# Sign Regulations in Napa, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Napa, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/napa
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43398795#43398795)

## At a glance

Napa, California regulates 12 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Neighborhood Monument Signs in the Single-Family Residential District (RS), Traditional Residential Infill District (RT), Single-Family Infill District (RI) zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 24 square feet (Sec. Table 17.55-1).

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Residential District (RS), Traditional Residential Infill District (RT), Single-Family Infill District (RI) | 3 | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| Multifamily Residential District (RM) | 2 | 4 feet | 12 square feet | — |
| Medical Office District (OM), Commercial Office District (OC), Residential Office District (RO) | 2 | 4 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Light Industrial District (IL), Industrial Park District (IP) | 2 | 4 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Community Commercial District (CC), Tourist Commercial District (CT) | 2 | 6 feet | 150 square feet | — |
| Local Commercial District (CL) | 2 | 4 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Downtown Core Commercial District (DCC), Downtown Mixed-Use District (DMU), Downtown Neighborhood District (DN), Oxbow Commercial District (OBC) | 4 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 5 feet (residential), 12 feet (nonresidential) | 8 square feet | — |

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

### Single-Family Residential District (RS), Traditional Residential Infill District (RT), Single-Family Infill District (RI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Neighborhood Monument Sign | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | 2 signs per neighborhood | Neighborhood identification | — | Table 17.55-1 |
| Bed & Breakfast Inn Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-site | — | Table 17.55-1 |
| Cottage Food Operation Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-site | — | Table 17.55-1 |

### Downtown Core Commercial District (DCC), Downtown Mixed-Use District (DMU), Downtown Neighborhood District (DN), Oxbow Commercial District (OBC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 sign per frontage | Per frontage | — | Table 17.55-1 |
| Wall Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 sign per frontage | Per frontage | — | Table 17.55-1 |
| Canopy Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 sign per frontage | Per frontage | — | Table 17.55-1 |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 sign per frontage | Per frontage | — | Table 17.55-1 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign | 4 feet | 8 square feet | — | — | 2 signs per parcel | Front yard, rear or side yard | — | Section 17.55.120(H) |
| Real Estate Sign | 5 feet (residential), 12 feet (nonresidential) | 8 square feet (residential), 32 square feet (nonresidential) | — | — | 1 sign per street or road frontage | On-site | — | Section 17.55.120(F) |

## Prohibited signs in Napa

- Any sign type not expressly permitted under this chapter.
- Abandoned signs.
- A-frame signs, including sandwich boards.
- Commercial mascot signs.
- Flashing signs.
- Illegal signs.
- Inflatable signs.
- Mobile billboard signs.
- Moving signs.
- Off-site signs, including billboards.
- Pole signs.
- Portable signs.
- Roof signs.
- Any sign that is placed in or on any City property.
- Signs attached to light standards (poles) or utility poles unless part of an approved uniform sign program or creative sign program.
- Signs affixed to a structure or property not owned by the person who is installing the signs, without the written consent of the owner of the structure or property.
- Signs located in such a manner to constitute a potential traffic hazard or obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign or signal device, or designed to resemble or conflict with any authorized traffic control sign.
- Signs emitting audible sounds, odors, vapors, or particulate matter.
- Unsafe signs.
- Signs that contain obscene matter as defined in California Penal Code Section 311.

## Signs exempt from permit in Napa

- Permit without the need for administrative approval certain minor or temporary signs that meet specified standards for the time, place, and manner of their installation and use.
- Substitution of a noncommercial message for a commercial message.
- Limited substitutions of messages on changeable copy sign.
- Limited substitutions of messages on electronic message signs.
- Specified temporary and incidental signs.
- Sign maintenance and removal.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A uniform sign program is required for each multi-tenant non-residential project such as shopping centers, office parks, and other multi-tenant, mixed-use, or otherwise integrated developments of three or more separate tenants/uses.
- Creative sign program allows an applicant to request deviations to the area, height, or locational placement of signs.
- An applicant may seek a variance under Chapter 17.64 of this code.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/napa