Local zoning · Tehama
Tehama — Signage
Signage under the Tehama local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.
Last reviewed: July 2, 2026
Overview
This page summarizes what the City of Tehama's local zoning ordinance (Title 17 — ZONING) actually says about signs: where signs are allowed, size limits that apply in the common districts, and the categories of signs the code forbids. It only covers sign rules found in the Tehama zoning text (Title 17) and interprets them in plain English — it does not replace a permit check with the city. Title and chapter citations below are drawn directly from the adopted Title 17 text.
Key local rules (high level)
- The municipal zoning ordinance is codified as Title 17 - ZONING; the code's short title and applicability are in § 17.04.030 and § 17.04.040.
- The code contains district-level sign rules in the Residential district (Chapter 17.12) and in the Business Overlay Zone (BOZ) (Chapter 17.14); both chapters include a dedicated Signs subsection at § 17.12.060 and § 17.14.060 respectively.
- Special-purpose signage rules appear for wind energy systems at § 17.83.100 (limits on warning/identification signs and advertising on turbine equipment).
Note: For structural or construction-related sign work (supports, electrical, anchoring), consult the California Building Standards Code/Title 24 for building-permit triggers in addition to the zoning rules. See the state code referenced on the city's building-code resources. [/us/california/building-codes]
District-by-district breakdown
Residential district — Chapter 17.12
- Purpose & where it applies: The Residential district is the city’s primary residential zone (see Chapter 17.12 for permitted uses and development standards). The zoning ordinance requires compliance with Title 17 across the incorporated area. § 17.04.040 and Chapter 17.12 set the framework.
- Typical permitted uses: single-family and multi‑family housing as laid out in § 17.12.030; other residential‑support uses are in the same chapter.
- Signage standards: Business signs located in residential areas are strictly limited to a maximum size of one (1) foot in height by two (2) feet in width under § 17.12.060. The chapter also lists prohibited sign types (see table below).
- Practical guidance: If you plan any kind of business identification sign on a property inside the Residential district, design it to be no larger than 1 ft × 2 ft and avoid any placement that creates visibility hazards (see the prohibitions in § 17.12.060).
Business Overlay Zone (BOZ) — Chapter 17.14
- Purpose & where it applies: The Business Overlay Zone (BOZ) applies to selected parcels (notably along C Street) to encourage commercial activity while relying on the underlying base zone standards. See § 17.14.010–.030 for intent and permitted uses.
- Typical permitted uses: The BOZ permits a range of commercial uses (restaurants, retail, offices, hotels/motels, outdoor dining, etc.) at the discretion of the city administrator where specified; see § 17.14.030 for the use list.
- Signage standards: The BOZ's sign rules are expressly stated in § 17.14.060, which repeats the same business-sign-size limit for residential areas and repeats the list of prohibited signs (off‑premises billboards, signs creating visibility hazards at intersections, signs on public property, certain political signs, and vehicle-mounted advertising restrictions).
- Practical guidance: Even in BOZ parcels, watch for overlays or design-review requirements (BOZ development must comply with underlying development standards) — consult the city's overlay and design-review pages. [/us/california/tehama/overlay-districts] [/us/california/tehama/design-review]
Open-space district — Chapter 17.16
- Purpose & where it applies: Open-space district rules (Chapter 17.16) regulate parks, river bank access and preservation uses.
- Signage in this district: Specific sign regulations for the Open-space district are Not found in retrieved materials. If you intend a sign in open-space land (e.g., directional or interpretive signs at parks or river access), confirm with the city because the Title 17 excerpts provided do not include explicit sign standards in Chapter 17.16. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Special systems — Wind energy (Chapter 17.83)
- Wind energy signage: For wind energy systems, § 17.83.100 requires appropriate warning signs sized no larger than four (4) square feet; manufacturer identification used for equipment advertising is limited to thirty‑two (32) square feet. Uses of turbine equipment for product advertising otherwise prohibited.
Quick reference table — decision‑relevant standards
| Standard / permitted use | Rule (plain English) | Code reference |
|---|---|---|
| Business sign size in residential areas | Max 1 ft high × 2 ft wide for business signs in residential areas | § 17.12.060 |
| Prohibited: off‑premises signs/billboards | Off‑premises signs (including billboards) are prohibited | § 17.12.060; § 17.14.060 |
| Prohibited: signs causing traffic visibility hazard | Signs at/near intersections or driveways that create visibility hazards are prohibited | § 17.12.060; § 17.14.060 |
| Political signs | Political signs on private property require owner consent; a lighted political sign or one over 12 sq ft is prohibited | § 17.12.060; § 17.14.060 |
| Vehicle-mounted advertising | Parking vehicles with attached signs intended primarily as advertising visible from public right-of-way is prohibited (with limited exceptions) | § 17.12.060; § 17.14.060 |
| Wind energy signs | Warning signs ≤ 4 sq ft on system; manufacturer ID ≤ 32 sq ft; turbines may not be used to advertise other products | § 17.83.100 |
Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy before installing a sign
- Confirm the parcel’s zoning (e.g., Residential Chapter 17.12 or BOZ Chapter 17.14) and applicable overlays. See the city's zoning overview. [/us/california/tehama/zoning]
- Size the sign to meet the district limit (e.g., business signs in residential areas ≤ 1 ft × 2 ft) and ensure total area complies with any district rule (measure height and width; compute area). § 17.12.060.
- Ensure sign placement will not create a visibility hazard at intersections or driveways per § 17.12.060 / § 17.14.060.
- Do not place signs on public property and obtain property-owner consent for any political sign on private property; avoid lighted political signs or signs over 12 sq ft. § 17.12.060.
- Avoid using parked vehicles primarily as sign displays along public rights-of-way; see the vehicle-mounted advertising prohibition. § 17.12.060.
- Check for design‑review, overlay, or historic‑preservation requirements that could further limit sign appearance or placement; consult the city’s design-review and overlay pages. [/us/california/tehama/design-review] [/us/california/tehama/overlay-districts]
- For signs needing structural work, electrical (illumination) or anchoring, confirm building-permit triggers with the building department and the California Building Standards Code. [/us/california/building-codes]
- If your sign proposal is unusual (e.g., freestanding billboard, illuminated political sign, advertising on industrial equipment, or signage on wind energy equipment), confirm explicitly with the planning director or city administrator because some allowances or exceptions are handled via use permits or are prohibited. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Risks & Ambiguities
| Issue | Why it matters | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| What exactly counts as a “business sign located in residential areas” | The code gives a strict size limit but does not define the full scope of "business signs" (e.g., does a discreet sandwich sign at the driveway count?) | Confirm with planning whether temporary or portable signs are counted as “business signs” under § 17.12.060. |
| Political sign consent & illumination | Political signs are allowed only with owner consent and lighted political signs over 12 sq ft are prohibited — enforcement and allowed placement windows aren’t described here | Verify permitted duration, setbacks, and any temporary sign rules with the city clerk/planning. § 17.12.060. |
| Vehicle‑mounted advertising enforcement and exceptions | Code forbids parking vehicles with attached advertising visible from right-of-way “for the basic purpose” of advertising — line between normal commercial vehicle lettering and advertising vehicles can be subjective | Ask the planning office how the rule is applied and whether commercial fleet parking/display is treated differently. § 17.12.060. |
| Signs on public property | The ordinance plainly prohibits signs on public property, but doesn’t list permitted exceptions (e.g., community kiosks, banners authorized by the city) | If you want a sign on city property, contact the city for agreements/encroachment permits; text simply prohibits general placement. § 17.12.060; § 17.14.060. |
| Sign permit / administrative process | Title 17 establishes substantive limits, but the excerpts provided do not show a dedicated sign-permit application process or fee schedule | Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the planning counter whether building, electrical or sign permits are required, and whether design review applies. Verify with the jurisdiction. |
| Open-space sign standards | No explicit sign rules for the Open-space district were located in the retrieved excerpts | Not found in retrieved materials — check Chapter 17.16 in full or ask planning for park/river-access signage policy. |
Plain‑English summary
Tehama’s zoning code (Title 17) allows only very small business signs in residential areas (no larger than 1 ft × 2 ft) and bans off‑premises billboards, signs that block driver/pedestrian sightlines at intersections, signs on public property, certain political signs, and parking vehicles primarily to advertise. For wind turbines and other special systems the code adds separate small sign allowances and limits manufacturer ID. Always confirm with the city for permitting, overlays, or design‑review requirements.
Source References
- Title 17 — ZONING (short title; adoption and applicability): § 17.04.030; § 17.04.040.
- Residential district — Signs: § 17.12.060 (business sign size limit; prohibited signs; vehicle‑mounted restrictions).
- Business Overlay Zone (BOZ) — Signs: § 17.14.060 (repeats business sign limit in residential areas; prohibited signs list).
- Wind energy systems — Advertising/signage: § 17.83.100 (warning sign size ≤ 4 sq ft; manufacturer ID ≤ 32 sq ft).
- City Title 17 source (print export of the Tehama zoning code).
If you need the raw ordinance text or want me to extract the entire § wording for your parcel, I can fetch full-text excerpts from the uploaded Title 17 print export and highlight the exact lines to put on an application.
Sources
Retrieved passages
- Tehama Zoning Code (section is) Medium relevance
- Tehama Zoning Code (Section 17.12.030) Medium relevance
- Tehama Zoning Code (section is) Medium relevance
- Tehama Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance
- Tehama Zoning Code Medium relevance
- CEC § H101 (chapter as) Medium relevance
- Tehama Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Cited sections
- **Title 17 — ZONING (short title; adoption and applicability)**: § 17.04.030; § 17.04.040. (Title 17)
- **Residential district — Signs**: **§ 17.12.060** (business sign size limit; prohibited signs; vehicle‑mounted restrictions). (§ 17.12.060)
- **Business Overlay Zone (BOZ) — Signs**: **§ 17.14.060** (repeats business sign limit in residential areas; prohibited signs list). (§ 17.14.060)
- **Wind energy systems — Advertising/signage**: **§ 17.83.100** (warning sign size ≤ **4 sq ft**; manufacturer ID ≤ **32 sq ft**). (§ 17.83.100)
- City Title 17 source (print export of the Tehama zoning code). (Title 17)
- Tehama_ZoningCode.md
Frequently asked questions
What size business sign can I put on my house in Tehama?
Business signs in residential areas are limited to a maximum of one (1) foot in height by two (2) feet in width under § 17.12.060. Confirm whether the sign is treated as “business” versus temporary or political before installing.
Are billboards or off‑premises signs allowed in Tehama?
No — off‑premises signs, including billboards, are expressly prohibited by the zoning ordinance at § 17.12.060 and § 17.14.060.
Can I park a vehicle with a big advertising banner in front of my business?
No — Title 17 prohibits parking a vehicle, equipment, or trailer in public right‑of‑way or on property so as to be visible from the public right‑of‑way when the vehicle’s basic purpose is advertising; ordinary commercial vehicle lettering that is permanent and customary is excluded. See § 17.12.060 / § 17.14.060 and verify specific enforcement with planning.
Are political signs allowed in yards in Tehama?
Political signs on private property require the property-owner’s consent; additionally, a political sign that is lighted or larger than twelve (12) square feet is prohibited under § 17.12.060 and § 17.14.060. Check for any temporary-sign timing rules with the city.
Do signs on public property require permission?
The ordinance states that signs on public property are prohibited in the general sign prohibitions of § 17.12.060 and § 17.14.060. If you want a sign on city property (event banner, kiosk, wayfinding), contact the city for an encroachment or permission process because general placement is not allowed by right.
Are there special rules for signage on wind turbines or solar/wind equipment?
Yes — wind energy systems may display warning signs up to 4 sq ft and manufacturer identification up to 32 sq ft; advertising beyond the manufacturer ID is not allowed on turbines under § 17.83.100.
Where can I check if my parcel is in the Business Overlay Zone (BOZ) or has other overlay restrictions that affect signs?
Check the parcel’s zoning via the city zoning maps and the BOZ rules in Chapter 17.14; also check overlay pages because BOZ rules require compliance with the underlying zone and any overlays. See the city zoning and overlay pages. [/us/california/tehama/zoning] [/us/california/tehama/overlay-districts]
Is there a sign‑permit form or fee listed in Title 17?
Not found in retrieved materials — the Title 17 excerpts provided contain the substantive sign limits and prohibitions but do not show a consolidated sign‑permit application procedure or fee schedule. Verify permit requirements and fees with the planning or building counter.
Could a sign trigger design review or require a use permit?
Possibly — the BOZ and other chapters require that some uses comply with underlying development and permit rules; the excerpts show that certain exceptions or unusual fences/signs may need a use permit. For aesthetic limits or special approvals, consult the city’s design-review page and the BOZ conditional‑use language. [/us/california/tehama/design-review]
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