# Sign Regulations in Soledad, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Soledad, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/soledad
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Soledad/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.43SI)

## At a glance

Soledad, California regulates 23 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Nonresidential districts, C-1, CC, HC, C-2, M, Highway Commercial (H-C), Community Commercial (C-C), Commercial districts, Industrial districts zoning district are capped at 30 ft (C-1), 60 ft (CC, HC, C-2, M) tall and 200 square feet, with a 5 ft from property lines (front, side, rear) setback (Sec. 17.43.120.A). Most commercial signs in Soledad require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 7 | 5 feet (for traffic-directing signs) | 15 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential districts, C-1, CC, HC, C-2, M, Highway Commercial (H-C), Community Commercial (C-C), Commercial districts, Industrial districts | 14 | 30 ft (C-1), 60 ft (CC, HC, C-2, M) | 250 square feet (for front sign) | — |
| Open Space Districts | 2 | — | 8 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 8 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | Unspecified; letters not exceeding six inches high. | — | — | One per main building. | Main building. | — | 17.43.050.A.4; 17.43.080.A.1 |
| Wall Sign (Single Residence) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per main building | On main building. | — | 17.43.080.A.1 |
| Wall Sign (Multi-family/Planned/Apartment/etc.) | — | 15 square feet | — | — | One per development | On building as permitted by approved plan or discretionary permit. | — | 17.43.080.A.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-family/PUD/Apartment/Condo/Townhouse) | 5 feet (for traffic-directing signs) | 15 square feet for identification; 4 square feet for traffic-directing signs | — | — | One per development for identification; as required for directing traffic | On site, at entrance or for traffic direction. | — | 17.43.080.A.2 |
| For Sale or For Lease Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | Not limited in number by code if annual permit; one exempt sign for for sale by owner. | On site of property for sale or lease. | — | 17.43.150.A |
| Construction Project Sign | 5 feet (if freestanding) | 12 square feet | — | — | — | On site of construction. | — | 17.43.150.C |
| Directional Sign | 4 feet | 8 square feet | — | At least 5 feet from property line | — | On property it pertains to; at least 5 feet from property line. | — | 17.43.150.D |

### Nonresidential districts, C-1, CC, HC, C-2, M, Highway Commercial (H-C), Community Commercial (C-C), Commercial districts, Industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | 12 feet vertical dimension | 25 square feet per building face | — | — | One per building face fronting public street | Projecting from building face. | — | 17.43.110.A |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft (C-1), 60 ft (CC, HC, C-2, M) | 200 square feet | — | 5 ft from property lines (front, side, rear) | One per business/occupancy | Not closer than 5 ft to front, side or rear property line. | — | 17.43.120.A |
| Monument Sign (Downtown Specific Plan Area) | 6 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage +1/additional 250 ft. | Street frontage | — | 17.43.120.B.1 |
| Monument Sign (Industrial/commercial outside downtown) | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage +1/additional 250 ft. | Street frontage | — | 17.43.120.B.2 |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Entrances) (Shopping Centers, Office, Multi-tenant buildings outside downtown) | — | 250 square feet (for front sign) | — | — | One per entrance | Front of business premises and wall with second entrance. | — | 17.43.080.B.3 |
| For Sale or For Lease Sign | — | 75 square feet | — | — | Not limited if annual permit | On property advertised. | — | 17.43.150.A |
| Directory Sign | 8 feet | 75 square feet | — | At least 2 feet inside front property line. | — | At least 2 feet inside front property line. | — | 17.43.150.B |
| Directional Sign (Greater than 4 sq ft) | 4 feet | 8 square feet | — | At least 5 feet from nearest property line. | — | On property to which it pertains; at least 5 feet from nearest property line. | — | 17.43.150.D |

### Open Space Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Owner/Occupant/Identification) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | One per premises | On premises. | — | 17.43.080.C.6 |
| Freestanding Sign (Owner/Occupant/Identification) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | One per premises | On premises. | — | 17.43.080.C.6 |

## Prohibited signs in Soledad

- No person shall erect any temporary or permanent sign upon any billboard, fence, post, pole, tree, building or other structure within the city without first obtaining a sign permit, except as otherwise provided.
- Moving signs or structures having a visible moving part or visible mechanical movement of any description, or visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic or kinetic means, including intermittent electrical pulsation, or by wind currents, are prohibited except certain exceptions below 25 sq ft and with special findings.
- Banners, pennants, searchlights, twirling signs, sandwich boards, balloons or other gas-filled figures are prohibited except as temporary signs for which a permit has been issued, limited to 30 days.
- Roof signs, including any temporary sign located on or extending above the roof of a building, are prohibited except by approval of a conditional use permit.
- Any sign affixed to a vehicle and protruding more than one foot from the vehicle or affixed so the vehicle is rendered inoperable is prohibited.
- Any sign which does not identify or relate to any business or other activity being conducted on the premises is prohibited.
- Signs constructed so that any light bulb or filament, other than neon tubing or other self-illuminating material of equivalent or less intensity, is visible from the front or beyond the property line are prohibited.
- Signs displaying obscene, indecent, or immoral matter or untruthful advertising matter are prohibited.
- Signs which imitate, resemble, or purport to be official traffic or safety signs and attempt to govern public activity in public streets, rights-of-way, or other public places are prohibited, except for internal traffic control signs.
- No person shall paint, mark, attach, post, or otherwise affix any sign to or upon any public property within the city, and anyone responsible is liable for removal costs. (with listed exceptions for house numbers, plaques, certain constructions, and city/governmental signs)
- No sign shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of the sign or its support is attached to or will interfere with free use of any fire escape, exit, or standpipe, or obstruct any required stairway, door, ventilator, or window.
- No sign shall be placed on the top or on any nonvertical surface of any marquee, porch, walkway covering, or similar structure adjacent to a building.
- No sign shall be erected such that it could interfere with, obstruct, confuse or mislead vehicular traffic within a designated clear area at street intersections unless compliant and elevated as specified.
- No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises any sign in a sagging, leaning, fallen, decayed, deteriorated, dilapidated, or otherwise unsafe condition.
- No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises any sign which has been abandoned or pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer obtains.
- No person shall erect or display or authorize anyone to erect or display any election sign on public property.
- No person shall erect or display, or authorize anyone to do so, any election sign on property not owned or controlled by that person without owner authorization.

## Signs exempt from permit in Soledad

- Public signs and notices required or specifically authorized by law, statute, or ordinance, regardless of type, number, size, or location.
- Government signs for control of traffic or other regulatory purposes, street signs, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, city entrance identification, signs for designation or direction to schools, hospitals, historical sites, public services, properties or facilities, and public service company signs.
- Decorations commonly associated with national, state, or local holidays or city-sponsored events, provided they are displayed no more than 45 consecutive days and no more than 60 days per calendar year.
- Address numbers and nameplates with letters not exceeding six inches high in residential districts and two feet high in other districts.
- One sign not exceeding two square feet in area for any main building.
- Signs posted or erected on private property on behalf of candidates for public office or measures on election ballots as permitted by Section 17.43.160.
- Signs four square feet or less in area which provide direction or instruction, located entirely on the property to which they pertain, and do not advertise a business; also, signs four square feet or less identifying restrooms, public telephones, walkways, parking lot entrance and exit signs, or similar.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a permit for each sign or master sign plan shall be made to the community development director in such form and containing such information as prescribed.
- Approval of a master sign plan by the architectural review committee is required for a shopping center, business park or buildings with three or more nonresidential tenants on a single site. All individual business or tenant signs must conform to the approved master sign plan.
- Signs considered to be of unusual style, composition, or configuration, or signs in a H-C highway commercial, C-C community commercial or M-Industrial district or on lots exceeding one acre in area in any district, are subject to referral to the architectural review committee for approval.
- Permit applications for multi-tenant buildings or centers in commercial districts (outside the downtown specific plan area), industrial districts, or on lots exceeding one acre, shall be reviewed and decided on a case-by-case basis by the architectural review committee.
- Wall graphics and graphic decorative displays occupying a major part/all of a building wall require a special permit granted by the architectural review committee, including a public hearing and neighbor notification.
- Exceptions to maximum height and sign area provisions may be approved by the community development director or architectural review committee if the exception does not exceed limits by more than 10%.
- Permit fees and removal bond requirements may be waived by the city council for temporary signs erected by nonprofit organizations for public events, but a permit is still required.

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

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