All signs (including open house) can be placed on private property only with permission of the private property owner.
 
Contact the local jurisdiction with additional questions or for any points of clarification.
 
Never place on a public right-of-way or road medians. State law prohibits the placement of signs in the public right of way without permission from the local municipality.  See California PENAL CODE SECTION 556-556.4 for more information on California State Law.
 
Carlsbad:  (760) 602-2703      http://www.carlsbadca.gov/ 
  • On Premise:  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 a public right-of-way (within 10 feet of the curb), must have property owner's permission. 
 
Chula Vista: (619) 691-5280    www.ci.chula-vista.ca.us/
  • 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 public right-of-way (within 10 feet of the curb), must have property owner’s permission. Open house 5 signs max during daylight hours on private property with permission of property owner. Temporary promotional signs are permitted for for open houses and other promotional activity only with a temporary permit, Chula Vista code enforcement has not enforced this ordinance for a number of years. See the link.
 
Coronado: (619) 522-7320    http://www.coronado.ca.us/
  • On-Premise For Sale Signs:  Maximum: 6 square feet / 4 feet tall. Not allowed in public right-of-way. Removal 15 days after close of escrow. No banners or flags with exception of nonprofit and nonpolitical banners.
  • Off-Premise Directional Signs:  All off-premise signs must have approval of the property owner and no signs are allowed in the public right-of-way. 
 
County of San Diego (Unincorporated):  (858) 565-5981    https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/
  • On-Premise For Sale Signs:  Maximum height of 12 feet. In residential zones, the signs are limited to 4 square feet in area and a maximum height of 6 feet. No more than one on a parcel and no allowance for long frontages. 32 square feet in commercial and industrial zones and 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 permission of the property owner, or 2 on a corner lot, not allowed in the public right-of-way, no larger than 4 square feet, daylight hours only. 
 
Del Mar:  (858) 794-4610   http://www.delmar.ca.us/
  • On-Premise For Sale Signs:  5.5 square feet displayed for each individual unit in a Residential Zone, and a maximum of six square feet in a Commercial Zone, must be out of public right-of-way, and in place for 60 days or less. An additional three square feet will be allowed for "open house" signs placed upon the private property, during "open house" hours only. Balloons are considered signs and the "sign area" of an inflated balloon is equivalent to the square of the maximum diameter.
  • Off-Premise Directional Signs:  Same as on-premise. Must have property owner's permission, 8-12 feet off of the curb, San Diego areas: Del Mar Heights/Highlands. 
 
El Cajon: (619) 441-1716   http://www.ci.el-cajon.ca.us/
  • On-Premise For Sale Signs:  1 sign per street frontage (12 square feet max, 32 square feet in commercial). No flags, banners or balloons.
  • Off-Premise Directional Signs:  4 square feet maximum, not on public right-of-way with exception of political signs. Limit of 6 off-site signs per property advertised, limit 2 per property. There is a mandatory Temporary Sub-division Sign Application, which must be completed within a reasonable time prior to posting and requires a $190 bond be posted for each sign. Sign may only contain wording as to: Subdivision (must be located within the city), Location and Brief Directions. 
 
Encinitas:  (760) 633- 2600   https://encinitasca.gov/
  • 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 on public right-of-way, must have property owner's permission. Flags and banners allowed during daylight hours if securely fastened. 
 
Escondido  (760) 839-4671   http://www.escondido.org/
  • 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 Open House sign. Must be out of public right-of-way, and the property owner's permission is required. 
 
Imperial Beach:  (619) 628-1356     http://www.imperialbeachca.gov/
  • 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 fees. Flags permitted, but no pennants or banners.
  • Off-Premise Directional Signs:  One-on-One basis with confirm from the city. Contact the Community Development Department at the number above. 
 
La Mesa:  (619) 463-6611   http://www.cityoflamesa.com/
  • 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 public right-of-way. 
 
Lemon Grove:  (619) 825-3800   https://www.lemongrove.ca.gov/
  • On-Premise For Sale Signs:  One sign maximum 6 square feet (Commercial/Industrial zones: two signs, maximum 16 square feet.)
  • Off-Premise Directional Signs:  Maximum of one sign per intersection along most direct route to development. Maximum sign are 9 square feet, maximum sign height 5 feet. Permit required prior to installation of signs. 
 
National City:  (619) 336-4310   http://www.ci.national-city.ca.us/
  • On-Premise For Sale Signs:  2 unlit signs (50 square feet per frontage - in commercial zones, 6 sq 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   http://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/
  • 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 http://www.poway.org/
  • 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   http://www.sandiego.gov/
  • On-Premise For Sale Signs:  1 sign per frontage (4 square feet maximum), no flags or banners. 5"x7" in La Jolla, 9"x12" in Rancho Bernardo, (PDO Regs).  Must have firm name.  Removal 15 days after close of escrow.
  • Off-Premise Directional Signs:  4 square feet maximum. Daylight hours only. Not on public right-of-way including street medians, sidewalks & grass strip at curb. No flags, banners or pennants.
 
San Marcos:  (760) 744-1050 ext. 3204  https://www.san-marcos.net/ 
  • 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 public right-of-way or on public property.
  • Off-Premise Directional Signs:  Allowed if confirmed by city (not in public right-of-way), permitted by Kiosk Directional Signs displayed by the city. May contain the development name.
 
Santee: (619) 258-4100   https://www.cityofsanteeca.gov/home
  • 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:  4sq. ft maximum and 5 feet height maximum. Not on public right-of-way. Not on vacant lots advertising other property. 
 
Solana Beach:  (858) 481-2633    http://www.ci.solana-beach.ca.us/
  • On-Premise For Sale Signs: 1 unlit sign (6 square feet maximum and 5 feet tall maximum), 1 open house sign, single small flag/pennant per sign.
  • Off-Premise Directional Signs: 1 (6 square feet sign and 5 feet tall maximum) per lot with owner's approval. Not on public right-of-way. Single small flag/pennant per sign. 
 
Vista: (760) 639-6100   http://www.cityofvista.com/
  • 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