Colton — Signage

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Colton's zoning/planning ordinance controls about signage (Chapter 18.50 — SIGNS of the Colton Zoning Code). It explains the sign types, the permit and review rules, measurement/setback rules, temporary and off‑premises exceptions, and the district-level treatment that appears in Table 18.50‑2 and Table 18.50‑4. All standards below are pulled from the City's sign chapter and cited to the controlling §§.

How to read this chapter (big picture)

• The sign rules live in Chapter 18.50 of the Colton Zoning Code and are enforced by the Development Services Director (see § 18.50.020 and § 18.50.040) .
• A Sign permit is required for most installations and a Building permit is also required for installed signs (§ 18.50.040; § 18.50.100) .
• The chapter separates: (1) permanent on‑premises signs (Table 18.50‑2, § 18.50.100), (2) temporary promotional signs (Table 18.50‑3, § 18.50.110), and (3) off‑premises/freeway/Gateway/Business District displays (Table 18.50‑4, § 18.50.120) .

While this page stays focused on zoning/planning sign rules, note that all installed signs must also comply with the California Building Standards Code (for which a Building permit is typically required) as identified in § 18.50.080.A .

Across the page I link related topics you will commonly need: Development Standards, Parking, Design Review, Overlay Districts, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.

District-by-district breakdown (how the code treats different zones)

The sign chapter organizes permitted signs by use/zoning categories in Table 18.50‑2. Below are the categories as named in the ordinance and the most decision‑relevant limits and rules. All numeric limits and rules below are taken directly from Chapter 18.50.

Residential — RE and R-1

• Purpose / where used: Treated as Residential Signs in Table 18.50‑2 (single‑family and estate residential types) § 18.50.100 .
• Typical permitted sign types: Wall Sign for a home/driveway address.
• Key dimensional standards: 1 Wall Sign per home; maximum 6 sq ft; mounted to roofline (i.e., roofline wall) and no illumination (§ 18.50.100, Table 18.50‑2) .
• Practical note: Temporary political or event signs remain subject to the temporary sign rules and political sign rules (§ 18.50.100.R; § 18.50.110) .

Multiple‑family / Mixed‑use residential — R-2, R-3, MU‑D, MU‑N

• Purpose / where used: Shown as Multiple‑family Residential Signs in Table 18.50‑2 (apartment complexes, multi‑tenant residential) § 18.50.100 .
• Typical permitted sign types: Wall signs (project identification and tenant signs); freestanding project identification signs.
• Key dimensional standards: Project identification Wall Sign or freestanding sign 6 sq ft; freestanding project ID max height 8 ft; tenant wall sign 4 sq ft and no illumination for tenant signs; project identification signs may allow indirect/background illumination (§ 18.50.100) .

Nonresidential (general commercial & industrial)

• Purpose / where used: Nonresidential properties (commercial, industrial, shopping centers) appear in Table 18.50‑2 as Nonresidential Signs § 18.50.100 .
• Typical permitted sign types: Wall Signs, Freestanding Monument Signs, Pylon Signs, Window Signs, and special items like menu boards.
• Key dimensional standards:
  • Wall Sign: generally one per public frontage for storefront tenants; letter height and area governed by frontage and wall length (detailed in Table 18.50‑2, and footnotes) (§ 18.50.100, Table 18.50‑2) .
  • Monument Sign: typically 1 per street frontage; maximum 50 sq ft; maximum height 6 ft; indirect/background illumination allowed (§ 18.50.100) .
  • Pylon Sign (non‑freeway): typical 50 sq ft and 20 ft height caps (§ 18.50.100) .
  • Window Signs: limited to 20% of window area (per elevation) and no illumination (§ 18.50.100) .
  • Menu Board: single face max 32 sq ft and 6 ft height (§ 18.50.090.B.7) .
• Letter height: Minimum and maximum letter height rules for freestanding signs are in § 18.50.080.D–E (minimum 10 in for typical freestanding; minimum 18 in for freeway/Gateway/Business District signs; maximum 32 in typical; 48 in for freeway signs) .

Freeway‑oriented / Business District / Gateway / Kiosks (Off‑Premises special cases)

• Where applied: Governed by § 18.50.120 and Table 18.50‑4; these are largely off‑premises freeway‑oriented electronic changeable copy signs and special City kiosk programs .
• Key rules:
  • New off‑premises commercial message signage is generally prohibited, but exceptions exist: Business District Signs (only within a Business District Sign Overlay), Gateway Signs (one within ½ mile of major freeway entries), and a City Kiosk program (§ 18.50.120; Table 18.50‑4) .
  • These off‑premises signs require a Conditional Use Permit and a Billboard Public Benefit Agreement; the tables set cumulative area caps (e.g., Business District cumulative 672 sq ft) and height caps (Business District 35 ft, Gateway 55 ft) (Table 18.50‑4) § 18.50.120 .
  • Electronic changeable copy signs have change‑rate, time‑and‑temperature, brightness, and separation rules (see § 18.50.090.B.4 and notes to Table 18.50‑4) .

Key measurement, placement, and design rules (short list)

• Sign area measurement: overall width × height of sign segments; channel letters measured as 75% of area of letters (§ 18.50.080.C.1–2) .
• Height measurement: from highest part of the sign to lowest base elevation; freestanding sign structure may project up to 10% above sign face (§ 18.50.080.D) .
• Freestanding sign setbacks/spacing: min 3 ft outside property lines/right‑of‑way and outside required clear vision triangles; recommended spacing between permanent freestanding signs 50 ft (§ 18.50.080.E) .
• Materials/design: monument/pylon signs must be architecturally integrated; pole signs are prohibited; voids in sign faces are prohibited; landscaping at base equal to sign area required (except freeway/Gateway/Business District signs) (§ 18.50.090.B.5; § 18.50.080.D–E) .
• Illumination: allowed only as indirect/background unless otherwise stated; electronic signs must auto‑adjust brightness day/night and meet change‑rate limits (6 sec near freeways; 30 sec elsewhere) (§ 18.50.100.A–B; § 18.50.090.B.4) .

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant standards

Checklist

• Submit a Sign permit application (required prior to any placing/erecting/modifying/refacing) — § 18.50.040 .
• For installed/structural signs, include a Building permit submittal and comply with the California Building Standards Code — § 18.50.080.A .
• If the project is a multitenant development with 3+ tenants, prepare a Uniform Sign Program — § 18.50.040.D .
• For temporary promotional signs, obtain a Temporary Promotional Sign permit and follow the day/period limits and display specs (A‑frame rules, pedestrian clearance) — § 18.50.110; Table 18.50‑3 .
• Off‑premises freeway/Gateway/Business District signs require a Conditional Use Permit and Billboard Public Benefit Agreement — § 18.50.040.3; § 18.50.120; Table 18.50‑4 .
• Confirm sign area/letter height calculations and freestanding setbacks/spacing with the Development Services Director; measurement rules are in § 18.50.080.C–E .
• Avoid prohibited sign types (animated/flashing, pole signs, inflatable balloons, signs in public right‑of‑way, etc.) — § 18.50.070 .
• If you anticipate design sensitivity (historic area or special overlay) expect Design Review or overlay standards review — see § 18.50.090 and the approvals table (§ 18.50.040/ Table 18.50‑1) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Colton's sign code (Chapter 18.50) lets residential properties have very small wall/address signs (typ. 6 sq ft) and allows commercial sites a mix of wall, monument, and pylon signs but with clear area, height, and illumination limits; temporary promotional signs are allowed on short time limits, and new off‑site billboards are generally prohibited except by explicit overlay/CUP programs (Business District or Gateway) — all installations need a Sign permit and many need a Building permit and/or CUP. See § 18.50.040, § 18.50.100, § 18.50.110, and § 18.50.120 for the controlling rules .

Source References

• Colton Zoning Code — Chapter 18.50, "SIGNS" (purpose, definitions, prohibited signs, permits, measurement, maintenance): §§ 18.50.010; 18.50.020; 18.50.040; 18.50.070; 18.50.080; 18.50.090; 18.50.100; 18.50.110; 18.50.120. Source (compiled excerpt): .
• Tables referenced in the chapter: Table 18.50‑1 (Approval Authority), Table 18.50‑2 (Allowed Permanent On‑Premises Standards), Table 18.50‑3 (Temporary Sign Standards), Table 18.50‑4 (Off‑Premises Standards) — Colton Zoning Code excerpts: .
• Definitions and measurement rules (Sign, Sign Face, freestanding vs. wall, channel letters) — § 18.50.020 and text within Chapter 18.50 — Colton Zoning Code excerpts: .
• Building/structural compliance reference: California Building Code requirement mention in § 18.50.080.A and the need to obtain a Building permit where applicable — Colton Zoning Code excerpt: .
• For background on the City overlay exceptions (Business District Sign Overlay and Hub City Centre / Downtown / Cooley Ranch mention), see § 18.50.120 (off‑premises rules and kiosk program): .

Retrieved passages

• Colton Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (Section 18.50.070) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (Section 18.50.120.) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (Title 8) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (Chapter 18.50) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (Chapter to) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (Section 18.50.040) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (chapter but) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Colton Zoning Code — Chapter 18.50, "SIGNS" (purpose, definitions, prohibited signs, permits, measurement, maintenance): §§ **18.50.010**; **18.50.020**; **18.50.040**; **18.50.070**; **18.50.080**; **18.50.090**; **18.50.100**; **18.50.110**; **18.50.120**. Source (compiled excerpt): . (Chapter 18.50)
• Tables referenced in the chapter: Table **18.50‑1** (Approval Authority), Table **18.50‑2** (Allowed Permanent On‑Premises Standards), Table **18.50‑3** (Temporary Sign Standards), Table **18.50‑4** (Off‑Premises Standards) — Colton Zoning Code excerpts: .
• Definitions and measurement rules (Sign, Sign Face, freestanding vs. wall, channel letters) — § **18.50.020** and text within Chapter 18.50 — Colton Zoning Code excerpts: . (Chapter 18.50)
• Building/structural compliance reference: California Building Code requirement mention in § **18.50.080.A** and the need to obtain a Building permit where applicable — Colton Zoning Code excerpt: .
• For background on the City overlay exceptions (Business District Sign Overlay and Hub City Centre / Downtown / Cooley Ranch mention), see § **18.50.120** (off‑premises rules and kiosk program): .
• Colton_ZoningCode.md

• Official Colton code library