# Sign Regulations in West Sacramento, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Sacramento, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/west-sacramento
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43206316#43206316)

## At a glance

West Sacramento, California regulates 14 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Residential Developments)s in the Residential Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 6 square feet, with a 1 foot for every foot of sign height setback (Sec. § 17.29.080B.1.a, § 17.29.090B.1.a, § 17.29.090B.2.a, § 17.29.090B.4.c).

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Zone | 2 | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| Residential Zones | 7 | 15 feet | 25% of window area | — |
| Commercial and Mixed-Use Zones | 6 | 15 feet | 25% of window area | — |
| Employment Zones | 5 | 14 feet | 25% of window area | — |
| Public and Semi-Public Zones | 2 | 8 feet | 1 square foot per linear foot of street property line building frontage, up to 200 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 4 feet | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Developments) | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | 1 foot for every foot of sign height | — | Setback at least 1 foot for every foot of sign height | — | § 17.29.080B.1.a, § 17.29.090B.1.a, § 17.29.090B.2.a, § 17.29.090B.4.c |
| Wall Sign (Residential Developments) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | One per building frontage or tenant space | Not higher than the second story | — | § 17.29.080B.1.b, § 17.29.090E.1.a, § 17.29.090E.2 |
| Awning and Canopy Sign (Non-Residential Uses) | 14 feet | 10 square feet or 25% of awning area | — | — | One per establishment with an entrance | — | — | § 17.29.080B.2.a, § 17.29.090A.1, § 17.29.090A.2, § 17.29.090A.3, § 17.29.090A.5 |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-Residential Uses) | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | 1 foot for every foot of sign height | — | Setback at least 1 foot for every foot of sign height | — | § 17.29.080B.2.b, § 17.29.090B.1.a, § 17.29.090B.2.a, § 17.29.090B.4.c |
| Projecting and Shingle Sign (Non-Residential Uses) | 15 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | One per building frontage or tenant space | Cannot extend more than 4 feet from the building | — | § 17.29.080B.2.c, § 17.29.090D.1.a, § 17.29.090D.2, § 17.29.090D.3, § 17.29.090D.5.a, § 17.29.090D.6 |
| Wall Sign (Non-Residential Uses) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | One per building frontage or tenant space | Not higher than the second story | — | § 17.29.080B.2.d, § 17.29.090E.1.a, § 17.29.090E.2 |
| Window Sign (Non-Residential Uses) | Not higher than the second story | 25% of window area | — | — | — | — | — | § 17.29.080B.2.e, § 17.29.090F.1, § 17.29.090F.2 |

### Commercial and Mixed-Use Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | 14 feet | 10 square feet or 25% of awning area | — | — | One per establishment with an entrance | — | — | § 17.29.080C.1, § 17.29.090A.1, § 17.29.090A.2, § 17.29.090A.3, § 17.29.090A.5 |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 feet | 0.5 square foot per linear foot of street property line, up to 200 square feet | — | 5 feet from street-facing property line, 20 feet from Residential Zone boundary | — | Setback at least 5 feet from street-facing property line, 20 feet from Residential Zone boundary | — | § 17.29.080C.2, § 17.29.090B.1.b, § 17.29.090B.2.b, § 17.29.090B.4.a |
| High-Rise Building Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | One per building frontage | Upper-most story of the building | — | § 17.29.080C.3, § 17.29.090C.1, § 17.29.090C.2 |
| Projecting and Shingle Sign | 15 feet | 9 square feet | — | — | One per building frontage or tenant space | Cannot extend more than 4 feet from the building | — | § 17.29.080C.4, § 17.29.090D.1.b, § 17.29.090D.2, § 17.29.090D.3, § 17.29.090D.5.a, § 17.29.090D.6 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per building frontage or tenant space | Not higher than the second story | — | § 17.29.080C.5, § 17.29.090E.1.b, § 17.29.090E.2 |
| Window Sign | Not higher than the second story | 25% of window area | — | — | — | — | — | § 17.29.080C.6, § 17.29.090F.1, § 17.29.090F.2 |

### Employment Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | 14 feet | 10 square feet or 25% of awning area | — | — | One per establishment with an entrance | — | — | § 17.29.080D.1, § 17.29.090A.1, § 17.29.090A.2, § 17.29.090A.3, § 17.29.090A.5 |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 0.5 square foot per linear foot of street property line, up to 200 square feet | — | 5 feet from street-facing property line, 20 feet from Residential Zone boundary | — | Setback at least 5 feet from street-facing property line, 20 feet from Residential Zone boundary | — | § 17.29.080D.2, § 17.29.090B.1.b, § 17.29.090B.2.d, § 17.29.090B.4.b |
| High-Rise Building Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | One per building frontage | Upper-most story of the building | — | § 17.29.080D.3, § 17.29.090C.1, § 17.29.090C.2 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per building frontage or tenant space | Not higher than the second story | — | § 17.29.080D.4, § 17.29.090E.1.b, § 17.29.090E.2 |
| Window Sign | Not higher than the second story | 25% of window area | — | — | — | — | — | § 17.29.080D.5, § 17.29.090F.1, § 17.29.090F.2 |

## Prohibited signs in West Sacramento

- Animated, flashing, blinking, reflecting, revolving, or other similar sign with visibly moving or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement of any kind, unless expressly permitted by another section of this chapter.
- Balloons, inflatable signs, streamers, pennants, and other attention-getting devices, made of light-weight fabric or similar material, designed to rotate or move with the wind, that direct, promote, or that are otherwise designed to attract attention.
- Internally illuminated cabinet and can signs.
- Signs attached or painted on fences or freestanding walls that are not part of a building.
- Temporary signs that publicize or promote other businesses or causes using methods of advertising (in contrast to self-promotion, on-site sales, or on-site advertising).
- Any sign carried or conveyed by a vehicle for the primary purpose of general advertising for hire.
- Attached signs that extend above the roofline or parapet (whichever is higher) of a building with a flat roof.
- Attached signs that extend above the deck line of a mansard or false-mansard roof.
- Signs on rooftop structures, such as penthouse walls or mechanical enclosures.
- Search and Klieg lights when used as attention-attracting devices for commercial uses.
- Other than official government signs or warning signs required by law, no inanimate sign can be placed in or project into the public right-of-way or on public property unless authorized by an encroachment permit.
- Signs affixed to or cut into trees or other living vegetation.
- Signs cut, burned, marked, or displayed in any manner on a street, sidewalk, cliff, hillside, or other terrain feature.
- Signs placed, located, or displayed in such a manner as to constitute a traffic or pedestrian safety hazard.
- Signs producing visible smoke, vapor, particles, odor, noise, or sounds that can be heard at the property line.
- A sign displaying a commercial message promoting a business that is a prohibited use and has not been established as a legal nonconforming use.
- Signs shall not be placed on private or public property without the permission of the property owner.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Sacramento

- Required address identification signs that are in conformance with the Building Code.
- Displays on vehicles related to the goods or services provided by the vehicle owner or operator and public transit/public carrier graphics on properly licensed buses, taxicabs, and similar vehicles for hire.
- Directional and/or informational signs not more than eight square feet in area or four feet in height for the direction or convenience of the public.
- Flags that do not display a commercial message and are erected and located in accordance with specified standards.
- Official notices issued by a court, public body, or office and posted in the performance of a public duty; notices posted by a utility or other quasi-public agency; signs erected by a governmental body to direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic; non-commercial bus stop signs erected by a public transit agency, or other signs required or authorized by law.
- Historic plaques, memorial signs or tablets, or commemorative signs indicating names of buildings and dates of building erection, either attached to or cut into the surfaces of buildings, with a maximum allowable sign area of four square feet per sign.
- Signs that are in the interior areas of a building or site not visible from the public right-of-way, and at least three feet from a window, door, or other exterior wall opening.
- Manufacturer's marks, including signs on items such as vending machines, gas pumps, and ice containers with a maximum allowable sign area of four square feet per sign.
- Signs fixed to mobile vending vehicles that identify or advertise the name, product, or service provided by the vendor. Each mobile vending vehicle is limited to a maximum sign area of eight square feet.
- One nameplate for each tenant or occupancy not to exceed two square feet in area indicating the name of the occupant or tenant.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Program shall be required for projects with four or more non-residential tenants.
- A Master Sign Program shall be required for projects where five or more signs are proposed for a single building or site.

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

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