# Sign Regulations in Patterson, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Patterson, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/patterson
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-31
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.pattersonca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/398/Sign-Ordinance-PDF?bidId=)

## At a glance

Patterson, California regulates 31 sign types across 5 zoning districts. A-frame (Portable Sidewalk Sign)s in the Neighborhood Commercial (NC); Highway Service Commercial (HSC); Downtown Core (DC); General Commercial (GC); Medical/Professional Office (MPO); Light Industrial (LI); Heavy Industrial (HI); West Patterson Industrial Business Park District (IBP); West Patterson Light Industrial District (IL) zoning district are capped at 4 ft (measured perpendicular from sidewalk surface to highest point) tall, 10 sq ft (max 4 ft height x 2 ft 6 in width), and 2 ft 6 in wide, with a Placement must maintain ADA clearances and sight distances; cannot obstruct pedestrian paths setback (Sec. Table 18.82.060-2 (A-frame); Section 18.82.070(A)(1)-(7)). Most commercial signs in Patterson require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Estate Residential (ER); Low Density Residential, narrow (LR, narrow); Low Density Residential, wide (LR, wide); Downtown Residential (DR); Medium Density Residential (MR); High Density Residential (HR) | 6 | Horizontal: up to roofline; Vertical: 10 ft maximum height | Up to 100 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (NC); Highway Service Commercial (HSC); Downtown Core (DC); General Commercial (GC); Medical/Professional Office (MPO); Light Industrial (LI); Heavy Industrial (HI); West Patterson Industrial Business Park District (IBP); West Patterson Light Industrial District (IL) | 23 | 30 ft | Up to 100 sq ft | — |
| Public/Quasi-Public (PQP); Parks and Recreation (PR) | 5 | Per Section 18.82.060 sign type standards | Up to 100 sq ft | — |
| Planned Development (PD); Historic Preservation (HP); Mixed-Use (MU); Mixed-Use Hillside (MUH) | 1 | — | — | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### Estate Residential (ER); Low Density Residential, narrow (LR, narrow); Low Density Residential, wide (LR, wide); Downtown Residential (DR); Medium Density Residential (MR); High Density Residential (HR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Subdivision Identification) | Below edge of roof | 32 sq ft maximum each; combined total for all subdivision identification signs on a parcel not to exceed 64 sq ft | — | If wall sign projects over right-of-way, encroachment permit is required; otherwise must be on same site as subject of the sign | 1 of either allowed sign type (wall or monument) per entrance or street frontage | At subdivision entrances or along street frontages | — | Table 18.82.060-1; Sections 18.82.030, 18.82.040, 18.82.050 |
| Monument Sign (Subdivision Identification) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft maximum each; combined total for all subdivision identification signs on a parcel not to exceed 64 sq ft | — | Must not project over public property or obstruct traffic safety sight area | 1 of either allowed sign type (wall or monument) per entrance or street frontage | At subdivision entrances or along street frontages (on-site only) | — | Table 18.82.060-1; Sections 18.82.030, 18.82.040, 18.82.050 |
| Temporary Sign – Banner (Horizontal or Vertical) | Horizontal: up to roofline; Vertical: 10 ft maximum height | Up to 100 sq ft | — | — | One per establishment per street frontage | On-site; one per establishment per street frontage | — | Table 18.82.080-1 (Banner - Horizontal; Banner - Vertical); Section 18.82.080(A) |
| Temporary Sign – Non-Commercial Stake Sign (Residential Zone) | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — | Must be outside public right-of-way | One | Only on private property in residential zones; not in public right-of-way | — | Table 18.82.080-1 (Non-Commercial Stake Sign in Residential Zone) |
| Temporary Sign – For Sale (On-Site, Residential Zone) | — | 6 sq ft | — | Must be on private property | One | On the property it advertises (residential zone) | — | Table 18.82.080-1 (Signs on Property for Sale – On-Site Residential Zone) |
| Temporary Sign – For Sale (Off-Site Directional in Residential Zones) | — | 6 sq ft | — | Must be on private property; not in public right-of-way | — | Located on private property only; off-site directional within residential zones | — | Table 18.82.080-1 (Signs on Property for Sale – Off-Site Directional in Residential Zones) |

### Neighborhood Commercial (NC); Highway Service Commercial (HSC); Downtown Core (DC); General Commercial (GC); Medical/Professional Office (MPO); Light Industrial (LI); Heavy Industrial (HI); West Patterson Industrial Business Park District (IBP); West Patterson Light Industrial District (IL)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-frame (Portable Sidewalk Sign) | 4 ft (measured perpendicular from sidewalk surface to highest point) | 10 sq ft (max 4 ft height x 2 ft 6 in width) | 2 ft 6 in | Placement must maintain ADA clearances and sight distances; cannot obstruct pedestrian paths | One per business | Within business street frontage area on sidewalk; only within a commercial zoning district within the downtown area identified by the General Plan | — | Table 18.82.060-2 (A-frame); Section 18.82.070(A)(1)-(7) |
| Awning Sign (Ground Floor) | Below roof; at least 1 ft below top of parapet, second-floor sill, and/or lowest point of cornice or roof overhang | Per-parcel sign area controls apply (see additional requirements) | — | If projecting into right-of-way, encroachment permit required | Per Table 18.82.060-3 (see additional requirements) | Ground floor building frontages | — | Table 18.82.060-2 (Awning); Section 18.82.070(B); footnote (1) to Table 18.82.060-2 |
| Wall Sign (Ground Floor) | Below roof; at least 1 ft below top of parapet, second-floor sill, and/or lowest point of cornice or roof overhang (per footnote for signs below roof edge) | Per-parcel and per-establishment caps apply; largest individual wall sign ≤ 7% of facade area | — | If projecting over right-of-way, encroachment permit required | Per Table 18.82.060-3 (see additional requirements) | Any primary or secondary building frontage | — | Section 18.82.070(G)(1)-(3); Table 18.82.060-3 |
| Projecting Sign | No portion above eave line or top of parapet; overall height limited by 14 ft eave height, parapet height, or second-floor sill height, whichever is less | 9 sq ft per face | — | Maintain 8 ft pedestrian clearance; limit projection over public right-of-way to 36 in unless CUP and encroachment permit | Per Table 18.82.060-3 (see additional requirements) | Mounted to building wall; designed for pedestrian visibility | — | Table 18.82.060-2 (Wall, Projecting); Section 18.82.070(E)(1)-(7) |
| Projecting Sign (Second Floor) | Below roof; within 14 ft eave/parapet/sill limits | 12 sq ft total per second-floor tenant space (per Second Floor Signs limit) still governs; individual projecting sign face ≤ 9 sq ft | — | Maintain 8 ft pedestrian clearance | 1 per tenant space (second floor) | Second floor building frontage | — | Table 18.82.060-2 (Second Floor Signs); Section 18.82.070(E) and 18.82.070(G) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 8 ft | Per Table 18.82.060-3 overall parcel/establishment limits; individual monument sign height-limited | — | Must not obstruct traffic safety sight areas as determined by Planning Director | Per Table 18.82.060-3 (see additional requirements) | On site frontage adjoining a public street | — | Table 18.82.060-2 (Freestanding, Monument); Section 18.82.070(C)(1)-(6) |
| Freestanding Center Identification Sign | 30 ft | Per Table 18.82.060-3 overall parcel/establishment limits | — | Maintain traffic safety sight areas | Per Table 18.82.060-3 | On-site frontage adjoining a public street for multi-tenant centers | — | Table 18.82.060-2 (Freestanding, Center Identification); Section 18.82.070(C) |
| Freeway-Oriented Sign | 30 ft by right; greater height may be approved through CUP only to the minimum necessary to clear documented visual obstructions | Per Master Sign Program/permit; subject to parcel sign area limits | — | Must comply with freestanding sign location restrictions | Per Table 18.82.060-3 | Only on a parcel adjacent to the California Aqueduct within a commercial zoning district for a multi-tenant site with ≥25,000 sq ft gross floor area | — | Table 18.82.060-2 (Freeway-Oriented Sign); Section 18.82.070(D)(1)-(4) |

### Public/Quasi-Public (PQP); Parks and Recreation (PR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign – Banner (Horizontal or Vertical) | Horizontal: up to roofline; Vertical: 10 ft maximum height | Up to 100 sq ft | — | — | One per establishment per street frontage | On-site; one per establishment per street frontage | — | Table 18.82.080-1 (Banner - Horizontal; Banner - Vertical); Section 18.82.080(A) |
| Temporary Sign – Non-Commercial Stake Sign (Nonresidential Zone) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Outside public right-of-way | One | Only on private property in nonresidential zones; not in public right-of-way | — | Table 18.82.080-1 (Non-Commercial Stake Sign in Nonresidential Zone) |
| Temporary Sign – For Sale (On-Site, Nonresidential Zone) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per parcel street frontage | On-site (nonresidential parcel) | — | Table 18.82.080-1 (Signs on Property for Sale – On-Site Nonresidential Zone) |
| Temporary Sign – Wall-Mounted (not otherwise listed) | Per Section 18.82.060 sign type standards | 50% of total allowed permanent sign area for the site | — | — | As prescribed in Section 18.82.060 | On-site walls | — | Table 18.82.080-1 (Wall-Mounted Signs (not otherwise listed)) |
| Mural (Public Art) – CUP | — | — | — | — | — | Building wall | — | Section 18.82.070 (Murals) referencing Table 18.50.030-1 |

## Prohibited signs in Patterson

- All signs not expressly permitted by Chapter 18.82 are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited; signs that are dilapidated, in disrepair, or in a dangerous condition are prohibited.
- Signs with flashing, moving, or animated illumination are prohibited, except when allowed for grand openings or special events through Administrative Use Review.
- Balloons, pennants, wind-activated/air-inflated devices, and inflatable signs/objects are prohibited, except when allowed for grand openings or special events or as specifically permitted as temporary signs.
- Banners displaying a commercial message are prohibited, except when allowed through a temporary use permit.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Flags are prohibited except as allowed for noncommercial flags under 18.82.030(B).
- Illegal signs are prohibited.
- Moving signs (except barber poles) are prohibited, except when allowed for grand openings or special events through Administrative Use Review.
- Obscene signs (as defined by California Penal Code §311) are prohibited.
- Permanent off-site signs are prohibited.
- Can signs or internally illuminated cabinet signs are prohibited.
- Pole signs are prohibited unless approved by special permit (e.g., along a highway).
- Freestanding signs over 30 feet in height are prohibited unless approved by special permit (e.g., along a highway).
- Roof signs or signs placed above the roofline are prohibited, except when allowed for grand openings or special events through Administrative Use Review.
- Signs that simulate or could be confused with traffic control signs or signals, or that mislead/confuse pedestrian or vehicular traffic, are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or suspended from a vehicle parked within a public right-of-way, or placed on private property but visible from a public right-of-way, are prohibited unless the sign is painted directly upon, magnetically affixed to, or permanently affixed to the vehicle body.
- Temporary and portable signs are prohibited except as allowed by the temporary sign standards in Section 18.82.080.
- Signs that block a pedestrian path of travel are prohibited.
- No sign shall be located within the public right-of-way, except as otherwise allowed by Chapter 18.82 (e.g., with required encroachment permits).
- Signs must be located on the same site as the subject of the sign unless otherwise allowed by Chapter 18.82; permanent off-site signs are prohibited.
- Sign illumination shall not blink, flash, flutter, or change light intensity, brightness, or color.
- Colored lights shall not be used in a location or manner that could be confused with traffic control devices.
- Neither direct nor reflected light from primary light sources shall create a hazard to motorists.
- Reflective-type bulbs and incandescent lamps exceeding 15 watts shall not be used on the exterior surface of signs so as to expose the face of the bulb or lamp to a public right-of-way or adjacent property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Patterson

- Sites governed by a specific plan that establishes separate sign regulations are exempt from Chapter 18.82.
- Modifications to sign copy on conforming signs, or changes to the face/copy of conforming changeable-copy signs, do not require a sign permit.
- Nonstructural face/copy modifications to conforming signs installed under an approved master sign plan/program do not require a sign permit if consistent with the plan.
- Normal maintenance of conforming signs does not require a sign permit.
- Temporary signs that comply with the temporary sign standards (Section 18.82.080) are allowed without a sign permit unless the table specifies a Temporary Sign Permit is required.
- Governmental signs: signs installed by the City or a federal/state agency within a public right-of-way, and any sign/posting/notice required by a governmental agency, are exempt from sign permit.
- Noncommercial flags are exempt from sign permit if the flag length is no more than one-fourth the flagpole height; maximum flagpole height is 12 feet in residential zones and 30 feet in nonresidential zones (additional height only through design review); no flag may be located within the public right-of-way.
- Public directional signs and notices showing the location of public facilities (e.g., public telephones, restrooms, underground utilities) are exempt from sign permit.
- Service station price signs required by state law are exempt from sign permit.
- Street address numbers not exceeding an aggregate area of 2 square feet are exempt from sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Most signs require a sign permit per Section 18.16.080 unless exempt under Section 18.82.030(B). There are three approval types: temporary sign permits, sign permits, and a master sign program; a building permit may also be required.
- Once a master sign program/plan is approved for a site, all signs installed and maintained on that site must comply with the approved plan.
- For multi-tenant sites (4 or more tenants), Table 18.82.060-3 references Section 18.16.090 (Master Sign Plan) for additional flexibility, indicating use of a master sign plan/program for multi-tenant developments.
- Nonstructural modifications to the face/copy of conforming signs installed under a master sign plan/program are allowed without a separate sign permit if consistent with the plan (Section 18.82.030(B)(2)).
- A sign may project over a public right-of-way only with an encroachment permit in addition to any required sign permit (Section 18.82.050(C)(1)).
- Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is required for a freeway-oriented sign; height above 30 feet may be allowed by the commission only if specific findings are met (Section 18.82.070(D)).
- Institutional/theater/auditorium reader boards over 16 square feet require a CUP (Section 18.82.070(C)(6)).
- Temporary signs may require a Temporary Sign Permit depending on type (see Table 18.82.080-1, e.g., banners, inflatable signs, certain temporary wall-mounted signs).
- Grand opening and special event signs and certain otherwise-prohibited devices (e.g., flashing/animated, balloons/inflatables) may be allowed through Administrative Use Review or temporary use/temporary sign permits as stated in Sections 18.82.040 and 18.82.080.
- Pole signs or freestanding signs over 30 feet require a special permit (e.g., along a highway); without such a permit, they are prohibited (Section 18.82.040).

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

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