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Sign Code Summary

City of West Sacramento, CA

Local sign ordinance requirements — free, cited to the source section.

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Understanding sign regulations in City of West Sacramento, CA

Every outdoor sign in City of West Sacramento 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 West Sacramento 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 West Sacramento.

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 West Sacramento, 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 West Sacramento, 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
Commercial and Commercial Highway: 12 feet; Mixed-Use: 8 feet; Employment and Public/Semi-Public: 8 feet; Agricultural/Residential: 6 feet.
Ground sign setback
5 feet from street-facing property line in Commercial/Mixed-Use and Employment Zones; 1 foot for every foot of sign height in all other zones

Awning Signs

Awning Projection Clearance
8 feet minimum clearance from grade
Awning Max Sign Height
14 ft max height
Awning Max Sign Area
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Awning Sign Sf Calc
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2 more awning signs rules in the full report →

Building Signs

Building Sign Illumination
Prohibited for cabinet or can signs
Building Sign Formula
Commercial/general business: one square foot per linear foot of street property line building frontage, up to 200 square feet; wall copy also cannot exceed 20% of the wall area.
Building Sign Max Number
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1 more building signs rule in the full report →

Definitions

Definition Of Sign Area
The area contained within a single continuous perimeter enclosing all parts of such sign copy, excluding any structural elements outside the limits of the sign required to support the sign.
Definition Of Sign
Any identification, description, illustration, or device illuminated or non-illuminated, which is visible to the public from any exterior public right-of-way, and directs attention to a product, service, or entity
Animated Sign Definition
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Awning Sign Definition
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Banner Sign Definition
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Billboard Definition
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Canopy Sign Definition
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Damaged Sign Definition
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Freestanding Sign Definition
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Freeway Information Sign Definition
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High Rise Building Identification Sign Definition
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Illuminated Sign Definition
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Internally Illuminated Sign Definition
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Measuring Sign Height Definition
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Memorial Sign Definition
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Mobile Billboard Definition
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Mobile Billboards Definition
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Moving Sign Definition
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Nonconforming Sign Definition
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Permanent Sign Definition
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Projecting Sign Definition
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Real Property Event Sign Definition
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Real Property Sign Definition
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Roof Sign Definition
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Shingle Sign Definition
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Single Faced Signs Definition
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Wall Sign Definition
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Window Sign Definition
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Master Sign Program Definition
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Address Sign Definition
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Measuring Sign Area Definition
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Additional Individual Unit Sign Definition
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Animated Or Moving Sign Definition
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Cabinet Or Can Sign Definition
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Changes To Copy Of Approved Sign Definition
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Construction Sign Definition
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Damaged Or Abandoned Sign Definition
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Directional Sign Definition
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Double Faced Sign Definition
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Electronic Copy Definition
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Fence Sign Definition
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Flag Definition
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Mobile Vendor Sign Definition
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Permit Number Identification Definition
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Sign Permit Required Definition
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Signage Allowances By Zone Definition
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Signs Located In The Public Right Of Way Or On Public Property Definition
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Signs That Impede Normal Pedestrian Use Of Public Sidewalks Definition
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Three Dimensional Sign Definition
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Wall Sign Definition
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48 more definitions rules in the full report →

Directional Signs

Directional Max Size
8 square feet

General Standards

Abandonment Of Nonconforming Sign
Nonconforming sign must be removed if abandoned or use of property has been discontinued for 90 days
Max Sign Area Per Frontage
Non-Residential Uses in Residential Zones; zones Residential Zones: One foot per eight feet of street frontage
Max Sign Area Per Frontage
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Noncommercial Sign Substitution
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Nonconforming Sign Maintenance
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Abandonment Of Nonconforming Sign Removal Requirement
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Historic Plaques And Commemorative Sign Maximum Area
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Interior Sign Rule
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Lessees To Be Informed Of Master Sign Program Requirement
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Maximum Allowable Sign Area Maximum Area
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Maximum Sign Height Maximum Area
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Multi Faced Sign Requirement
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Noncommercial Sign Maximum Area
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11 more general standards rules in the full report →

Ground Signs

Ground Sign Setback
5 feet from street-facing property line in Commercial/Mixed-Use and Employment Zones; 1 foot for every foot of sign height in all other zones
Ground Sign Setback From Property Line
Freestanding signs in Commercial and Mixed-Use Zones shall be set back at least five feet from any street-facing property line
Freestanding Sign Requirement
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Ground Sign Type
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Ground Sign Formula
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Ground Sign Max Height
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4 more ground signs rules in the full report →

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Permit Process

Sign Permit Required
Sign permit required for temporary or permanent signs; exempt signs and normal maintenance of approved signs are exempt
And Electronic Message Center Sign Permit Requirement
and electronic message center signs: All automatic changeable copy and electronic message center signs require Minor Use Permit approval, except service and gas station price signs and time and temperature signs.
Freeway Information Sign Permit Requirement
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1 more permit process rule in the full report →

Prohibited Signs

Animated Or Moving Signs
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
Signs Affixed To Trees Prohibition
Signs Affixed to Trees: Signs affixed to or cut into trees or other living vegetation shall be prohibited.
Signs On Terrain Prohibition
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Signs Producing Noise Or Emissions Prohibition
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2 more prohibited signs rules in the full report →

Temporary Signs

Temp Sign Rules
Paper, cardboard, and similar materials limited to temporary signs
Temporary Sign Owner Permission
Owner must obtain written permission of property owner to place sign on property
Portable Sign Max Width
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Real Property Sign Max Area Non Weekend
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Real Property Sign Max Area Weekend
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Freeway Sign Max Per Side
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Portable Sign Max Height
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Temp Signs Allowed
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6 more temporary signs rules in the full report →

Window Signs

Window Sign Allowable Area
25% of the window area

Zoning

Maximum Number Of Sign Rule
No more than two flags per lot in Residential Zones, no more than three flags per lot in all other zones.
Signage Standards For Specific Sign Types Allowance
This section establishes standards for specific sign types that apply to all zones where such signs are allowed.

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