Bradbury — Signage

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Bradbury’s sign rules live in Title IX of the Bradbury Development Code, in Chapter 106 — Sign Standards. The City allows a very limited palette of small, on-site signs in its residential and agricultural estate zones, with special carve-outs for real estate and election periods, and an explicit exclusion for the A-5 zone, which is regulated separately. All other sign types are prohibited unless the code expressly authorizes them, and “rolling billboards” are banned citywide.

Controlling ordinance and scope

• The City’s sign rules are in the Bradbury Development Code, Chapter 106 — Sign Standards. The chapter states its purpose and makes clear that only signs authorized by this chapter are allowed in each zoning district .
• Signs in the A-5 zone are not governed by Chapter 106; they are regulated by the Bradbury Community Services District .
• For most parcels, the operative districts are Bradbury’s residential and agricultural residential estate zones under the City’s zoning framework; sign allowances below are keyed to those districts.

Citywide rules that apply in all zones

• Only signs identified in Chapter 106 are permitted; all other types are prohibited unless the City Manager determines a proposed sign is “sufficiently similar” to an allowed sign, with a right of appeal to the City Council .
• “Rolling billboards” (advertising affixed to vehicles/trailers where advertising is the vehicle’s primary purpose) are prohibited in all zones; this does not apply to business vehicle wraps or legally required markings .
• Nonconforming sign rules:
  • Permanent nonconforming identification or incidental signs that existed lawfully may remain indefinitely, but if removed or destroyed they must be replaced only with conforming signs .
  • Temporary nonconforming signs had to be removed within 30 days of adoption of the 2013 ordinance update .
  • Separately, the Development Code’s general nonconforming provisions include amortization schedules for various sign categories; because this may conflict with Chapter 106’s “indefinite” allowance for certain permanent signs, confirm with the City which provision controls for a specific case .
• The Planning Commission may adopt advisory design guidelines for signs, used by staff/applicants to guide size, height, style, materials, and placement; these guidelines are not content-based and are advisory only .
• Structural/electrical safety and any building-permit aspects of signs are addressed by the California Building Standards Code. This page covers Bradbury zoning rules only.

What’s allowed — quick reference

• Permanent property identification sign: one per lot, max 6 sq ft, max 5 ft height, may be single- or double-faced; if illuminated, only a low-voltage light up to 15 watts; if placed within a required setback along a public right-of-way, it requires Planning Commission design compatibility (not content) review .
• Permanent incidental signs (e.g., alarm/no trespassing/no soliciting): up to three per site; each not more than 1 sq ft .
• Temporary real estate sign (“For Sale,” “For Rent,” “For Lease,” “Open House”): one, non-illuminated; min 5 ft inside the property line; max 4 sq ft and 5 ft height; remove within 15 days after the activity concludes; on-site information only (off-site ads not permitted) .
• Temporary construction signs are not allowed, except minimal contact or hazard signs required by law/insurance (proof required) .
• Temporary political sign: one, non-illuminated; max 6 sq ft and 6 ft height; only during the 60 days before an election and removed within 5 days after .

District-by-district sign allowances

The Sign Standards chapter lists the zones it regulates for signage and applies the same sign program across them, with one exception: the A-5 zone is excluded and handled by the Bradbury Community Services District. Where relevant below, brief zone context is included from each zone’s chapter to show typical uses and environment.

R-7,500 Single-Family Residential (R-7,500)

• Purpose and typical uses: Single-family residential; principal use is one single-family dwelling with open spaces and related residential activities .
• Allowed signs: Only the five categories summarized above (identification, incidental, temporary real estate, political; construction signs are not allowed except as legally required) .
• Key dimensional standards for signs: The 6 sq ft/5 ft limits for identification signs; 1 sq ft limit for incidental signs; 4 sq ft/5 ft and 5 ft inside the property line for real estate signs; 6 sq ft/6 ft and 60-day/5-day window for political signs; 15-watt max for illumination of identification signs .
• Notes: The zone’s own use list for garden/agricultural activities states “no…advertising signs of any nature,” underscoring that commercial advertising is not a permitted use in residential areas; the sign chapter’s narrow allowances are the operative exceptions .
• Where it applies: Citywide lots mapped R-7,500 (verify on the City’s zoning map). Verify with the jurisdiction.

R-20,000 Single-Family Residential (R-20,000)

• Purpose and typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Allowed signs: Same as R-7,500; Chapter 106 applies to R-20,000 with the identical sign program .
• Key dimensional standards for signs: Same numeric limits as R-7,500 above .
• Where it applies: Verify with the jurisdiction.

A-1 Agriculture Residential Estate (A-1)

• Purpose and typical uses: Single-family residential and estate-scale agricultural uses, with one single-family dwelling and open space predominant; agricultural activities are permitted but retail sales/advertising on-site are prohibited by the zone use list .
• Allowed signs: Same as R-7,500; Chapter 106 applies identically to A-1 .
• Key dimensional standards for signs: Same numeric limits as R-7,500 above, including the 15-watt cap for illumination of identification signs .
• Where it applies: Verify with the jurisdiction.

A-2 Agriculture Residential Estate (A-2)

• Purpose and typical uses: Same general residential-estate intent as A-1, with one single-family dwelling and open space; zone use list also prohibits retail sales/advertising signs for agricultural activities .
• Allowed signs: Same as R-7,500; Chapter 106 applies identically to A-2 .
• Key dimensional standards for signs: Same numeric limits as R-7,500 above .
• Where it applies: Verify with the jurisdiction.

A-5 Agriculture Residential Estate (A-5)

• Purpose and typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Allowed signs: Not governed by Chapter 106. The code states that signs in the A-5 zone “are regulated by the Bradbury Community Services District and are not subject to the provisions of this chapter.” Verify A-5 sign standards directly with the Community Services District .
• Where it applies: Verify with the jurisdiction.

Decision table — common residential sign allowances

Nonconforming, historic, and enforcement touchpoints

• Nonconforming signs:
  • Permanent identification or incidental signs that became nonconforming may remain, but cannot be enlarged or relocated; replacing a removed/destroyed nonconforming sign requires full compliance .
  • Chapter 10’s nonconforming amortization schedule sets specific removal periods for various sign types; consult the City to reconcile with Chapter 106’s allowances in any enforcement action .
• Historic signs: A sign designated historic under the City’s historic preservation rules is not treated as nonconforming for Chapter 106 purposes .
• Variances and conditions: While the City’s variances and exceptions chapter allows conditions “relating to…regulation of signs,” this functions to impose conditions on projects, not to create new sign types beyond Chapter 106 .
• Design review: Identification signs in a required setback along a public right-of-way need Planning Commission design compatibility review; the Commission may also adopt advisory sign design guidelines for staff/applicants. See design review for process context and plan accordingly .

Practical siting notes

• Setbacks and frontage: Because identification signs placed within a required setback next to a public right-of-way trigger Planning Commission review, check your parcel’s setback standards under development standards before you commit to a location .
• Landscaping around signs: If you plan to add plantings or low walls near a sign, coordinate with landscaping and screening and fence/wall height rules so your sign remains visible and compliant. Not found in retrieved materials for sign-specific landscaping.
• Overlays: If your site falls in a special overlay district, verify whether the overlay adds constraints. Not found in retrieved materials.

Checklist

• Confirm your zoning district on the City’s map to determine whether Chapter 106 applies or whether you are in A-5 (Community Services District rules) .
• Choose a permitted sign type: identification, incidental, temporary real estate, or temporary political .
• Size and height check: identification ≤ 6 sq ft/5 ft; incidental ≤ 1 sq ft (max 3); real estate ≤ 4 sq ft/5 ft; political ≤ 6 sq ft/6 ft .
• Location check: real estate signs at least 5 ft inside the property line; identification signs in required setback along a public right-of-way require Planning Commission design compatibility review .
• Illumination check: only identification signs may be illuminated, and only with a low-voltage light up to 15 watts; others must be non-illuminated .
• Timing: remove real estate signs within 15 days after activity; political signs only during the 60 days before an election and remove within 5 days after .
• Avoid prohibited types: construction advertising signs (except legally required hazard/contact signs), “rolling billboards,” and any sign not expressly permitted .
• If your existing sign is nonconforming, consult the City on whether Chapter 106’s nonconforming rules or the general amortization schedule applies to your case; see nonconforming uses for background .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If you live in Bradbury, you can have a small property name/owner sign, a few tiny “no trespassing/alarm” signs, one on-site real estate sign during a sale, and one election sign during the campaign window. That’s basically it. Put them on your own property, keep them small and low, don’t light them except for a tiny light on your identification sign, and take temporary signs down on time. If your lot is in the A-5 area, different rules apply—check with the Community Services District.

Source References

• Bradbury Development Code Title IX, Chapter 106 — Sign Standards: purpose, applicability, permitted signs, design guidelines, prohibited signs, nonconforming signs, rolling billboards; Secs. 9.106.010–.040; 9.106.035
• General nonconforming provisions (amortization schedules including signs); Sec. 9.02.030.040
• R-7,500 zone context (permitted uses; no advertising signs in accessory agricultural activities); Sec. 9.61.020
• A-1 zone context (purpose/permitted uses; no advertising signs in accessory agricultural activities); Secs. 9.67.010–.020
• A-2 zone context (purpose/permitted uses; no advertising signs in accessory agricultural activities); Secs. 9.70.010–.020
• Variances — conditions may regulate signs; Sec. 9.46.040

Retrieved passages

• Bradbury Zoning Code (§ 9.06.040.060) High relevance show source text
• Bradbury Zoning Code (section are) Medium relevance show source text
• Bradbury Zoning Code (§ 9.06.040.060) Medium relevance show source text
• Bradbury Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Bradbury Zoning Code (section are) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 1 (Section 9.106.030) Medium relevance show source text
• Bradbury Zoning Code (CHAPTER 70.) Medium relevance show source text
• CEC § H101 (chapter as) Medium relevance show source text
• Bradbury Zoning Code (chapter is) High relevance show source text
• CEC § H103 (SECTION H103) Medium relevance show source text
• CGBSC § A6.209.5 (Title 20.) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Bradbury Development Code Title IX, Chapter 106 — Sign Standards: purpose, applicability, permitted signs, design guidelines, prohibited signs, nonconforming signs, rolling billboards; Secs. 9.106.010–.040; 9.106.035 (Title IX)
• General nonconforming provisions (amortization schedules including signs); Sec. 9.02.030.040
• R-7,500 zone context (permitted uses; no advertising signs in accessory agricultural activities); Sec. 9.61.020
• A-1 zone context (purpose/permitted uses; no advertising signs in accessory agricultural activities); Secs. 9.67.010–.020
• A-2 zone context (purpose/permitted uses; no advertising signs in accessory agricultural activities); Secs. 9.70.010–.020
• Variances — conditions may regulate signs; Sec. 9.46.040
• Bradbury_ZoningCode.md

• Official Bradbury code library