# Sign Regulations in Nevada City, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nevada City, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/nevada-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Nevada_City/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT8HESA_CH8.24SMREPR_8.24.150POSIRE)

## At a glance

Nevada City, California regulates 6 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Accessory Building Sign (Option 1)s in the Residential Zone zoning district are capped at 160 square feet if not honoring principal building setbacks., with a At least 10 ft from any dwelling, 5 ft from any property line (with details for corners and lot adjacency). setback (Sec. 17.80.010 B). Most commercial signs in Nevada City require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Business Zone (GE), Local Business District (LB), Light Industrial District (LI), Employment Center District (EC), Public/Recreation District, Nonresidential Districts | 4 | Shall not project above the eave or parapet line of the building. | 12 square feet per sign (if two-sided, both sides counted toward max). | — |
| Historical District, Office and Professional Zone, General Business Historical District (GB-HD) | 3 | — | — | — |
| Residential Zone | 3 | — | 160 square feet if not honoring principal building setbacks. | — |
| Open Space (OS) | 2 | — | 12 square feet per sign. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Business Zone (GE), Local Business District (LB), Light Industrial District (LI), Employment Center District (EC), Public/Recreation District, Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Shall not project above the eave or parapet line of the building. | — | — | — | — | Integral with or attached flat against the building. For buildings set back so building sign is not visible, a different location may be approved by city planner. | — | 17.80.190 E,F,G,I |
| Roof-Mounted Sign | Cannot project above eave or parapet line. | — | — | — | — | Only for businesses facing Argall Way and Searls Avenue. | — | 17.80.190 A,B,F,G,I |
| Political Election Sign | — | 12 square feet per sign (if two-sided, both sides counted toward max). | — | — | — | — | — | 17.80.195, 17.80.196, 17.80.197 |
| Tract Sign (Temporary Real Estate Sign) | — | — | — | — | Maximum 4 per tract | May be located on each major or secondary thoroughfare surrounding the tract for directional purposes. | — | 17.80.170 |

### Historical District, Office and Professional Zone, General Business Historical District (GB-HD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.80.190 H |
| Political Election Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Political election signs regulated separately; see outside historical district for primary standards. | — | 17.80.195, 17.80.196 |
| Tract Sign (Temporary Real Estate Sign) | — | — | — | — | — | See general requirement for tract signs. | — | 17.80.170 |

### Residential Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Building Sign (Option 1) | — | 160 square feet if not honoring principal building setbacks. | — | At least 10 ft from any dwelling, 5 ft from any property line (with details for corners and lot adjacency). | — | Detached accessory building located on rear half of lot, at least 10 ft from any dwelling, 5 ft from property line. | — | 17.80.010 B |
| Political Election Sign | — | 12 square feet per sign (if two-sided, both sides counted). | — | — | — | — | — | 17.80.195, 17.80.196 |
| Tract Sign (Temporary Real Estate Sign) | — | — | — | — | Maximum 4 per tract | See general tract sign requirement. | — | 17.80.170 |

## Prohibited signs in Nevada City

- Moving signs and flashing lights are prohibited.
- Internally illuminated signs and digital or electronic signs of all types are prohibited.
- Signs shall be lighted only at such times as the premises are open for business, and after business hours, all illumination shall be indirect.
- No exterior surface of any building or structure in any zone shall be painted in any color or with graphic design whereby such color or super-graphic shall constitute a message, code, or signal. Legal signs are excepted.
- No sign shall project above the eave or parapet line of the building.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nevada City

- Legal signs are excepted from the prohibition on exterior surfaces painted as messages or super-graphics.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no mention of a Master Sign Plan, sign plan, or variance meeting requirement for signs in this section.
- For buildings set back from the street so that a sign on the building would not be reasonably visible, the city planner may approve an alternative sign location.

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

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