Skip to content

Division 9 — Zoning Administrator›Article 66 — SIGN ORDINANCE

§ 33-1390. Purpose and applicability.

Escondido Zoning Code · 2026-05 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Escondido

  • (a) Intent and purpose.

    • (1) It is the intent of this article (the sign ordinance) to preserve and enhance the aesthetic, traffic safety and environmental values of our communities and growing commercial/ industrial districts, while at the same time providing channels of communication to the public. It is also the city's intent to regulate on the basis of characteristic and proportion of signage. The city finds that commercial signage constitutes the majority of existing signage and desires to limit such signage to on-site locations in order to keep proliferation of such signage to a more aesthetic proportion, while providing a channel of communication to advertise businesses. The city finds that it is in the interest of both aesthetics and traffic safety that sign information be kept to a minimum. It is the intent of this article to enhance traffic safety by ensuring that signage does not distract, obstruct or otherwise impede traffic circulation. Proper sign control also safeguards and preserves the health, property and public welfare of Escondido residents through prohibiting, regulating and controlling the design, location and maintenance of signs. Noncommercial signage is permitted wherever other signage is permitted within Article 66 and is subject to the same standards and total maximum allowances for a site of each sign type specified in this article.

    • (2) This article defines basic sign standards and design guidelines to aid business owners and sign contractors in creating appropriate signs. The sign program coordinates the type, placement, and size of signs, and encourages innovative designs which respond to surrounding conditions.

    • (3) Recognizing that building types and locations as well as other site specific characteristics often differ, the sign design guidelines, as may be adopted or modified by the city council, are to be used in conjunction with this chapter to determine the appropriate sign parameters and ensure quality in design. Proposed sign designs shall be reviewed pursuant to this article to determine their consistency with the sign design guidelines and the ordinance.

  • (b) Applicability.

    • (1) Signs to be located in specific planning areas (SP zones) or planned developments (PD zones) are not subject to these sign provisions, but shall conform with the established sign standards adopted with the particular planned development or specific plan. This chapter shall not apply to properties located within the boundaries of the downtown revitalization area specific plan, except in instances where the specific plan has incorporated certain sections by reference as part of the sign guidelines for the downtown area. Signs located in the Old Escondido Neighborhood overlay district shall conform with Article 65 of the Escondido zoning code.

    • (2) This chapter does not regulate official traffic signs or other government signs located within the public right-of-way. Freestanding signs, wall signs, and bulletin signs for city facilities are subject to these standards.

  • (Ord. No. 92-47, § 1, 12-2-92; Ord. No. 99-27R, § 4, 12-1-99)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/ES4926 on 2026-05-23

City of Escondido, CA § 33-1391

ZONING

§ 33-1391

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
▸ Contents — Escondido Zoning Code
Escondido Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 6
  2. Division 2 — Routing
  3. Division 2 — Weed and Rubbish Abatement Program
  4. Division 1 — Generally
  5. Division 1
  6. Division 2 — Variances and Administrative Adjustments
  7. Division 3 — Nonconforming Uses and Structures
  8. Division 4 — Amendments and Zone Changes
  9. Division 5 — Reasonable Accommodation
  10. Division 6 — Public Hearings, Notices, Fees and Appeals
  11. Division 7 — Enforcement and Penalties
  12. Division 8 — Plot Plans
  13. ▸ Division 9 — Zoning Administrator
    Overview
    1. § 33-1318. Office established—Authority.
    2. § 33-1319. Powers and duties and procedure.
    3. Article 62 — WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS
    4. Article 63 — TRANSIENT LODGING FACILITIES
    5. Article 64 — DESIGN REVIEW
    6. Article 65 — OLD ESCONDIDO NEIGHBORHOOD
    7. ▸ Article 66 — SIGN ORDINANCE
      Overview
      1. § 33-1390. Purpose and applicability.
      2. § 33-1391. Definitions.
      3. § 33-1391 ordinance, including overlay, area and neighborhood …
      4. § 33-1392. Permit administration.
      5. § 33-1392 - (1) Three copies of a scaled plan showing:
      6. § 33-1393. Exempt and prohibited signs.
      7. § 33-1393 - (1) Glazing area signs.
      8. § 33-1393 - (16) No trespassing, no parking, and similar warni…
      9. § 33-1393 16-119.
      10. § 33-1394. Construction and maintenance of signs.
      11. § 33-1395. Sign standards—General.
      12. § 33-1396. General use signs.
      13. § 33-1396 of business each day.
      14. § 33-1396 major subdivisions located within the general plan a…
      15. § 33-1396 - (B) Theaters;
      16. § 33-1397. Temporary signage on private property.
      17. § 33-1398. Enforcement and penalties.
      18. § 33-1399. Nonconforming signs.
    8. Article 67 — DENSITY BONUS AND RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVES
    9. Article 68 — GROWTH MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE
    10. Article 69 — ESCONDIDO BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT ZONE
    11. Article 70 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWE…
    12. Article 71 — (RESERVED)
    13. Article 72 — (RESERVED)
    14. Article 73 — TEMPORARY USES, OUTDOOR DISPLAY AND SALE OF RETAI…
    15. Article 74 — DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
    16. Article 75 — SAN DIEGUITO RIVER VALLEY FOCUS PLANNING AREA
    17. Article 77 — CENTRE CITY RESIDENTIAL (CCR) OVERLAY ZONE
    18. Article 78 — MERCADO AREA PLAN OVERLAY
    19. Article 79 — EAST VALLEY PARKWAY OVERLAY ZONE
    20. Article 80 — PUBLIC FACILITIES OVERLAY ZONE

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.