Local zoning · Lindsay

Lindsay — Signage

Signage under the Lindsay local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Lindsay's zoning code requires for signs and outdoor advertising structures located on private property. The rules live in Chapter 18.14 of Title 18 (Signs and Outdoor Advertising Structures) and apply across the city's zoning districts; they cover exemptions, prohibited sign types, measurement, district-by-district area/height limits, permitting, master sign programs, murals, nonconforming signs, maintenance, and enforcement. See the specific code sections cited throughout for the ordinance language and confirm parcel‑specific interpretations with the City. § 18.14.110–18.14.400 .

Note: this page stays inside zoning/sign rules only — it does not cover state building-code technical requirements (Title 24) beyond noting when a building permit is required under the sign chapter. When a sign has electrical connections or engineered supports, the code requires the appropriate building permit and compliance with the California Building Standards Code. § 18.14.160 . For those requirements see the California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes).

Also see city pages on related topics that often intersect with signs: Lindsay Parking, Lindsay Development Standards, Lindsay Design Review, Lindsay Overlay Districts, Lindsay ADUs, and Lindsay Nonconforming Uses.

What the ordinance requires (short list)

Sign regulation chapter applies citywide; signs on private property must comply with Chapter 18.14. § 18.14.120 .
Many ordinary small signs are exempt from sign-permit counts (nameplates, barber poles, vehicle signs, holiday decorations, menu boards on vending carts, certain window signs) — see the exemption list in § 18.14.140. § 18.14.140 .
Certain signs are prohibited citywide (e.g., signs that mimic traffic control devices, signs within 30 ft of street intersections, flashing/glaring signs, signs in rights‑of‑way except where allowed, signs on trees/utility poles, animated/revolving signs except limited barber poles/public service signs). § 18.14.150 .
Permanent signs require a sign permit except those specifically exempted; temporary signs that conform do not need permits. § 18.14.160 .
Measurement rules (how to calculate sign area, height, frontage, integrated shopping center treatment) are in § 18.14.170 and associated definitions in § 18.14.400. § 18.14.170 .
District‑by‑district numeric limits for permanent and temporary signs (building signs and freestanding signs) are in Table 18.14.180(A) and Table 18.14.180(B) under § 18.14.180. § 18.14.180 .
Master sign programs are required for sites with more than 3 commercial establishments and are reviewed as an administrative use permit (City Manager) or by the City Council when concurrent with a conditional use permit. § 18.14.300 .
Variances or administrative adjustments to sign standards follow Chapter 18.21 procedures. § 18.14.310 .
Wall murals are allowed but treated separately: murals must be public art, not commercial advertising; words/images that advertise are restricted and may require a variance. § 18.14.320 .
Nonconforming signs may continue but are subject to limits and eventual removal or amortization in certain cases. § 18.14.330 .
Maintenance, hazardous sign removal, abandoned sign removal (60 days after business discontinuance), and illegal sign abatement are specifically regulated. § 18.14.340–18.14.370 .
Enforcement: unlawful signs are public nuisances; the City Manager can abate and pursue removal. § 18.14.390 .

District-by-district breakdown (sign‑specific)

The code provides the numeric sign allowances and restrictions grouped by zone district in Table 18.14.180(A) (permanent) and Table 18.14.180(B) (temporary); the table is the primary district-level reference. For each district below the "Key dimensional standards" summarize what the table allows. All numeric standards below are drawn from § 18.14.180 / Table 18.14.180(A) unless otherwise noted. § 18.14.180 .

Note: where the zoning code also contains a "purpose" or permitted-use narrative for a district, I cite it when available; where that text was not present in the retrieved materials I note "Not found in retrieved materials."

R‑A (Residential‑Acreage)

Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials for the district purpose text.
Key dimensional standards (signs): For single‑family residential sites with 4 or fewer residences, 1 building sign per residence, maximum 4 sq.ft., max height 8 ft., external illumination only; freestanding signs are not allowed. For sites with 5 or more residences or nonresidential uses, 1 building sign per street frontage, max 30 sq.ft., placement min 5 ft below roofline, external illumination only; freestanding signs permitted: 1 per frontage, max 20 sq.ft., max 6 ft. high. § 18.14.180 .

R / RM (One‑Family and Multi‑Family Residential)

Purpose / typical uses: R districts intended for low‑density single‑family living (see § 18.07.010). § 18.07.010 . RM purpose text not found in retrieved excerpts.
Key dimensional standards: Same numeric structure as R‑A above (see Table). § 18.14.180 .

PO (Professional Office)

Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials (PO district text not present in search results).
Key dimensional standards: Building signs: 2 sq.ft. per 1 lineal foot of building frontage up to 60 sq.ft. on primary frontage; 1 sq.ft. per lineal foot up to 30 sq.ft. on secondary frontage. Freestanding: 1 monument sign per street frontage sized by frontage bands (e.g., less than 50 ft frontage = 20 sq.ft., 6 ft high; larger bands allowed up to 64 sq.ft., 8 ft high) with 5 ft setback. § 18.14.180 .

CN / CS / CH (Neighborhood, Service, Highway Commercial)

Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials for the explicit purpose paragraphs in retrieved snippets.
Key dimensional standards: Building signs: number per establishment limited to 6; primary building frontage allowed 2 sq.ft. per lineal foot up to 350 sq.ft. (with some minimum allocations of 50 sq.ft.), secondary frontage 1 sq.ft. per lineal foot up to 200 sq.ft. Freestanding: 1 sign per establishment, max 60 sq.ft. face, height up to 20 ft if set back ≥10 ft (reduced height when setbacks are smaller); shopping-center sites have different allowances (additional freestanding sign up to 200 sq.ft. for integrated centers). § 18.14.180 .

CC (Central Commercial / downtown)

Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials for the explicit CC purpose.
Key dimensional standards: Building signs: 2 sq.ft. per lineal foot of building frontage up to 60 sq.ft. on primary frontage; 1 sq.ft. per lineal foot up to 30 sq.ft. on secondary frontage. Freestanding sign rules for shopping centers are different (frontage‑based allowances up to 65 sq.ft. and heights up to 20 ft for very large frontages). § 18.14.180 .

I (Industrial)

Purpose / typical uses: Industrial districts are described and include project review requirements; see general I district project review in § 18.11.060. § 18.11.060 .
Key dimensional standards: Building signs: no limit to the number of signs per business establishment; allowed area is 1 sq.ft. per lineal foot of property line adjoining a street, or 100 sq.ft. per acre of site area in use (whichever greater), up to a maximum of 600 sq.ft. of sign face. Freestanding: 1 sign per frontage maximum, max 60 sq.ft., max 20 ft height, with setbacks 5 ft from front lot line and 15 ft from side lot line. § 18.14.180 .

RCO (Residential Commercial Overlay)

Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials for explicit RCO purpose.
Key dimensional standards: Building signs: 1 sign per street frontage, max 30 sq.ft. per sign, external illumination only. Freestanding: 1 sign per site max 20 sq.ft., 6 ft high max, external illumination only, 5 ft setback. § 18.14.180 .

Quick decision‑relevant table (examples)

Topic	Bottom‑line standard (Lindsay)	Code Reference
Permit required for permanent signs	Sign permit required for all permanent signs unless exempt; building/electrical permits if sign has electrical or engineered supports	§ 18.14.160
Exempt small nameplate	One nameplate per residence or business, ≤ 2 sq.ft. (does not count toward site total)	§ 18.14.140
Prohibited sign types (selected)	Signs resembling traffic devices; signs within 30 ft of street intersections; flashing/glaring or animated signs (banned except limited cases)	§ 18.14.150
Master sign program trigger	Required when site contains more than 3 commercial establishments	§ 18.14.300
Abandoned sign removal	On‑premise sign advertising discontinued activity must be removed within 60 days	§ 18.14.360
Nonconforming outdoor advertising	Nonconforming signs may continue but subject to Chapter limits; certain nonconforming outdoor advertising must be removed within 5 years in some conditions	§ 18.14.330

(Full, zone‑by‑zone numeric details are in Table 18.14.180(A) — see § 18.14.180.) § 18.14.180 .

Practical guidance and interpretation notes

Start with the table: the single most important zoning reference for sign size/number is Table 18.14.180(A) under § 18.14.180. The table ties allowed area and heights directly to the property's zone and street frontage. § 18.14.180 .
If your project is a multi‑tenant shopping center or a site with more than 3 commercial tenants, expect to prepare a master sign program (design coordination, materials, colors), which the City enforces thereafter. § 18.14.300 .
For any sign with wiring, lighting or engineered supports, you will need a building permit — check the California building‑code rules early and include electrical details; the sign chapter explicitly requires the building permit. § 18.14.160 . See the California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes).
Noncommercial speech replacement is protected: subject to the owner’s consent, you may substitute a noncommercial message for a commercial one without additional permitting, provided the sign structure is legal — the chapter is content‑neutral in that respect. § 18.14.130 .
Murals: are allowed as public art but commercial content is restricted and may require a variance — plan murals with the mural and sign rules in mind. § 18.14.320 .

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

Confirm the property's zone and applicable overlay(s) and read the numeric allowances in Table 18.14.180(A). § 18.14.180 .
If applicable, prepare a Master Sign Program (required if > 3 commercial establishments). § 18.14.300 .
Get property owner consent (owner and business consent required on the permit application). § 18.14.160 .
Submit sign permit application showing sign area calculations per § 18.14.170 (frontage rules, sign area measurement, height measurement). § 18.14.170 .
If sign has electrical or engineered supports, include building permit plans and electrical details per the California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes) as required by § 18.14.160. § 18.14.160 .
Verify the sign is not one of the prohibited types (see § 18.14.150) and that it meets required setbacks and heights in Table 18.14.180(A). § 18.14.150 .
For temporary signs follow the limits in Table 18.14.180(B). § 18.14.180 .
If proposing a mural with any business branding or logos, plan for the mural rules and possible variance requirement. § 18.14.320 .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Master sign program triggers	Master program is required for sites with more than 3 commercial establishments; missing this can block permits and force redesign	Confirm tenant count and whether the site is treated as an "integrated shopping center"; consult the City Manager’s office. § 18.14.300
Murals vs. commercial signage	Murals are supposed to be public art and commercial imagery/logos are restricted or require variance	If mural includes business identifiers, verify whether a variance or Council approval is required. § 18.14.320
Determining frontage for sign area	Frontage calculation affects allowed building sign area (lots with multiple frontages have rules) — mis‑measuring can under/overstate allowable area	Calculate frontage per § 18.14.170 rules; for corner lots and integrated centers check the specific measurement method. § 18.14.170
Nonconforming signs on redevelopment sites	Nonconforming signs may be allowable but can be limited on repair, expansion, or if business discontinued	Confirm whether sign is legal nonconforming and whether proposed work will trigger nonconforming limitations or require removal. § 18.14.330
Electrical/structural permit scope	The zoning chapter requires building permits for electrical/engineered supports, but the exact code triggers and scope are handled via building inspections	Verify required building permit plans with the Building Division and apply California Building Standards Code rules. § 18.14.160
Temporary sign duration/placement ambiguity	Table B defines temporary limits but some special events or public banners may be treated differently	For banners in right‑of‑way or civic event banners, verify with City Services; check § 18.14.140 for exemptions covering City‑erected civic event banners. § 18.14.140

Plain‑English summary

Lindsay’s zoning code restricts how big, how many, and where signs can be depending on your zone. Small nameplates and certain temporary signs are exempt; most permanent signs need a sign permit, and signs with wiring or engineered supports also need building permits. Check Table 18.14.180 for the numerical limits for your zone, and expect a unified master sign program for multi‑tenant centers. § 18.14.140, § 18.14.160, § 18.14.180, § 18.14.300 .

Source References

Lindsay Municipal Code, Title 18 — Signs and Outdoor Advertising Structures, § 18.14.110 (Purpose) .
Lindsay Municipal Code, Title 18 — Applicability & severability, § 18.14.120 .
Lindsay Municipal Code, Title 18 — Exempt signs, § 18.14.140 .
Lindsay Municipal Code, Title 18 — Prohibited signs, § 18.14.150 .
Lindsay Municipal Code, Title 18 — Permits required & measurement rules, § 18.14.160, § 18.14.170 .
Lindsay Municipal Code, Title 18 — Sign regulations by zone (Table 18.14.180(A) / (B)), § 18.14.180 .
Lindsay Municipal Code, Title 18 — Concealed electrical systems & Master sign program, § 18.14.290, § 18.14.300 .
Lindsay Municipal Code, Title 18 — Variances / wall murals, § 18.14.310, § 18.14.320 .
Lindsay Municipal Code, Title 18 — Nonconforming signs & maintenance/abandoned/illegal/hazardous signs, § 18.14.330–18.14.370 .
Lindsay Municipal Code, Title 18 — Enforcement, § 18.14.390; Definitions § 18.14.400 .

If you need the full text of a specific table row (for your parcel's zone) I can extract the Table 18.14.180(A) row for that zone and put the numeric allowances into a printable checklist.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Lindsay Zoning Code (chapter regulates) High relevance
Lindsay Zoning Code (chapter and) High relevance
Lindsay Zoning Code High relevance
Lindsay Zoning Code (chapter is) High relevance
Lindsay Zoning Code High relevance
CBC § 579 (Title 12) High relevance
Lindsay Zoning Code (section establishes) High relevance
CBC § 579 (Chapter 18.14.) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Lindsay code library

Frequently asked questions

What counts as an exempt sign in Lindsay?

Exempt signs include one small nameplate per residence or business (≤ 2 sq.ft.), barber poles (≤ 18 in.), certain vehicle signs, holiday decorations without advertising, vending cart menu boards (≤ 8 sq.ft.), and interior signs not visible from the street. These exemptions are listed in § 18.14.140. § 18.14.140

Do I need a permit for a new permanent business sign in Lindsay?

Yes — no permanent sign may be erected, altered, reconstructed, or relocated without a sign permit unless it is specifically exempted in the code. Also, signs with electrical connections or engineered supports require the appropriate building permit. § 18.14.160

How large a sign can I have on a commercial building in Lindsay?

Allowed sign area depends on the zone and building frontage per Table 18.14.180(A). For many commercial districts the rule is 2 sq.ft. per lineal foot of primary building frontage up to a capped maximum (see the table for exact caps by district). Consult § 18.14.180 for the table. § 18.14.180

Are animated, flashing, or digital signs allowed?

No — flashing, glaring, shimmering, or similar animated signs are prohibited citywide; the ordinance bans rotating/animated signs except limited barber poles and certain public service units. Check § 18.14.150 for the list of prohibited sign types. § 18.14.150

What is a Master Sign Program and when is it required?

A Master Sign Program is a coordinated design plan for all signs on a multi‑tenant site and is required for any site with more than 3 commercial establishments. It is reviewed administratively (City Manager) or by Council when tied to a conditional use permit. See § 18.14.300. § 18.14.300

Can I paint a mural that advertises my business?

Wall murals are treated as public art; murals that contain commercial speech or logos are restricted and may require a variance or special approval. The mural rules are in § 18.14.320. § 18.14.320

What happens to an old sign after a business closes?

An on‑premise sign advertising a discontinued activity, business, service, or product must be removed within 60 days of discontinuance; otherwise the City may remove it and recover removal costs. § 18.14.360

My existing sign doesn’t meet current code — can I keep it?

Nonconforming signs that lawfully existed prior to the code may remain under the nonconforming‑sign provisions, but there are limits on alterations and restoration; some nonconforming outdoor advertising must be removed within certain timeframes. See § 18.14.330 and related nonconforming provisions. § 18.14.330

Where do I measure sign height and area from?

Sign height and area calculations are defined in the sign chapter: height is measured from grade to the highest point of the sign; freestanding signs have specific grade references; sign area measurement rules and three‑dimensional sign rules are in § 18.14.170 and § 18.14.400 (definitions). § 18.14.170

Can noncommercial speech replace a commercial message on a sign?

Yes — subject to the property owner’s consent, a noncommercial message may substitute for a commercial message without extra permitting provided the sign structure itself is legal; the code is intended to be content neutral for noncommercial speech. § 18.14.130

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