, rot, rips, tears, fading, graffitti, and other hazards; otherwise, they are subject to removal or repair.

## Signs exempt from permit in Merced

- One (1) permanent sign per residence or business premises, mounted on a wall and not exceeding two (2) square feet in area.
- Barber poles, not exceeding eighteen (18) inches in height, located in a non-residential zone district, and containing no lettering.
- Signs on vehicles, provided that the sign does not utilize changeable copy or special illumination.
- Holiday and cultural observance decorations on private property that do not include commercial advertising. This exemption includes strings of lights associated with a holiday decoration.
- Official notices issued by a court or public agency and posted in the performance of a public duty; notices posted by a utility or other quasi-public agency; signs erected by a governmental agency to direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic; non-commercial bus stop signs erected by a public transit agency, or other signs required or authorized by law. This exemption also covers signs and banners provided or approved by the city for special civic events erected by the city, which may be displayed in public rights-of-way.
- Signs that are located entirely within a building or enclosed structure and are not visible from the public right-of-way.
- Signs located on a private area of a lot that is not accessible by the general public, such as a backyard, and are not visible from the public right-of-way.
- Signs fixed to mobile vending carts, up to a maximum of eight (8) square feet of sign area.
- Signs that are part of a vending machine, fuel pump, or similar structure.
- Signs mounted on carrier vehicles such as buses, taxicabs, mobile vendors, and limousines that legally pass through the city.
- Window signs that conform to the standards of Section 20.62.180.
- Exempt signs that have electrical connections or engineered supports shall obtain the appropriate building permit, as required by the California Building Code.
- The chapter does not prohibit or limit a public agency (city, county, school district, etc.) from placing signs on their public property for a public purpose.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive master sign program is required for any site that contains more than three (3) commercial establishments in a shopping center, industrial park, or office park. (20.62.200)
- A comprehensive master sign program shall provide a coordinated and flexible design approach to signage for Merced's commercial shopping districts, industrial districts, and office parks.
- A comprehensive master sign program may be approved by the development services director as a minor use permit. If proposed with a development project requiring a conditional use permit, the planning commission may approve.
- After approval of a comprehensive master sign program, no sign shall be erected, placed, painted, or maintained, except in conformance with such program.
- Amendments to an approved master sign program require written concurrence by affected property owners and may be approved by the development services director or original approving body.
- Approval of a master sign program does not waive permit requirements for individual signs covered by the program.
- A master sign program may grant a 'bonus' in permitted sign area/height/element if certain public benefit or design standards are met (see 20.62.140.B).
- Shopping centers or office complexes with over 25,000 square feet of gross floor area in a commercial or P-D zone may be allowed an additional permanent freestanding or building sign beyond base standards, subject to the provisions of 20.62.140 and the adoption of a comprehensive master sign program.
- The planning commission may approve a master sign program with exceptions for historic buildings or buildings over two stories in the downtown area (see 20.62.220).

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

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