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Division 9 — Zoning Administrator›Article 66 — SIGN ORDINANCE

§ 33-1393 16-119.

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

  • (b) Prohibited signs. Any sign not specifically authorized by this article shall be prohibited unless required by law or otherwise exempted by a local agency pursuant to the Government Code, sections 53090 et seq., of the State of California. The following signs are expressly prohibited:

    • (1) Roof signs, except a roof-type sign, where permitted by the planning commission as a freeway-oriented sign pursuant to section 33-1395(a)(3);

    • (2) Flashing signs, including time and temperature signs (unless all advertising is excluded);

    • (3) Inflatable advertising devices of a temporary or permanent nature, including hot air balloons, unless approved as a special event sign pursuant to section 33-1396(a);

    • (4) Animated and moving signs;

    • (5) Searchlights and beacons except as permitted per section 33-1396(a);

    • (6) Revolving or rotating signs;

    • (7) Vehicle signs (when parked or stored on property or street for the purpose of identifying a business or advertising a product or service);

    • (8) Signs without an approved sign permit, unless exempt from the provisions of this chapter;

    • (9) Portable signs and banners except where permitted by this chapter;

    • (10) Signs within the public right-of-way, except where required by a government agency or otherwise permitted by sections 33-1396(c) and 33-1396(j);

    • (11) Signs blocking doors or fire escapes;

    • (12) Outside light bulb strings, except for temporary uses such as holiday sales, Christmas tree lots, carnivals and other similar events as defined in section 33-1391(58);

    • (13) Readerboard/changeable copy signs, either electric or nonelectric, except time and temperature signs as defined in section 33-1391(63), and other signs permitted pursuant to sections 33-1395.2(b)(3) and (4), 33-1395.10, and 33-l396(e);

    • (14) Pennants, streamers, whirligigs, balloons, and other attention-getting devices except as permitted by section 33-1396 of this chapter;

    • (15) Signs which purport to be, imitate or resemble official traffic warning devices or signs that by color, location or lighting may confuse or disorient vehicular or pedestrian traffic. This does not include traffic or directional signs installed on private property to control on-site traffic, which do not confuse or disorient vehicular or pedestrian traffic on a public road or right-of-way;

    • (16) Off-site real estate and yard sale directional signs other than those permitted by sections 33-1393(a)(2), 33-1396(c) and (d) and Municipal Code section 16-119;

    • (17) Billboards and signs that advertise a product, person, business or service not available

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City of Escondido, CA § 33-1393

ZONING

§ 33-1395.1

on the property where the sign is located (off-site signs), and signs placed adjacent to a sign-controlled freeway (see Article 52 of the Escondido Zoning Code). (Ord. No. 92-47, § 1, 11-18-92; Ord. No. 95-18, § 2, 9-13-95; Ord. No. 98-25, § 1, 12-9-98; Ord. No. 99-27R, § 7, 12-1-99; Ord. No. 2011-19R, § 5, 1-11-12; Ord. No. 2012-08, § 4, 5-23-12; Ord. No. 2018-22 § 1, 12-5-18; Ord. No. 2020-14 § 10, 8-12-20)

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▸ 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

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