# Sign Regulations in Stockton, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Stockton, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/stockton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43417266#43417266)

## At a glance

Stockton, California regulates 11 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the RE, RL, RM, RH, CO, PF, OS zoning district are capped at 7 feet tall and 50 square feet per face, with a Minimum streetside setback of 10 feet setback (Sec. §16.76.100E). Most commercial signs in Stockton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 7 feet | 35% of the window area | — |
| RH, CN, CO, CG, CD, CL, CA, IL, IG, PT, PF, MX, UC | 1 | — | Calculated in conjunction with wall signs | — |
| CG, CD, CA, CL, IL, IG, PF, PT, MX, UC | 1 | — | — | — |
| RE, RL, RM, RH, CO, PF, OS | 1 | 7 feet | 50 square feet per face | — |
| CN, CG, CD, CL, CA, IL, IG | 1 | 10 feet | 100 square feet per face | — |
| MX, UC, PT | 1 | — | — | — |
| CN, CG, CD, CL, MX | 3 | — | 24 square feet per sign face | — |
| CG, CD, CL | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 5 feet | 4 square feet in residential zones, 6 square feet in nonresidential zones | — | — | — | Where needed to guide traffic, parking, and loading | — | §16.76.100B |
| Directory Sign | 7 feet | — | — | — | — | At or near the main pedestrian entrance to a building or integrated center | — | §16.76.100C |
| Wall Sign | — | Varies by zone | — | — | — | Structure wall frontages along streets, alleys, parking lots, or other rights-of-way | — | §16.76.100J |
| Window Sign | — | 35% of the window area | — | — | — | Ground level and second story of a structure frontage | — | §16.76.100K |

### RE, RL, RM, RH, CO, PF, OS

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 7 feet | 50 square feet per face | — | Minimum streetside setback of 10 feet | One monument sign per parcel | Along frontages adjoining a public street | — | §16.76.100E |

### CN, CG, CD, CL, MX

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Marquee Sign | — | Calculated in conjunction with wall signs | — | — | — | Mounted only on the front or sides of a marquee, or suspended below | — | §16.76.100F |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 square feet per sign face | — | — | — | Wall frontage with the primary entrance to the structure | — | §16.76.100G |
| Suspended Sign | — | 10 square feet per sign face | — | — | — | Near the main entrance to the structure | — | §16.76.100H |

## Prohibited signs in Stockton

- It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, except a public officer or employee in the performance of a public duty, to place, paint, erect or maintain any sign on any public property or within any public right-of-way within the City.
- Signs emitting audible sounds, odors, or visible matter.
- Signs that conflict with or imitate traffic control devices due to color, wording, design, location or illumination.
- Signs that interfere with the safe and efficient flow of vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic that adversely affect traffic safety.
- Signs on public property or projecting within the public right-of-way except as provided in Municipal Code Chapter 12.80.
- Signs placed on properties of public utility companies (light poles, telephone poles, utility poles, equipment containers, etc).
- Signs attached to or painted on motor vehicles or trailers that are parked on or adjacent to public or private property, the principal purpose of which is to attract attention to a product sold or to a business located on or near the property where the vehicle or trailer is located, except for company vehicles parked on an interim basis.
- Graffiti as defined in Section 8.24.020(A) of the Municipal Code.
- Signs not in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Stockton

- Official and legal notices required by a court or governmental agency.
- A sign erected and maintained in compliance with, and in discharge of, a governmental function or required by a law, ordinance, or governmental regulation, including signs erected by a public utility.
- Signs on licensed commercial vehicles, including trailers, provided that the vehicles or trailers shall not be used as parked or stationary outdoor display signs.
- Bench and other signs located at designated public transit locations as authorized by Council franchise or revocable permit.
- Changes to existing sign copy.
- Memorial signs installed by, or with the approval of, a governmental agency, including signs and markers for historic landmarks or districts or points of interest.
- Artist renderings or paintings on fences or structures or sculpture or other art work shall only be allowed on private property with the permission of the owner of the property and on public property with the permission of the appropriate governmental body.
- Flags of the United States, California, San Joaquin County, the City of Stockton, or other governmental entities.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign program shall be required for new nonresidential multitenant developments of three or more separate tenants that share either the same parcel or structure and use common access and parking facilities.
- A comprehensive sign program shall be required for integrated centers.
- A comprehensive sign program shall be required for new multifamily developments of 100 or more units.
- A comprehensive sign program shall be required whenever five or more signs are proposed for a new or existing single-tenant development.
- A comprehensive sign program shall be required for nonresidential planned developments in compliance with Chapter 16.144 (Planned Development Permits).

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

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