Modesto sign permit requirements
What the Modesto sign code and sign ordinance allow, summarised from Chapter 6 - SIGNS. Every figure below shows the ordinance's own wording, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
Is a permit required?
Sec. 10-6.105A sign permit is required to install, alter, or relocate any sign, with certain exempt sign types listed (e.g., construction signs, flags, real estate signs)
“No person shall install, alter, or relocate any sign within the City without first obtaining a sign permit from the Chief Building Official, except as follows.”
Wall sign — maximum area
Sec. 10-6.107, Table 6.1-22 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage
| Allowed Sign Class and Types | Maximum Number of Signs | Maximum Sign Area | Maximum Sign Height | Additional Requirements |
| BUILDING SIGNS | ||||
| Wall (includes canopy) | No limitation on number | 2 sf per linear foot of building frontage | Ridgeline of the roof, parapet or wall of which the sign is to be affixed. | See Section 10-6.106 (d). |
| Marquee or | 1 per use. A second marquee sign is allowed if the 2 signs are single-faced, parallel, and placed on opposite ends of the marquee. | 48 sf | Ridgeline of the roof, parapet or wall of which the sign is to be affixed. | None |
| Projecting or | 1 per use | 48 sf, | 8 ft minimum above sidewalk | |
| Suspended | 1 per use | 6 sf per side; 12 sf total | ||
| FREESTANDING SIGNS | ||||
| Freestanding - Not Freeway Oriented | ||||
| Business (single parcel) | One per single street frontage: | | | For sign design, see Section 10-6.109 (a). | |
| Up to 100 ft frontage | 24 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 6 ft | ||
| 100 ft up to 200 ft frontage | 48 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 8 ft | ||
| 200 ft up to 400 ft frontage | 60 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 12 ft | ||
| More than 400 ft frontage | 72 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 20 ft | ||
| | | | | |||
| Additional signs for each 200 ft beyond the first 200 ft single street frontage | 48 sf plus 4 sf for street address for each sign | 8 ft | Minimum 200 feet sign separation on each parcel | |
| | | | | |||
| One per additional street frontage: | | | |||
| Up to 100 ft frontage | 24 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 6 ft | ||
| More than 100 ft frontage | 48 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 8 ft | ||
| | | | | |||
| Additional signs for each 200 ft beyond the first 200 ft additional street frontage | 48 sf plus 4 sf for street address for each sign | 8 ft | ||
| Combined Business (multiple parcels) | One for each frontage: | | | See Section 10-6.108 (e). For sign design, see Section 10-6.109 (a). | |
| Up to 100 ft frontage | 48 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 8 ft | ||
| 100 ft up to 200 ft frontage | 60 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 12 ft | ||
| More than 200 ft frontage | 72 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 20 ft | ||
| | | | | |||
| Additional signs for each 200 ft beyond first 200 ft frontage | 48 sf plus 4 sf for street address for each sign | 8 ft | Minimum 200 feet sign separation on multiple parcels | |
| Shopping Center | 1 for each street frontage of the center | 72 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 20 ft | See Section 10-6.106 (l). For sign design, see Section 10-6.109 (a). |
| Additional signs for each 400 ft beyond first 200 ft frontage | | | |||
| 5 acres up to 10 acres | 60 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 12 ft | Minimum 300 feet sign separation on each center | |
| 10 acres or more | 72 sf plus 4 sf for street address | 20 ft | ||
| Freestanding - Freeway-Oriented | ||||
| Hotel, Motel, Service Station, or Restaurant as a freestanding use | 1 per freestanding use | 150 sf | 35 ft (higher requires CUP by Board) | See Section 6.108(h). For sign design, see Section 10-6.109 (a). |
| Shopping Center | 1 per shopping center, 5 up to 20 acres 1 per shopping center, 20 acres plus | 300 sf plus 100 sf for center name 700 sf plus 100 sf for center name | 50 ft (higher requires CUP by Board) | |
| Directional | ||||
| Exterior | 1 per use for each street frontage of the site; 1 allowed on a site with no public street frontage, provided the sign shall be oriented only to the street providing primary site access. | 6 sf | 6 ft | No business identification, monument type only |
| Interior | No limitation on number | 12 sf | 6 ft | No business identification shall be readable from a street |
| Restaurant and car wash menu board | 2 per site | 48 sf | 8 ft | Allowed for drive-in restaurants and car washes only |
| TEMPORARY | ||||
| A-frames | See Section 10-6.108 (a) | | | ||
| Banners | See Section 10-6.108 (b) | | | ||
| Construction | 1 per site | 64 sf | 10 ft | None |
| Flags | See Section 10-6.108 (g) | | | ||
| Political | No limitation on number | 32 sf each; and a combined total of 150 sf per site | 10 ft | Signs shall be installed no more than 120 days prior to election date and be removed within 10 days after election |
| Real estate | 1 per site | 64 sf | 10 ft | None |
| Seasonal (pumpkin, Christmas tree lots) | 1 per use | 32 sf | 12 ft | None |
| Use without structures (e.g., parking lot, etc.) | 1 per use | 72 sf | 72 sf | None |
| Window | No limitation on number | 50% of the window of which it is located | No limitation | None |
| OTHER SIGNS | ||||
| Church | See Section 10-6.108 (d) | |||
| Electronic Message Boards | See Section 10-6.108 (f) | |||
| Historic | See Section 10-6.108 (i) | |||
| Off-premise Advertising | See Section 10-6.108 (j) | |||
| Service Station | See Section 10-6.108 (k) | |||
| Street Address | See Section 10-6.108 (m) | |||
| Subdivision Sales | See Section 10-6.108 (n) |
Reproduced from Sec. 10-6.107, Table 6.1-2. Check it against the source before ordering.
Freestanding sign — maximum area
Sec. 10-6.106(b); Table 6.1-2Business freestanding sign (single parcel, C-2): 24 sf up to 100 ft frontage, up to 72 sf plus 4 sf for street address for more than 400 ft frontage; no freestanding sign may exceed 150 sq ft except as specified
“No freestanding sign of any type or class, subject to this article shall exceed one hundred fifty (150) square feet in area, except as specified in Section 10-6.108 (h) and Table 6.1-2.”
Freestanding sign — maximum height
Sec. 10-6.107, Table 6.1-2Business freestanding sign (single parcel, C-2): 6 ft up to 100 ft frontage, 8 ft (100-200 ft), 12 ft (200-400 ft), up to 20 ft for more than 400 ft frontage
Set out in the same table as wall sign — maximum area above.
Projecting sign — maximum area
Sec. 10-6.107, Table 6.1-248 sq ft (projecting sign), 1 per use
Set out in the same table as wall sign — maximum area above.
Projecting sign — clearance
Sec. 10-6.106(e)May project up to 8 ft into a street right-of-way and up to 4 ft into any alley right-of-way, but not closer than 2 ft from the face of the curb; minimum 8 ft above sidewalk
“May project up to eight (8) feet into a street right-of-way and up to four (4) feet into any alley right-of-way, but not closer than two (2) feet from the face of the curb.”
Window signs — maximum coverage
Sec. 10-6.107, Table 6.1-250% of the window on which it is located (for nonconforming uses in residential zones; commercial zone window signs also 50%)
Set out in the same table as wall sign — maximum area above.
Illumination
Sec. 10-6.109(c)Signs may be illuminated but fixtures shall only emit light of constant intensity; no flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light except electronic message boards; no glare or reflection constituting a traffic hazard
“All fixtures or lighting devices used to illuminate signs shall only emit light of constant intensity; and no sign shall be illuminated by, or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light, except for electronic message boards in compliance with Section 10-6.108 (f). No sign lighting device shall be installed or used that will cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.”
Digital / electronic message centres
Sec. 10-6.108(f)Electronic Message Boards allowed only for specified uses (auto dealers, theaters, convention centers, and certain arterial-fronting uses) with a CUP; no message displayed less than 8 seconds; instantaneous transition; no animation; brightness limited to 0.3 foot candles above ambient light
“Duration. No message shall be displayed for a period of time less than eight (8) seconds;”
Prohibited sign types
Sec. 10-6.110Animated/moving/flashing signs (with exceptions), bench signs (except franchised on public property), building outlining without CUP, hazardous signs, off-premise advertising signs (except as specified), signs on street trees/utility poles/rights-of-way, temporary signs (except A-frames, banners, flags, promotional displays)
“The following types of signs and sign materials shall be prohibited within the City. It shall be unlawful and punishable as an infraction for any person to place or cause to be placed any sign not in conformity with this section.”
Which zoning district this describes
Sec. 10-6.107(b)Values above describe non-residential zones (P-O, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-M, M-1, M-2) per Table 6.1-2; C-2 is General Commercial. Residential/office zones (R-1, R-2, R-3) have separate lower standards in Table 6.1-1; P-D zones follow the most closely approximating zone.
“Commercial and industrial zones. Any sign installed within the C-1, C-2, C-3, C-M, M-1, and M-2 zoning districts shall comply with the maximum sign area and height, number of signs allowed, and additional requirements shown in Table 6.1-2.”
Not covered in the sign chapter we read: wall sign — % of facade, freestanding sign — setback. That doesn't mean the city has no rule — it may sit elsewhere in the code.
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Tell us — corrections from local sign shops are how this stays accurate.
Common questions
- Do you need a permit for a sign in Modesto, CA?
- A sign permit is required to install, alter, or relocate any sign, with certain exempt sign types listed (e.g., construction signs, flags, real estate signs)
- How big can a wall sign be in Modesto, CA?
- 2 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage
- How big can a freestanding sign be in Modesto, CA?
- Business freestanding sign (single parcel, C-2): 24 sf up to 100 ft frontage, up to 72 sf plus 4 sf for street address for more than 400 ft frontage; no freestanding sign may exceed 150 sq ft except as specified
- How tall can a freestanding sign be in Modesto, CA?
- Business freestanding sign (single parcel, C-2): 6 ft up to 100 ft frontage, 8 ft (100-200 ft), 12 ft (200-400 ft), up to 20 ft for more than 400 ft frontage
- How big can a projecting sign be in Modesto, CA?
- 48 sq ft (projecting sign), 1 per use
- How much clearance does a projecting sign need in Modesto, CA?
- May project up to 8 ft into a street right-of-way and up to 4 ft into any alley right-of-way, but not closer than 2 ft from the face of the curb; minimum 8 ft above sidewalk
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