# Sign Regulations in Rialto, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rialto, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/rialto
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-26
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Rialto/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT9PUPESAMO_DIVIXAD_CH9.97REMOBIADDIADSIMOVEPALESTSTPULA)

## At a glance

Rialto, California regulates 10 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the C-1 and C-1A commercial zones zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 32 square feet, with a 5 feet setback (Sec. 18.102.060(G)). Most commercial signs in Rialto require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 6 feet | 30 square feet | — |
| R-1 A zone | 1 | 6 feet | 4 square feet | — |
| Administrative-Professional Zone | 1 | — | 25 square feet (if frontage < 25 feet) | — |
| C-1 neighborhood commercial | 1 | — | 30 square feet (additional side wall sign) | — |
| C-1 and C-1A commercial zones | 1 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| C-2, C-3 and C-M commercial zones | 1 | 20 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| M-1, M-2 and PID manufacturing and industrial zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| C-3 and C-M commercial zones | 1 | 25 feet | 300 square feet per display face | — |
| M-1 and M-2 manufacturing zones | 1 | 25 feet | 80 square feet | — |
| Rialto Gateway Specific Plan Area | 1 | 120 feet | 1000 square feet (total combined area) | — |
| A-1 Agricultural Zone | 1 | 4 feet | 12 square feet | — |
| R-1A-10,000, R-1A, R-1B, and R-1C Single-family Residential Zones | 1 | 6 feet | 4 square feet | — |
| R-3 and R-4 Multiple-Family Residential, PRD Planned Residential Development and MHD Mobile Home Development Zones | 1 | 5 feet | 20 square feet (for developments over 12 units) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Noncommercial Sign | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | — | — | All residential zones | — | 18.102.060(A) |
| Temporary Advertising Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sign Design Criteria |
| Exempt Signs | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | 18.102.050(A) |

### C-1 and C-1A commercial zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | 5 feet | 1 per lot or parcel | Within landscaped planter area | — | 18.102.060(G) |

### C-2, C-3 and C-M commercial zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 40 square feet | — | 5 feet | 1 per lot or parcel | Set back a minimum of 5 feet from public right-of-way | — | 18.102.060(H) |

## Prohibited signs in Rialto

- Flashing signs, except in time and temperature signs
- Roof signs
- Revolving signs
- Vehicle signs, when used on property to identify a business
- Portable signs, except where permitted in this chapter
- Signs within the public right-of-way, except where required by a governmental agency, or an encroachment permit has been obtained from the city engineer
- Signs blocking doors or fire escapes
- Commercial banners, flags and pennants, except for temporary advertising as provided for in this chapter
- Tethered balloon or balloons

## Signs exempt from permit in Rialto

- Permanent window signs not exceeding three square feet in area and limited to business identification, hours of operation, address and emergency information only
- Interior signs within a structure not visible from off site or from outside of building
- Memorial tablets, plaques or directional signs for community historical resources, installed by the Rialto Historical Society or a recognized civic organization
- Official and legal notices issued by the court, public body, person, or officer in performance of his or her public duty or in giving legal notice
- Directional, warning or informational signs or structures required or authorized by law or by federal, state, county or city authority
- Convenience signs which are necessary for public convenience and not exceeding three square feet in area
- Official flags of the United States of America, the state of California, the county, and official flags of internationally and nationally recognized organizations, when on a flagpole or otherwise properly displayed
- Signs of public utility companies which indicate danger, serve as an aid to public safety or indicate the location of underground facilities or public telephones
- Safety signs on construction sites
- Street light banner signs subject to review by the public works department and approval of an encroachment permit by the city engineer
- Seasonal signage displayed within the public right-of-way and subject to approval of an encroachment permit by the city engineer

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a sign permit shall be made in writing upon forms provided by the building division. Two copies of the sign plans shall be filed with the application.
- Prior to the issuance of a sign permit by the building division, the applicant shall submit copies of the sign plan required for the sign permit to the community development department for processing and approval.
- No new sign shall be approved for a site structure, building or use that contains nonconforming signs unless such nonconforming signs are removed or modified to conform with the provisions of this chapter.

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

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