Understanding sign regulations in City of Susanville, CA
Every outdoor sign in City of Susanville is governed by the municipality’s sign ordinance, which sets how large a sign may be, how tall it may stand, how far it must sit from the property line, whether it may be illuminated, and which sign types are permitted in each zoning district. This page summarizes those requirements in plain language and links each value back to the section of the City of Susanville code it came from.
Sign rules here are layered. The base zoning district — commercial, industrial, or residential — sets the default limits, and overlay districts such as historic or downtown districts can tighten them further. Because the most specific jurisdiction controls, a freestanding monument sign on a commercial parcel and a wall sign in a historic overlay can face very different limits even on the same street in City of Susanville.
Use the figures below as a fast first check, then run a full address lookup to confirm the exact limits for a specific parcel in City of Susanville, California. The full report also covers permit requirements, prohibited sign types, and illumination rules — each cited to the source ordinance so your permit application can reference it directly.
Before you order or install a sign in City of Susanville, confirm three things: the maximum sign area and height allowed in the parcel’s zoning district, the minimum setback from the right-of-way, and whether the sign type you want — freestanding, monument, wall, projecting, or awning — is permitted there at all. Many permit denials come from missing a setback or an overlay-district restriction rather than from the size of the sign itself, so checking the governing section before applying saves a costly resubmittal.
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Max ground sign height
Where there is less than 100 lineal feet of street frontage, one ground sign not to exceed 50 square feet in size (25 square feet per face if double faced) and 42 inches in height; height may be six feet if located 35 feet or more from a driveway or curb return.
Ground sign setback
Freestanding (pylon): 12 feet from property line or road right-of-way; Monument: not specified
Awning Signs
Under Canopy Sign Dimensions
In any commercial or industrial district an under-canopy sign may be permitted, not exceeding five feet in length and one foot in height, with a minimum eight-foot clearance to the sidewalk.
Awning Projection Clearance
Maximum projection: 5 feet from building face; Minimum ground clearance: 8 feet to sidewalk
Building Signs
Building Sign Formula
1.5 sq ft per lineal foot of building frontage
Building Sign Illumination
Illumination permitted with conditions: must concentrate illumination on the sign and minimize glare or direct illumination on public street or adjacent property. Animated, blinking, flashing, rotating, or color-changing illumination prohibited on building exteriors.
Definitions
Sign Definition
Any device, frame, letter, figure, character, mark, design, picture, or logo used to attract attention or convey information for advertising purposes when placed out of doors in view of the general public.
Freestanding Sign Definition
A sign attached to or part of a completely self-supporting structure set firmly in or below the ground surface and not attached to any building.
Real estate signs for sale or lease of residential property are permitted, not more than two per zone lot, each not exceeding six square feet in area and six feet in height.
Freestanding
Freestanding Max Area C1
With 100 lineal feet or more of street frontage, one freestanding sign per zone lot not to exceed 100 square feet in size and 15 feet in height.
Freestanding Max Height
Freestanding signs shall not exceed 15 feet in height in the C-1, C-2, C-3, M, and I districts.
Where there is less than 100 lineal feet of street frontage, one ground sign not to exceed 50 square feet in size (25 square feet per face if double faced) and 42 inches in height; height may be six feet if located 35 feet or more from a driveway or curb return.
Ground Sign Setback
Freestanding (pylon): 12 feet from property line or road right-of-way; Monument: not specified
Lights used to illuminate signs shall concentrate illumination on the sign and minimize glare or direct illumination upon a public street or adjacent property.
Lighted Freestanding Residential Buffer
There shall be no lighted, freestanding sign within 50 feet of a residential district.
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Nonconforming
Nonconforming Continuance
Signs that existed prior to October 17, 1998 and failed to conform may be continued in place, but must conform if any repair or modification (other than change of copy) exceeds one-half the replacement value.
Permit Process
Sign Permit Required
No sign shall be erected, installed, created or modified without a duly issued and valid sign permit unless otherwise provided for by this chapter.
Permit Expiration
Any sign permit shall expire within 180 days following date of issuance; the building official may extend the time for a period not exceeding 180 days on request.
Prohibited Signs
Animated Flashing Prohibited
No blinking, flashing, rotating, revolving or animated signs, or signs that change color or intensity or emit odors, fluids, noise, or smoke shall be permitted on the exterior of any building.
Roof Signs Prohibited
Roof signs shall not be permitted in any zone.
Projecting Signs
Projecting Sign Max Area C1
Where there is no freestanding or ground sign, one projecting sign not to exceed 36 square feet in size (18 square feet per face maximum) is permitted.
Projecting Sign Clearance
Projecting signs shall have at least eight feet of clearance between the bottom of the sign and the ground.
Temporary Signs
Temporary Sign Term
A temporary sign shall be removed no later than 90 days after it is erected, or 10 days following the event to which it pertains, whichever first occurs.
Building signs shall not exceed a combined size of one square foot in area for each lineal foot of building frontage.
Building Sign Area C2 C3 M
Building signs shall not exceed a combined size of one-and-one-half square foot in area for each lineal foot of building frontage.
Window Signs
Window Sign Exemption
Window signs may be permitted in any commercial or industrial district without a sign permit if placed entirely within the building; none permitted above the ground floor.
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