# Sign Regulations in Visalia, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Visalia, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/visalia
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-27
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/visalia/latest/visalia_ca/0-0-0-35686)

## At a glance

Visalia, California regulates 36 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding & Wall Signs (Public/Quasi-Public Uses in Residential Zones)s in the Single-family residential zone – 20,000 square foot minimum site area (R-1-20); Single-family residential zone – 12,500 square foot minimum site area (R-1-12.5); Single-family residential zone – 5,000 square foot minimum site area (R-1-5) zoning district are capped at Freestanding: 6 ft; Wall: 12 ft above grade tall and Freestanding: 35 sq. ft.; Wall: 36 sq. ft., with a Freestanding signs minimum 10 ft from public right-of-way. setback (Sec. VMC 17.48.090(G)(1)-(5)). Most commercial signs in Visalia require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 20% of total allowable sign area (non-electronic only) | — |
| Agricultural zone (A) | 4 | 12 ft above grade for wall-mounted (per general wall sign placement limits) | 36 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Single-family residential zone – 20,000 square foot minimum site area (R-1-20); Single-family residential zone – 12,500 square foot minimum site area (R-1-12.5); Single-family residential zone – 5,000 square foot minimum site area (R-1-5) | 9 | 8 ft for freestanding temporary signs; banners/window signs not more than 12 ft above grade | 80 sq. ft. aggregate (on exterior wall of a residential subdivision) | — |
| Multi-family residential zone – 3,000 square foot minimum site area (R-M-2); Multi-family residential zone – 1,200 square foot minimum site area (R-M-3) | 5 | 8 ft for freestanding temporary signs; banners/window signs not more than 12 ft above grade | Freestanding: 35 sq. ft.; Wall: 36 sq. ft. | — |
| Neighborhood commercial zone (C-N); Regional commercial zone (C-R); Service commercial zone (C-S); Mixed use commercial zone (C-MU); Mixed used downtown zone (D-MU) | 9 | Max height above grade 14 ft; minimum vertical clearance 8 ft | 100% of aggregate window area (per site for permanent window signage) | — |
| Professional/administrative office zone (O-PA); Office conversion zone (O-C) | 7 | 18 ft (Office Districts default; Commercial Districts have 12 ft limit) | 100% of aggregate window area | — |
| Business research park zone (BRP) | 6 | 18 ft (non-Commercial districts) | 100% of aggregate window area | — |
| Light industrial zone (I-L); Industrial zone (I) | 6 | 18 ft | 100% of aggregate window area | — |
| Quasi-public zone (QP) | 6 | 18 ft (non-Commercial districts) | 100% of aggregate window area | — |
| Downtown Retail Overlay District | 9 | ≤8 ft | Any individual banner ≤ 64 sq. ft.; aggregate per parcel/business location per 17.48.130(C)(1) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Single-family residential zone – 20,000 square foot minimum site area (R-1-20); Single-family residential zone – 12,500 square foot minimum site area (R-1-12.5); Single-family residential zone – 5,000 square foot minimum site area (R-1-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Noncommercial Signs (Residential Properties) | — | 8 sq. ft. aggregate per lot/site (excluding exempt signs) | — | — | — | Yard, window, door, balcony, or outside wall of a building (see temporary sign locations for details on placement). | — | VMC 17.48.090(B)-(C) |
| Temporary Signs (Developed Residential Lots or Common Areas) | 6 ft for freestanding temporary signs; banner/window signs not more than 12 ft above grade | 24 sq. ft. aggregate per developed lot/site or common area of residential subdivision (5+ parcels) or multi-family complex (5+ units) | — | — | — | Yard, window, door, balcony, or outside wall. | — | VMC 17.48.090(D); 17.48.130(A)(3), (B)(4), (C)(5), (D)(2); 17.48.170 |
| Temporary Signs (Undeveloped Residential Lot/Site) | 6 ft for freestanding temporary signs; banner/window signs not more than 12 ft above grade | 16 sq. ft. aggregate | — | — | — | Yard, window, door, balcony, or outside wall. | — | VMC 17.48.090(D)(1)-(4); 17.48.130(A)(3), (B)(4), (C)(5), (D)(2); 17.48.170 |
| Temporary Signs (Developing Residential Property - Single-family or Multi-family) | 8 ft for freestanding temporary signs; banners/window signs not more than 12 ft above grade | 32 sq. ft. aggregate | — | — | — | On lot/site after building permit issuance; removed upon permit expiration, cancellation or termination. | — | VMC 17.48.090(E)(1)(a)-(c); 17.48.130(A)(3) |
| Temporary Signs (Developing Residential Subdivision - External Signage) | 8 ft (12 ft if located behind an exterior wall of a residential subdivision) | 32 sq. ft. per sign face; 4 ft by 8 ft dimensions per sign; sign height 8 ft or up to 12 ft if behind an exterior wall. | 4 ft (per sign face dimensions) | — | — | Within boundaries of the subdivision and intended to be viewed from public streets surrounding the developing subdivision. | — | VMC 17.48.090(E)(2)(a)-(b) |
| Wall Mounted Banners (Residential Subdivision) | — | 80 sq. ft. aggregate (on exterior wall of a residential subdivision) | — | — | — | On exterior wall of a residential subdivision. | — | VMC 17.48.090(E)(2)(d) |
| Entrance Signs (Residential Subdivisions or Multi-family Complexes, 5+ units) | 6 ft | 20 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 2 per entrance | Attached to a wall, fence, or project identification feature located at or within 100 feet of the entrance to a development. | — | VMC 17.48.090(H)(1)-(6) |
| Freestanding & Wall Signs (Public/Quasi-Public Uses in Residential Zones) | Freestanding: 6 ft; Wall: 12 ft above grade | Freestanding: 35 sq. ft.; Wall: 36 sq. ft. | — | Freestanding signs minimum 10 ft from public right-of-way. | 1 freestanding and 1 wall sign | Public or Quasi-Public uses in residential zones as permitted/conditionally permitted under Chapter 17.52. | — | VMC 17.48.090(G)(1)-(5) |

### Neighborhood commercial zone (C-N); Regional commercial zone (C-R); Service commercial zone (C-S); Mixed use commercial zone (C-MU); Mixed used downtown zone (D-MU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No higher than the roof line or parapet of the wall of the building | Per sign type not individually capped; aggregate capped per formula | — | — | No limit (subject to aggregate area cap) | On building frontages; for lots with more than one frontage, see multi-frontage calculation rules. | — | VMC 17.48.100(B)(Table); 17.48.100(B)(1)-(4); 17.48.110(E)(1)-(7) |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 35 sq. ft. per face; 70 sq. ft. total; total aggregate surface of sign faces and structure ≤ 140 sq. ft. | — | Base/setback minimum 5 ft from street ROW; 5 ft from front property line; 20 ft from interior side property line. | 1 per street frontage (or 1 per occupancy/tenant) | May be located within required setback areas; minimum 5 ft from front property line and 20 ft from any interior side property line. | — | VMC 17.48.100(C)(Freestanding Sign row); 17.48.110(C)(1)-(6) |
| Projecting Sign | 12 ft in Commercial Districts | 8 sq. ft. per face (double-faced permitted); 3 sq. ft. per face if under awning/canopy | — | — | 1 per building frontage or tenant space | Horizontally from exterior wall or beneath a canopy/awning; must be designed/located to cause no harm to street trees. | — | VMC 17.48.100(C)(Projecting Sign row); 17.48.110(D)(1)-(5); 17.48.050(B) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | Max height above grade 14 ft; minimum vertical clearance 8 ft | 25% of exterior surface (per awning/canopy) | Awnings must fit width of storefront/window opening; cannot extend more than 6 inches on either side of opening | — | — | Ground floor only; on permitted awnings/canopies. | — | VMC 17.48.100(C)(Awning/Canopy row); 17.48.110(B)(1)-(6) |
| Permanent Window Signs | — | 100% of aggregate window area (per site for permanent window signage) | — | — | — | Affixed to either side of an exterior window or mounted inside within two feet of the window and intended to be viewed from exterior. | — | VMC 17.48.100(C)(Permanent Window Signs row); 17.48.110(F)(1)-(3); 17.48.030(L) |
| Electronic Sign - Monument (Electronic Copy) | Monument height as allowed for freestanding signs in this zone (12 ft) | — | — | Follow freestanding sign setbacks (5 ft from ROW; 20 ft from interior side). | As freestanding sign limits (1 per street frontage or 1 per occupancy/tenant) | Where monument (freestanding) signs are allowed. | — | VMC 17.48.080(E); 17.48.050(C) |
| Temporary Signs - Portable Signs | Portable signs: 8 ft; A-frame: 4 ft; Feather banner: 10 ft | Per sign face: 8 sq. ft. (A-frame: 7.5 sq. ft.; Feather banner: 16 sq. ft.) | — | ≥7 ft from back of curb or edge of pavement; cannot be within site visibility triangles. | — | On private property on the same lot or development site; may be within front/corner side setback and public right-of-way directly in front of business with encroachment permit and 4-ft clear zone; at least 7 ft from back of curb/edge of pavement. | — | VMC 17.48.130(B)(1)-(7); 17.48.130(A)(3); 17.48.050(B) |
| Temporary Signs - Banners and Pennants | Not above roofline or parapet of wall | Any individual banner ≤ 64 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Only on sites where permanent signs are allowed. | — | VMC 17.48.130(C)(1)-(6); 17.48.130(A)(3) |

### Downtown Retail Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Primary Occupancy Frontage) | — | Max 50 sq. ft. for primary occupancy frontage | — | — | — | On selected primary occupancy frontage. | — | VMC 17.48.120(A)(1)-(3) |
| Wall Sign (Additional Exterior Walls) | — | Up to 25% of primary frontage sign area; per-wall cap 2 sq. ft./lf of wall length | — | — | — | Each remaining exterior wall (except where alley/street visibility conditions grant separate allowances). | — | VMC 17.48.120(A)(4) |
| Projecting Sign - Beneath Canopy/Awning | Must be a minimum of 7 ft above sidewalk; must not exceed 12 ft in height | 3 sq. ft. per face (double-faced sign permitted) | — | — | 1 double-faced under-canopy sign per tenant (plus valance signs as allowed) | Beneath canopy/awning structures; side valances of awnings perpendicular to frontage. | — | VMC 17.48.120(B)(1)-(2) |
| Projecting Sign - Mounted to Building Face | Located no higher than cornice or parapet line (whichever lower) | 40 sq. ft. total (20 sq. ft. per side for double-faced) | — | Minimum 2.5 ft clearance from curb. | — | Mounted to building face on Downtown overlay properties. | — | VMC 17.48.120(H)(1)-(4); 17.48.050(B) |
| Reader Board (Multi-Tenant Buildings) | — | 20 sq. ft. maximum | — | — | 1 reader board per building | On part of building qualifying as occupancy frontage (counts against wall sign area); otherwise considered exempt from sign area limits. | — | VMC 17.48.120(D)(1)-(2) |
| Enclosed Bulletin Board/Message Center | ≤8 ft | Size limit: not greater than 8 ft height and 12 ft width | ≤12 ft | — | — | On private property; if in public right-of-way, requires encroachment permit. | — | VMC 17.48.120(F)(1)-(4); 17.48.050(B) |
| A-Frame Sign (Temporary) | ≤4 ft when open | 7.5 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1 per business | Within front or corner side setback area and in public right-of-way directly in front of a business. | — | VMC 17.48.120(G)(1)-(7); 17.48.130(A)(3) |
| Banners (Temporary) | Not above roofline/parapet | Any individual banner ≤ 64 sq. ft.; aggregate per parcel/business location per 17.48.130(C)(1) | — | — | — | Only on sites where permanent signs are allowed within the Overlay District. | — | VMC 17.48.120(G); 17.48.130(C) |

## Prohibited signs in Visalia

- Animated or moving signs (flashing, blinking, revolving, or with visible mechanical movement) are prohibited unless expressly permitted; digital display signs are allowed subject to Chapter regulations.
- Air-activated graphics and attention-getting devices (balloons, blimps, air-activated graphics) are prohibited in all zoning districts; stationary inflatable signs are only allowed as temporary portable signs.
- Temporary signs used for general advertising for hire (off-site advertising) are prohibited except as specifically provided elsewhere in the Chapter.
- Mobile billboard advertising is prohibited on streets and public places; this does not apply to signage on licensed commercial vehicles related to the goods or services provided or to public transit/public carrier graphics.
- Murals that contain advertising copy or function as advertising are prohibited; murals without advertising copy require City Council approval under the City's mural policy.
- Permanent outdoor advertising displays (billboards) are prohibited in all zones.
- Roof signs (mounted or painted on roofs) are prohibited, except for signs painted on a flat roof that are not visible from the public right-of-way.
- Search lights and Klieg lights used as attention-attracting devices for commercial uses are prohibited; they may be allowed only with a temporary conditional use permit for special events.
- Placing signs in the public right-of-way without an encroachment permit is prohibited (except government signage or as otherwise provided in the Chapter).
- Signs cannot be installed on doors, windows, or fire escapes in a way that prevents free ingress or egress; attaching signs to standpipes or fire escapes is prohibited except where required by other codes.
- Signs that create traffic or pedestrian safety hazards are prohibited, including obstructing views of traffic control devices, causing confusion by color/design/illumination/wording, being within five feet of a fire hydrant/street sign/traffic signal, or obstructing clear views at intersections.
- Signs that produce visible smoke, vapor, particles, odor, or noise audible at the property line are prohibited (excluding permitted drive-up voice units that comply with the Noise Ordinance).
- Commercial mascot signage (sign twirlers, human sandwich boards, persons or animals holding or displaying commercial signs, including robotic devices) is prohibited in all zones.
- Snipe signs (attached to trees, utility poles, government signs, fences, trailers, temporary construction barriers or other structures) are prohibited unless the sign owner also owns the supporting structure.
- Use of mercury vapor lighting for signs is not permitted; incandescent lamps are prohibited except when used in signs of historic character as part of the architectural design.
- Permanent signs must be made of sturdy, durable materials; paper or cardboard (or other materials subject to rapid deterioration) may only be used for temporary signs; fabric signs are limited to awnings, canopies, flags, and temporary signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Visalia

- Address signs: one nameplate up to two square feet identifying the property address.
- Barber poles: up to 18 inches in height, located on non-residential zoned property, containing no lettering.
- Commercial displays on vehicles: allowed provided the message does not use changeable copy or special illumination.
- Decorations: holiday and cultural observance decorations on private property that do not include commercial advertising (includes strings of lights associated with holiday decorations).
- Flags: allowed subject to location/height/size standards (flagpoles not within required side yard setbacks; maximum flagpole height 30 feet or distance to closest lot line plus two feet, whichever is less; maximum individual flag area 48 square feet; pennants, banners, feather banners, strings of ornamental fringes and streamers are regulated as temporary signs, not exempt).
- Government signs: official notices by a court, public body, or office; utility/quasi-public notices; signs by a government body to direct or regulate pedestrian/vehicular traffic; noncommercial bus stop signs by a public transit agency; other signs required or authorized by law; includes City-sponsored special civic event signs and banners in public rights-of-way.
- Interior signs: entirely within a building or enclosed structure, not visible from the public right-of-way, and not requiring other permits such as electrical or structural.
- Mobile vendor signs: signs and menu display boards fixed to mobile vending carts or food trucks identifying/advertising the vendor; limited to eight square feet of sign area plus a menu display board per cart or truck.
- Newspaper stands: signs that are part of newspaper stands not exceeding four square feet.
- Temporary signs: signs that conform to the standards of Sections 17.48.090(C), 17.48.090(D), 17.48.110(B), 17.48.120(G), or 17.48.130.
- Public carrier graphics: graphic images mounted on carrier vehicles such as buses, taxicabs, and limousines that legally pass through the City.
- Permanent window signs: permanent window signs that conform to the standards referenced for permanent window signage (Section 17.48.110).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required to erect, alter, reconstruct, or relocate any sign; no permit is required for ordinary maintenance and repairs or for temporary signs on private property that conform to Chapter standards.
- An encroachment permit is required for any sign that projects over or extends into a public street or sidewalk, and for any sign placed in the public right-of-way (except government signage).
- A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is required for Master Sign Programs and for electronic signs (excluding interior electronic signs and digital displays regulated as permanent window signs).
- A Master Sign Program approved by the Planning Commission is required for new or remodeled non-residential or mixed-use projects on sites of five acres or more, for multiple-tenant commercial or mixed-use buildings where the entire façade is being remodeled, and for any development in the BRP zone.
- A Master Sign Program may be optionally used in place of specific sign designs and individual applications if requested by the applicant and approved by the Planning Commission.
- Master Sign Program applications must include: a site plan; computations of total sign area, individual sign area, sign height, and number of freestanding signs (if proposed); locations of proposed and existing signs; color schemes and lettering/graphic styles; lighting and construction materials; dimensions; and a written standards program for tenants.
- After approval of a Master Sign Program: individual signs must still obtain permits; the program and conditions must be attached to lease agreements; minor amendments may be approved by the City Planner; other amendments require a new application.
- Shopping centers may exceed the basic sign allowance by up to 25 percent through approval of a CUP.
- Electronic signs are allowed only where monument signs are allowed and require a CUP; they are subject to operational limits (e.g., luminance, change interval, no audible output, hours of operation, on-site advertising only, limitations on lighting changes).
- Variances and exceptions to sign standards require an application, public notice mailed 10–30 days prior to a Planning Commission hearing to owners within 300 feet, a public hearing and findings; decisions may be appealed to the City Council; if denied or revoked, the same or substantially the same application cannot be refiled for one year.

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

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