# Sign Regulations in Tracy, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tracy, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/tracy
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CA/Tracy/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT9BURE_CH9.28SIPESTRE)

## At a glance

Tracy, California regulates 21 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 100 sq ft, with a Min 15 ft to property line; 14 ft to drive/alley/access setback (Sec. 10.08.4500(g)(2)). Most commercial signs in Tracy require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 30 ft or roofline; on-site residential/commercial as above | 300 sq ft; for residential property <1 acre: 6 sq ft; >1 acre: 32 sq ft; commercial/industrial <1 acre: 12 sq ft plus 1/10 ft street frontage (max 32 sq ft); >=1 acre: one per frontage max 32 sq ft each; project site >35 acres: 100 sq ft, 2 signs, 15 ft max height. | — |
| Residential Estate Zone (RE), Low Density Residential Zone (LDR), Medium Density Cluster Zone (MDC), Medium Density Residential Zone (MDR), High Density Residential Zone (HDR), Residential Mobile Home Zone (RMH), Agricultural Zone (A), Park Zone (P), Planned Unit Development Zone (PUD) | 4 | 8 ft (construction), 15 ft (large lot subdivision; entry signs) | 100 sq ft | — |
| Medical Office Zone (MO), Professional Office and Medical Zone (POM) | 3 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Community Shopping Center Zone (CS), Neighborhood Shopping Zone (NS), Community Recreation Support Services Zone (CRS), General Highway Commercial Zone (GHC), Central Business District Zone (CBD), Highway Service Zone (HS) | 7 | 15 ft | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| Light Industrial Zone (M-1), Heavy Industrial Zone (M-2) | 5 | 15 ft | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| Airport Overlay Zone (AO) | 1 | Subject to airport approach/horizontal/conical/transitional surface limits, generally much less than underlying zoning | — | — |
| Aggregate Mineral Overlay Zone (AMO) | 1 | — | — | — |
| I-205 Overlay Zone | 1 | 15 ft from nearest freeway or 45 ft, whichever less | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| Northeast Industrial Specific Plan Zone (NEI), Cordes Ranch Specific Plan Zone (CRSP), Tracy Hills Specific Plan Zone (THSP), Ellis Specific Plan Zone (ESP), Tracy Village Specific Plan Zone (TVSP), Avenues Specific Plan Zone (ASP) | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign - Standard | 6 ft in MO, NS, CS, HS, GHC, Use Group 30 as above; 4 ft for all other use groups/land uses in RE, LDR, MDR, HDR, POM | 24 sq ft (MO, NS, CS, HS, GHC & Use Group 30 in RE/LDR/MDC/MDR/HDR/POM); 36 sq ft (M-1 and M-2); or as established in PUD/Specific Plan | — | — | 2 per parcel | On-site | — | 10.08.4500(g)(1) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 15 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Min 15 ft to property line; 14 ft to drive/alley/access | 1 per qualifying site | Zones: CS, CBD, GHC, M-1, M-2, HS; School sites as specified | — | 10.08.4500(g)(2) |
| Off-site Monument Sign | See standard monument sign | See formula | — | — | 1 per business; 2 per sign parcel | Within access easement on off-site parcel | — | 10.08.4500(g)(3) |
| Temporary Signs - Commercial | 30 ft or roofline; on-site residential/commercial as above | 300 sq ft; for residential property <1 acre: 6 sq ft; >1 acre: 32 sq ft; commercial/industrial <1 acre: 12 sq ft plus 1/10 ft street frontage (max 32 sq ft); >=1 acre: one per frontage max 32 sq ft each; project site >35 acres: 100 sq ft, 2 signs, 15 ft max height. | — | On-site commercial sign must meet minimum yard/setback | — | On-site; see restrictions for off-site subdivision & activity signs | — | 10.08.4500(j) |
| Under Canopy Sign | 8 ft minimum clearance under sign | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel/business | Under canopy, on-site, non-residential zones | — | 10.08.4500(k) |
| Directional Sign | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | Subject to site plan review | On-site (parking lots), by site plan approval | — | 10.08.4500(c) |
| Directory Sign | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line/driveway/ingress/egress | — | On-site (multi-tenant buildings), not in agricultural zones | — | 10.08.4500(d) |
| Freeway Sign | 15 ft from crown of nearest freeway or 45 ft, whichever less | 300 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per parcel/business | Within 350 ft of freeway in GHC, CS, M-1, M-2, HS, SP/PUD if permitted | — | 10.08.4500(f) |

### Community Shopping Center Zone (CS), Neighborhood Shopping Zone (NS), Community Recreation Support Services Zone (CRS), General Highway Commercial Zone (GHC), Central Business District Zone (CBD), Highway Service Zone (HS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed pitch of roof | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site, on wall | — | 10.08.4500(l) |
| Monument Sign - Standard | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 2 per parcel | On-site | — | 10.08.4500(g)(1) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 15 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line, 14 ft from driveway/alley/access | 1 per qualifying site | On-site, shopping center/office complex/parcel >200 ft frontage (see requirements) | — | 10.08.4500(g)(2) |
| Roof Sign | 4 ft above eaves, never higher than roof pitch | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site, on roof, in permitted zones | — | 10.08.4500(i) |
| Window Sign | — | Permanent: 4 sq ft; temporary: not >25% window area | — | — | Permanent: 1 per business | On-site, inside window | — | 10.08.4500(m), 10.08.4500(j)(7) |
| Freeway Sign | 15 ft from freeway crown or 45 ft, whichever less | 300 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per parcel/business | Within 350 ft of freeway | — | 10.08.4500(f) |
| Digital Freeway Sign (as allowed in CRS, GHC, CS, M-1, M-2, HS, and I-205 Overlay) | 15 ft (crown of nearest freeway) / 45 ft max | 300 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per qualifying parcel | Per I-205 or specific plan allowance | — | 10.08.4500(b) |

### Light Industrial Zone (M-1), Heavy Industrial Zone (M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed pitch of roof | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site, on wall | — | 10.08.4500(l) |
| Monument Sign - Standard | 6 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | 2 per parcel | On-site | — | 10.08.4500(g)(i) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 15 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Min 15 ft from property, 14 ft from driveway/alley | 1 per qualifying site | On-site, qualifying parcels | — | 10.08.4500(g)(2) |
| Roof Sign | 4 ft above eaves, not higher than roof pitch | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site, on roof | — | 10.08.4500(i) |
| Freeway Sign | 15 ft from freeway crown or 45 ft, whichever less | 300 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per business/parcel | Within 350 ft of freeway | — | 10.08.4500(f) |

## Prohibited signs in Tracy

- Any sign that emits sound.
- Any sign mounted or attached to a vehicle parked for the purpose of calling attention to or advertising a special business establishment.
- Any sign or sign structure which has become a public nuisance due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment.
- Any sign which obstructs in any manner the ingress to, or egress from, a required door, window, fire escape, or other required accessway.
- Any sign containing any matter that is obscene as that term is defined in Penal Code Section 311.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained.
- Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold as prescribed in this article.
- Any sign within or over the public right-of-way or upon City property, including, but not limited to any notice, placard, bill, card, poster, sticker, banner, advertising, or other device affixed or attached to or upon any public street, walkway, crosswalk, or other right-of-way, curb, lamp post, hydrant, tree, telephone booth or pole, lighting system or any fixture of the police or fire alarm system, except certain official or City-controlled signs expressly allowed.
- Any sign which flashes, blinks, moves, changes color, appears to change color, changes intensity, or contains any part of an attachment which does the same except for as provided for under electronic readerboard sign subsection.
- Any sign not expressly permitted.
- Any sign attached to a tree.
- Any sign erected or maintained which has less horizontal or vertical clearance from communication lines or energized electrical power lines than that prescribed by the State or duly promulgated by agencies thereof.
- Any sign serving as a billboard.
- No sign shall be constructed upon the public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected at an intersection so as to intrude into a visibility triangle of 25 feet or otherwise interfere with visibility at intersections, driveways, or points of ingress/egress.
- No sign shall be located so that it adversely affects traffic control or safety.
- No part of a yard required for any building may be included as a yard for another building, and all yards shall be open and unobstructed, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
- No fence shall be constructed upon the public right-of-way.
- No fence shall be constructed within three feet of the center of any hydrant used for fire protection, two feet around street lights, three feet around sewer cleanouts and sign posts, and twelve inches around meter boxes.
- No sign may be illuminated where illumination is not permitted by the provisions of the chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tracy

- Official traffic, fire and police related signs, temporary traffic-control signs used during construction, utility facilities and substructure location and identification signs and markers required to protect said facilities, and other signs and markers required by the City, the State Department of Transportation, or any other public agency.
- Under-canopy signs (as allowed by code).
- Temporary activity signs on public property, as provided for under section 10.08.4500(j)(4).
- Civic organization signs, as provided for under section 10.08.4500(a).
- Banner signs on City property, as provided for under section 10.08.4510.
- Any sign in conjunction with an event permitted on City property through an approved Special Event Permit in accordance with Chapter 4.40.
- Off-site downtown directional signs erected by the City at up to sixteen specified locations, designed and approved by the City.
- Signs located completely within an enclosed building, and not exposed to view from a street, shall not be considered a sign under this article.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require a sign permit to be approved by the Director, unless otherwise exempted or requiring the approval of a Conditional Use Permit as described in the sign article.
- Sign applications are submitted on forms provided by the Department and reviewed by the Director or designee for conformance.
- Any applicant dissatisfied with a sign permit decision may appeal to the Commission within ten working days, and further to the Council.
- For certain sign types, such as digital freeway signs and electronic readerboard signs, a conditional use permit is required in lieu of a standard sign permit.
- A sign plan is required to show location, size, height, and type of illumination when applying for a sign permit.
- The total sign area on a parcel is calculated as the sum of the sign areas of all types of signs on the parcel, except directional and temporary signs. The total sign area shall not exceed one-half square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage to which the signs pertain, except as specified otherwise.
- Freestanding monument signs and freeway signs may only be permitted on specific sites or under specific conditions and may require a conditional use permit and additional site plan review.
- In Planned Unit Development (PUD) or Specific Plan zones, sign standards may be established by the PUD or Specific Plan and may be incorporated by reference into the project’s ordinance or sign plan exhibits.
- Site plan review may also be required for certain sign installations under the general provisions of Article 30 (Development Review), especially for new commercial or multi-tenant projects.
- Development review approval (including site plan, sign plan, and architectural review) is required when specified under Article 30 for projects in specific zoning districts or as indicated in the respective zoning article.

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

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