# Sign Regulations in Redding, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Redding, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/redding
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Redding/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT18ZO_DIVIVREAPALDI_CH18.42SI)

## At a glance

Redding, California regulates 19 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Shopping Center (SC), Regional Commercial (RC) zoning district are capped at 6 ft (see F2 for increased height/size at larger setbacks) tall and 35 sq ft (or 150 sq ft by ASP/use permit), with a At least 5 ft; see F2 for others. setback (Sec. Schedule 18.42.030-B, 18.42.040(F)). Most commercial signs in Redding require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Low-Density (RL), Residential Estate (RE), Residential Single-Family (RS), Residential Multi-Family (RM) | 9 | 6 ft | 35 sq ft/90 sq ft (see notes) | — |
| Limited Office (LO) | 4 | 6 ft (up to 7-12 ft if increased setbacks) | 35/90 sq ft | — |
| General Office (GO) | 4 | 6 ft (see F2 for exceptions, up to 12 ft with increased setback) | 35/90 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (NC) | 4 | 25 ft (35 ft by zoning exception) | 75 sq ft per sign | — |
| Shopping Center (SC), Regional Commercial (RC) | 5 | 60-70 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial (GC), General Commercial-Visitor Retail (GC-VR), Heavy Commercial (HC) | 5 | 25 ft (up to 35 ft by exception) | GC: 150 sq ft; GC-VR: 150 sq ft; HC: 150 sq ft. | — |
| General Industrial (GI), Heavy Industrial (HI) | 3 | 25 ft (35 ft by exception) | 150 sq ft | — |
| Public Facilities (PF) | 2 | — | By Administrative Sign Permit or site development/use permit | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 4 ft | Banner: 24 sq ft (bigger with permit, up to 50 sq ft) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Residential Low-Density (RL), Residential Estate (RE), Residential Single-Family (RS), Residential Multi-Family (RM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | RL/RE/RS: 12 sq ft (or 24 sq ft for certain uses); RM: 20 sq ft (or 40 sq ft for certain uses) | — | — | — | Building-mounted; wall signs shall not extend above the top of wall or parapet. | — | Sec. 18.42.030-B, Notes 1 & 3; Sec. 18.42.040(T) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Min. 5 ft; may not violate clear sight triangle. | — | Detached; setback at least 5 ft from property line, may not violate setbacks for street corners or driveways. | — | Sec. 18.42.030-B; Sec. 18.42.040(F) |
| On-Site Real Estate/Construction Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft for individual lot; 32 sq ft for subdivision (if less than 80% of lots sold) | — | — | 1 per lot or 1 for new subdivision | On-site only, not in public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 18.42.040(P) |
| Political Sign | 6 ft if detached | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On private property, not in right-of-way. | — | Sec. 18.42.040(I) |
| Temporary On-Site Real Estate Sign (Subdivision) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision | On-site only. | — | Sec. 18.42.040(P)(3) |
| Temporary Off-Site Real Estate Development Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1/sign per access point | Off-site location with permit only. | — | Sec. 18.42.040(O) |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On building. | — | Sec. 18.42.070(A) |
| Non-illuminated On-site Bed & Breakfast Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-site only. | — | Sec. 18.43.060(F) |

### Shopping Center (SC), Regional Commercial (RC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Building-mounted | — | Schedule 18.42.030-A, Schedule 18.42.030-B, 18.42.040(T) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft (see F2 for increased height/size at larger setbacks) | 35 sq ft (or 150 sq ft by ASP/use permit) | — | At least 5 ft; see F2 for others. | Multiple for shopping centers: 1/300 ft of improved street frontage, max 3. | Min. 5 ft setback | — | Schedule 18.42.030-B, 18.42.040(F) |
| Pole Sign | 25 ft (35 ft by zoning exception) | 90 sq ft (150 sq ft by permit/use permit) | — | 5 ft | See E(1) for number per lot/frontage | — | — | Schedule 18.42.030-B, 18.42.040(H) |
| Shopping Center Identifier Sign | 40 ft | 200 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per center with qualifying size | Detached, 10 ft setback from property lines. | — | Schedule 18.42.030-B, 18.42.040(L) |
| Freeway Sign | 60-70 ft | 400 sq ft | — | — | 1 per shopping center or retail building meeting criteria | Within 500 ft of freeway; as close as possible to nearest travel lane | — | Sec. 18.42.040(D) |

### General Commercial (GC), General Commercial-Visitor Retail (GC-VR), Heavy Commercial (HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | GC: 150 sq ft; GC-VR: 150 sq ft; HC: 150 sq ft. | — | — | — | Building-mounted only. | — | Schedule 18.42.030-B, 18.42.040(T) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft (can increase per setback) | 35 sq ft (or 90 sq ft with ASP/use permit) | — | 5 ft | Rules per E(1) | 5 ft min setback | — | Schedule 18.42.030-B, 18.42.040(F) |
| Pole Sign | 25 ft (up to 35 ft by exception) | 90 sq ft (150 sq ft possible in some cases) | — | 5 ft | — | 5 ft minimum from property lines. | — | Schedule 18.42.030-B, 18.42.040(H) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | Max 3 ft projection | — | Schedule 18.42.030-B, 18.42.040(J) |
| Roof or Mansard Mounted Sign | — | 60 sq ft (90 sq ft by ASP) | — | — | — | See K. Must not project above parapet. | — | Schedule 18.42.030-B, 18.42.040(K) |

## Prohibited signs in Redding

- No sign shall be erected, placed, displayed, enlarged or altered within the city unless provided for by this chapter by permit, exemption or specific regulation.
- All signs not expressly allowed by this title are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited; a sign not identifying the current activity on the premises for over 30 consecutive days is considered abandoned and must be corrected or removed within 30 days' notice by the city.
- Billboards are prohibited, except pre-existing legal billboards governed by other entitlements.
- It is unlawful to erect, construct, or maintain any sign that uses words or symbols such as 'stop,' 'danger,' or similar in a way as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- Electronic message board signs are prohibited, except for monument and wall signs in the 'PF' public facilities district and legalized nonconforming signs.
- No sign shall have red, green, or amber lights that could be confused with traffic signals if designed or located to be seen primarily by vehicular traffic.
- It is unlawful to exhibit, post, or display any sign, picture, or illustration with emphasis on sexual activities or anatomical areas as defined in city code.
- Moving, rotating, flashing, or windblown signs are prohibited. Flashing includes changes of color intensity and strings of light bulbs; windblown includes posters.
- Off-site (nonappurtenant) signs are prohibited except as specifically allowed (e.g., legal nonconforming, temporary real estate, political, public promotion, off-site pole/monument signs).
- Portable signs, including A-frame signs or signs attached to moveable devices like wheels or trailers, are prohibited.
- No person shall park any vehicle, equipment, or trailer on public or private property with a sign attached for advertising purposes, except for permanently affixed business/identification signs on commercial vehicles.
- Signs must be kept in a safe condition; unsafe signs are prohibited and may be removed by the city if not corrected within 30 days' notice or immediately if an immediate danger.
- Signs shall not obstruct the view of authorized traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- It is unlawful to install, maintain, or operate a monitored perimeter security fence system in violation of the sign ordinance or related alarm system code.
- Signs illegally placed in the public right-of-way are prohibited and may be removed.
- Illegal signs, including those built or installed illegally before city adoption or annexed illegally under county requirements, are prohibited.
- Rapidly flashing signs simulating motion (alternating flashers, traveling, scintillating, on-and-off, speller flashers) are prohibited by detailed time and brightness standards.

## Signs exempt from permit in Redding

- Nameplates not exceeding two square feet, except they shall not advertise businesses in 'RL,' 'RE,' and 'RS' districts.
- One 'open' and one 'closed' sign not to exceed two square feet per business.
- Private information signs (e.g., 'Beware of Dog', 'No Soliciting') not exceeding one square foot and containing no advertising message.
- Traffic, municipal, or other signs, signals, and notices which relate to public welfare and safety and are erected by a government agency.
- One on-site garage sale sign per residential lot, less than two square feet and displayed no more than three times in any twelve-month period, nor more than three consecutive days each.
- Signs showing the location of public telephones and utility company signs indicating underground facilities are exempt.
- Signs of a public, noncommercial nature used to indicate danger or for public safety, including those related to road work or construction.
- Parking-violation and handicap signs not exceeding three square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign plan is required for all proposed commercial centers with three or more tenant lease areas. The plan shall delineate the distribution of allowed sign area and require an administrative sign permit, unless filed as part of a site development permit or use permit for the project.
- Where a nonresidential parcel lacks public street frontage and off-site signs are not permitted, a comprehensive sign plan may be submitted jointly with abutting properties with street frontage. The director may allow a 20% increase in pole sign area with approval of an administrative sign permit.
- All comprehensive sign plans must include dimensions and graphics to fully describe proposed signage.
- The sign ordinance requires a site plan and elevations that explain the requested signage and its proposed location for any sign subject to permit.
- Shopping center identifier signs require a use permit and may require final plan review by the board of administrative review. Freeway signs and plans for multiple-tenant developments may also require discretionary review.
- Monument signs exceeding 90 square feet require approval of a site development permit.
- A shopping center identifier sign, freeway sign, or any sign exceeding specific thresholds may be subject to additional plan review or public hearing.
- Administrative sign permits and associated plans (with site plan, sign elevations, lighting and landscape plans for pole/monument signs) are required for many sign types and modifications to nonconforming signs.
- Director may require a site development permit if a wall mural, supergraphic, or sign is anticipated to have a significant aesthetic impact or be controversial.

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

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