# Sign Regulations in Orland, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Orland, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/orland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Orland/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.78SIOR)

## At a glance

Orland, California regulates 23 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Portable Signs in the Mixed Use Designated Commercial Downtown Area zoning district are capped at 48 inches (including support/handles) tall, 12 sq ft, and 4 ft (no dimension > 4 ft) wide (Sec. 17.78.420). Most commercial signs in Orland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-2, C-H, P-D (Developed for Commercial Uses), M-L (for monument, digital display monument, digital display wall, and digital display pole signs), MU | 10 | 70 ft | 750 sq ft for all wall signs combined | — |
| Mixed Use Designated Commercial Downtown Area | 3 | 48 inches (including support/handles) | 25 sq ft | — |
| Industrially Zoned Properties | 3 | 48 inches | 25 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential Zoned Parcels | 1 | 8 ft above ground | 8 sq ft per sign | — |
| Single-family Residential Zoned Parcels | 1 | 6 ft above ground | 6 sq ft per sign | — |
| Multi-family Residential Zoned Parcels | 1 | 6 ft above ground | 12 sq ft per sign | — |
| Highway Business Area | 1 | 70 ft above finished grade | 750 sq ft total | — |
| Freeway Influence Area (FIA) | 1 | 70 ft | 750 sq ft (if multi-user), 100 sq ft (single use) | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-M, R-R) | 1 | 6 ft above ground | 6 sq ft per sign (single-family); 12 sq ft per sign (multi-family) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 15 ft overall | 50 sq ft for most signs; inflatables: 100 sq ft (sphere), 200 sq ft aggregate | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### C-2, C-H, P-D (Developed for Commercial Uses), M-L (for monument, digital display monument, digital display wall, and digital display pole signs), MU

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May not extend above roof line | 100 sq ft, not to exceed 20% of wall area | — | — | — | Attached to or supported by building wall; may project up to 15 inches; min. 8 ft above grade if over public property; not above the roof line | — | 17.78.400, 17.78.405 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 8 ft including base | 24 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage (<200 ft); 2 if >200 ft with min. 50 ft separation | Front setback/lawn; landscape at base where practical; masonry/concrete base | — | 17.78.300, 17.78.405 |
| Hanging Sign | — | 8 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per use per frontage | Over covered pedestrian walkway, parallel to face of building | — | 17.78.100 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Perpendicular to bldg. frontage, does not extend above eave or roof; min. 8 ft above public property | — | 17.78.150 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | 25 sq ft or 10% of surface, whichever is less | — | — | — | On hanging border (awning) or on canopy border (canopy); must not project above/below, may not project beyond the back edge of curb | — | 17.78.200 |
| Pole Sign (Within 600 ft of I-5) | 70 ft | 100 sq ft (single use); 250 sq ft (multi-use) | — | — | — | Within 600 ft of I-5; min. 330 ft from other pole signs | — | 17.78.250 |
| Digital Display Monument Sign | 8 ft including base | 24 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage (<200 ft); 2 if >200 ft | Base of masonry construction | — | 17.78.405 |
| Digital Display Pole Sign (Within 600 ft of I-5) | 70 ft | 100 sq ft (single use); 750 sq ft (multi-use) | — | — | — | Within 600 ft of I-5; min. 330 ft from any digital display pole sign | — | 17.78.405 |

### Mixed Use Designated Commercial Downtown Area

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Portable Sign | 48 inches (including support/handles) | 12 sq ft | 4 ft (no dimension > 4 ft) | — | 1 per occupied tenant/business | Immediately in front of business being advertised; may be in public right-of-way | — | 17.78.420 |
| Flag Sign | 10 ft (including structure) | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 50 ft frontage; all businesses allowed at least 1 | Immediately in front of business, in public ROW allowed in this zone | — | 17.78.430 |
| Banner Sign | 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 50 ft frontage, max 3; all businesses allowed at least 1 | Immediately in front of business, in public ROW allowed in this zone | — | 17.78.430 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Subdivision Sign | 15 ft overall | 40 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 3 | Within subdivision | — | 17.78.440.D.3 |
| Temporary Directional Sign (Open House) | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | Max 3 per event | Off-site, as directional for events | — | 17.78.440.D.2 |
| Protected Non-Commercial Political & Free Speech Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft max | 6 sq ft, doubled during election period (60 days before to 15 after) | — | — | — | Any property with owner's permission | — | 17.78.440.D.4 |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | — | 50 sq ft for most signs; inflatables: 100 sq ft (sphere), 200 sq ft aggregate | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Non-residential property; not in right-of-way unless per 17.78.420/430 | — | 17.78.440.D.5 |
| Community Event Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | May not be on public property or right-of-way except in mixed use designated commercial downtown area | — | 17.78.440.D.6 |
| Quasi-Public Use Identification Signs (Wall and Monument) | Monument: 8 ft max | Wall: 12 sq ft; Monument: 24 sq ft/side | — | — | 1 wall, 1 monument | On-site; monument sign placed per monument standards | — | 17.78.050.H |
| Marquee Sign (Theaters, Religious Facilities, Schools, Gas Stations, Restaurants, Hotels/Motels) | — | 25 sq ft (100 sq ft if within 600 ft of I-5) | — | — | — | — | — | 17.78.050.P |

## Prohibited signs in Orland

- No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained that displays or makes use of words, symbols, or characters (such as 'stop,' 'danger') in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic.
- Signs with red, green, or amber lights that could be confused with traffic signals are prohibited if seen primarily by vehicular traffic.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Obscene signs containing statements, words, pictures or other representations which are obscene as defined in Penal Code Section 311 are prohibited.
- Parking of vehicles or trailers with signs or advertising devices attached for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business, visible from the public right-of-way, is prohibited (with exceptions for standard business vehicle signage).
- No sign may be constructed, installed, or erected with less clearance from electric power or communication lines than required by California law.
- No portion of a sign or its supports may obstruct or be attached to any fire escape, stairway, exterior door, or standpipe, nor interfere with human exit through any window.
- Any advertising copy or message for a business no longer in operation, product/service unavailable, past event, or political candidate after election must be removed within thirty (30) days after notice.
- No sign shall be erected where it will obstruct or interfere with the view of authorized traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- Signs considered unsafe or a menace to the public must be removed or brought into compliance upon notice; those posing immediate danger may be summarily removed.
- Signs made of cardboard, roof tin, or spray paint are prohibited.
- No sign shall be displayed without the consent of the legal owner(s) of the property on which it is mounted or displayed.
- Nonconforming signs cannot be expanded or enlarged and must be brought into conformance upon substantial alteration, damage over 50% of reproduction cost, or business change.
- Signs must not be maintained in a manner that creates a safety hazard.

## Signs exempt from permit in Orland

- Window signs with a combined total not exceeding 20 percent of the window area.
- Bulletin boards not over 12 square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions located on premises as part of an approved monument sign.
- Signs denoting the architect, engineer, contractor, or financing institution placed upon work under construction, not exceeding 12 square feet.
- Building facade signs identifying history and name or historic events not exceeding 3 square feet and constructed of bronze, brass or similar incombustible material.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, or railroad crossing signs.
- Signs of public service companies indicating danger or aiding safety or service.
- Signs placed on the interior of a property not seen from the public right-of-way.
- Gasoline price signs not exceeding 20 square feet per side, with no more than two per parcel.
- California, United States, and other flags not used as general advertising for hire.
- Signs placed in parking lots to direct traffic or inform users of parking requirements.
- Warning signs indicating danger, aiding public safety, or showing location of public utilities’ underground facilities.
- City approved farmers' market signs (two on-site signs, two off-site signs with property owner permission, each vendor may display one temporary sign as per specified sizes; not in public right-of-way).
- Ordinary maintenance and repair of existing conforming advertising structures provided no structural modification including repainting with the same colors.
- Small non-illuminated informational window signs related to business operations, located on windows/glass doors, not included in total allowed sign area, maximum one square foot each and no more than four per business (examples: open/closed, credit card, professional rating).
- One neon or other 'open' sign per street frontage in a window not exceeding four square feet, not included in total allowed window sign area.
- Temporary signs and signs erected by nonprofit or volunteer organizations are exempt from permit fees (application/permit is still required, limited to 90 days of display unless extended).
- Parking directional signs not exceeding eight square feet per side located close to driveway entrances.
- Directional signs within a nonresidentially zoned parcel for vehicular/pedestrian direction, not exceeding eight square feet per sign.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, except those exempted by Section 17.78.750, require an administrative use permit processed by the city planner, with appeal to the city manager.
- A use permit may be granted by the planning commission to exceed maximum sign area as provided in Chapter 17.80.
- Engineering plans stamped by a California-licensed engineer or architect are required for certain signs as listed in Section 17.78.050(J), including large canopy/marquee signs, wall signs exceeding size thresholds, ground/pole signs above certain sizes, and as otherwise required by building official.
- All electric signs and outline lighting require building permits and approval by the building official prior to installation.
- Comprehensive sign plan is required for groups of businesses or a whole shopping center development, covering location, size, height, color, orientation, lighting, and types of signs; applies to projects over 10 gross acres (nonresidential) or 100 acres (residential), or adjacent to or within 250 feet of I-5.
- Comprehensive sign plan applications must be submitted with site plan or preliminary subdivision plat and acted upon by city council after planning commission recommendation.
- Amendments to comprehensive sign plans are required for major changes; minor amendments may be administratively approved if they do not increase number, size, or height of any sign.
- Permits for conditional use exceptions to sign standards must be reviewed and approved by the planning commission, which may grant increases in number, size, area, height, or type of signs within specified criteria.
- Protected noncommercial messages may be substituted for commercial messages on any legal sign structure at any time without additional approval or permitting, provided structure/mounting is legal.
- Temporary signs and nonprofit/volunteer signs are exempt from permit fees but still require application and approval; extension beyond 90 days requires authorization from the planning department.
- Master and comprehensive sign plans are subject to specific city submittal, review, and approval processes, including fees, review at the council and commission level, and specific criteria.
- For individual sign types (e.g., hanging, projecting, awning/canopy, pole, monument, multiple tenant, wall, digital, off-premises multi-user signs), permit is processed as administrative use permit per Chapter 17.80, except as otherwise specified.

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

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