Sign Regulations in Hanford, CA (2026)
5 verified sign regulations for Hanford, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
California Civil Code § 4710 bars a homeowners association's governing documents from prohibiting noncommercial signs, posters, flags, or banners, including political endorsements, on a member's own lot, while letting the association cap size at nine square feet for signs and 15 square feet for flags. Hanford's own sign code separately treats political messages as content-neutral speech under § 17.56.030.
Hanford Political Yard Sign Protections
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 4710(a)-(c)
(a) The governing documents may not prohibit posting or displaying of noncommercial signs, posters, flags, or banners on or in a member's separate interest, except as required for the protection of public health or safety or if the posting or display would violate a local, state, or federal law. (b) ... a noncommercial sign, poster, flag, or banner may be made of paper, cardboard, cloth, plasti...
Holiday Displays
Hanford's outdoor lighting code caps most holiday and other temporary lighting at one continuous 30-day run per calendar year under Municipal Code § 17.50.140(B), with extensions available from the City for special circumstances. Low-voltage holiday string lights and landscape or walkway lighting are separately and permanently exempt from the entire section under subsection (C)(6).
Hanford Holiday Lighting Duration Limit
Light RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 17.50.140(B), (C)(3), (C)(6)
"Temporary lighting" means lighting which does not conform to the provisions of this section and which will not be used for more than one continuous 30 day period within one calendar year. Temporary lighting is intended for uses, which by their nature are of limited duration; e.g. holiday decorations, civic events, special events, construction projects, emergencies or similar situations. The 30...
Digital Billboards
Electronic changeable-copy signs are allowed on freestanding signs in Hanford's commercial and mixed-use zones only with a conditional use permit, and Municipal Code § 17.56.180(B) caps their brightness at 30 lumens measured 10 feet from the face and bars any image change more often than once every six seconds.
Hanford Electronic Sign Display Rules
Significant RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 17.56.180(A), (B)(1), (B)(3)-(6)
A. Electronic copy is allowed as a display medium on freestanding signs in the commercial or mixed use zone districts upon issuance of a conditional use permit, issued pursuant to Chapter 17.80. B. Signs with electronic changeable copy shall meet the following standards: 1. The electronic sign face shall be directed in a manner that is not visible from the front or side of residential propertie...
Window Signs
Hanford limits permanent signs affixed to a storefront window to 40% of that window's area under Municipal Code § 17.56.160, and window signs that meet the chapter's standards don't need a separate sign permit or count against the property's overall sign-area allowance.
Hanford Window Sign Coverage Limit
Some RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 17.56.160
Permanent signs affixed to windows shall not cover more than 40% of each window. They shall not be counted toward the maximum allowable sign size.
Freeway-Facing Signs
Hanford measures a freestanding sign's height from the right-of-way grade, but signs facing a freeway are measured from the site's own finished grade or pad, whichever is lower.
Hanford Freeway-Facing Sign Height Rule
Some RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 17.56.080(D)(2)
The height of a freestanding sign shall be measured as the vertical distance from grade at the edge of the right-of-way along which a freestanding sign is placed to the highest point of the freestanding sign, including any structural or architectural components of the sign. When the grade at the edge of the right-of-way is higher than the site on which the sign is placed, that portion of the si...
Looking for Kings County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Hanford city rules.
Sign Regulations in Kings County →