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SIGN ORDINANCES

San Diego County Sign Ordinances

Sign placement rules vary by jurisdiction across San Diego County. Use the quick links to jump to a city, then contact that city directly to confirm current sign ordinance requirements.

Carlsbad

(760) 602-2703

On-premise for sale signs: 1 sign (4 square feet maximum). No lights, banners, or pennants. 5 feet above average grade. Remove 15 days after sale.

Off-premise directional signs: Off-site signs, not in a public right-of-way (within 10 feet of the curb), must have the property owner's permission.

Chula Vista

(619) 691-5280

On-premise for sale signs: 1 sign (3 square feet maximum). No lights, banners, or pennants. Remove 15 days after sale.

Off-premise directional signs: Off-site signs not allowed in the public right-of-way (within 10 feet of the curb), must have the property owner's permission. Open house: 5 signs maximum during daylight hours on private property with the owner's permission. Temporary promotional signs are permitted for open houses and other promotional activities only with a temporary permit. Code enforcement has not enforced this ordinance for a number of years.

Coronado

(619) 522-7320

On-premise for sale signs: Maximum 6 square feet and 4 feet tall. Not allowed in the public right-of-way. Removal 15 days after close of escrow. No banners or flags, except nonprofit and nonpolitical banners.

Off-premise directional signs: All off-premise signs must have the property owner's approval. No signs allowed in the public right-of-way.

Del Mar

(858) 794-4610

On-premise for sale signs: 5.5 square feet maximum per individual unit. May only be posted in residential zones. Must be out of the public right-of-way and in place for 60 days or less. An additional 3 square feet is allowed for open house signs on private property, during open house hours only. Balloons are considered signs, and the sign area of an inflated balloon equals the square of the maximum diameter.

Off-premise directional signs: Same as on-premise. Must have the property owner's permission, 8 to 12 feet off the curb.

El Cajon

(619) 441-1716

On-premise for sale signs: 1 sign per street frontage (12 square feet maximum, 32 square feet in commercial). No flags, banners, or balloons.

Off-premise directional signs: 4 square feet maximum, not in the public right-of-way, with the exception of political signs. Limit of 6 off-site signs per property advertised, limit 2 per property. A mandatory Temporary Sub-division Sign Application must be completed within a reasonable time prior to posting and requires a $190 bond per sign. Signs may only contain wording as to subdivision (must be within the city), location, and brief directions.

Encinitas

(760) 633-2600

On-premise for sale signs: 2 signs (3 square feet maximum), unlit. Flags and banners allowed during daylight hours if securely fastened.

Off-premise directional signs: 3 sign limit. Daylight hours only. Not in the public right-of-way, must have the property owner's permission. Flags and banners allowed during daylight hours if securely fastened.

Escondido

(760) 839-4671

On-premise for sale signs: 1 unlit sign per frontage (not to exceed 2 signs), 4 square feet maximum. May have up to 2 riders but must not exceed 5 square feet including riders. Must be removed within 15 days after close of escrow.

Off-premise directional signs: Up to 3 off-site open house signs, not to exceed 4 square feet in area and 5 square feet in height. May attach up to 3 balloons, each not exceeding 24 inches in dimension, to the open house sign. Must be out of the public right-of-way, and the property owner's permission is required.

Imperial Beach

(619) 628-1356

On-premise for sale signs: 1 sign per frontage, 8 square feet for lots up to 9,999 square feet. Permit required with a $10 filing fee. Flags permitted, but no pennants or banners.

Off-premise directional signs: One-on-one basis with confirmation from the city. Contact the Community Development Department at the number above.

La Mesa

(619) 463-6611

On-premise for sale signs: Residential: 1 sign per street frontage, no lights (4 square feet maximum and 5 feet tall maximum). Removal 15 days after close of escrow.

Off-premise directional signs: 4 square feet maximum. Only on open house days. Not in the public right-of-way.

Lemon Grove

(619) 825-3800

On-premise for sale signs: One sign maximum, 6 square feet. Commercial and industrial zones: two signs, maximum 16 square feet.

Off-premise directional signs: Maximum of one sign per intersection along the most direct route to the development. Maximum sign size 9 square feet, maximum height 5 feet. Permit required before installation of signs.

National City

(619) 336-4310

On-premise for sale signs: 2 unlit signs (50 square feet per frontage in commercial zones, 6 square feet in residential). Removal 7 days after close of escrow.

Off-premise directional signs: Maximum area of all signs limited to 100 square feet, unlit, 180 day limit.

Oceanside

(760) 966-4770

On-premise for sale signs: 2 signs (maximum 6 square feet and 5 feet tall).

Off-premise directional signs: 1 sign (4 square feet maximum), only allowed from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Poway

(858) 668-4600

On-premise for sale signs: 1 unlit sign per frontage (4 square feet maximum and 5 feet in height; 32 square feet and 8 feet height maximum in commercial). Removal 15 days after close of escrow. Signs on rear street frontages are prohibited.

Off-premise directional signs: 4 square feet maximum and 5 feet in height.

San Diego

(619) 446-5000

On-premise for sale signs: 1 sign per frontage (4 square feet maximum), no flags or banners. Must have the firm name. Removal 15 days after close of escrow.

Community sign districts: La Jolla is limited to a maximum 5 inch by 7 inch sign; signs must be unlit, no flags or banners, must include the brokerage name, and be removed within 15 days of closing escrow. Rancho Bernardo is limited to 9 inch by 12 inch under PDO regulations.

Off-premise directional signs: 4 square feet maximum. Daylight hours only. Not in the public right-of-way, including street medians, sidewalks, and the grass strip at the curb. No flags, banners, or pennants.

San Marcos

(760) 744-1050 ext. 3204

On-premise for sale signs: 1 sign per frontage (6 square feet maximum), 5 feet height limit. Removal 15 days after close of escrow. Not in the public right-of-way or on public property.

Off-premise directional signs: Allowed if confirmed by the city (not in the public right-of-way), permitted by Kiosk Directional Signs displayed by the city. May contain the development name.

Santee

(619) 258-4100

On-premise for sale signs: 1 unlit sign per frontage (4 square feet maximum and 5 feet height maximum). No flags or banners. No permits required. Removal 15 days after close of escrow.

Off-premise directional signs: 4 square feet maximum and 5 feet height maximum. Not in the public right-of-way. Not on vacant lots advertising other property.

Solana Beach

(858) 481-2633

On-premise for sale signs: 1 unlit sign (6 square feet maximum and 5 feet tall maximum), 1 open house sign, single small flag or pennant per sign.

Off-premise directional signs: 1 sign (6 square feet and 5 feet tall maximum) per lot with the owner's approval. Not in the public right-of-way. Single small flag or pennant per sign.

Vista

(760) 639-6100

On-premise for sale signs: 1 sign per frontage (6 square feet maximum and 8 feet tall maximum), 6 square feet extra per acre allowed on lots. Signs must not exceed 96 square feet. Removal 15 days after close of escrow.

Off-premise directional signs: Not permitted.

County of San Diego (Unincorporated)

(858) 565-5981

On-premise for sale signs: Maximum height 12 feet. In residential zones, signs are limited to 4 square feet in area and a maximum height of 6 feet, no more than one per parcel with no allowance for long frontages. 32 square feet in commercial and industrial zones, up to 64 square feet if the frontage is greater than 500 feet in length.

Off-premise directional signs: No more than 1 on each parcel with the property owner's permission, or 2 on a corner lot. Not allowed in the public right-of-way, no larger than 4 square feet, daylight hours only.