Sign Regulations in National City, CA (2026)
5 verified sign regulations for National City, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
In National City, a home can display political and election signs up to 16 square feet per parcel per frontage, with no single sign over 6 square feet. During the election period, which starts sixty days before an election and ends ten days after, the cumulative area cap is lifted. The size cap per sign stays.
Political Signs in National City, California
Some RestrictionsNational City Municipal Code § 18.47.060
A.Residential Signs. All legal residential dwelling units are allowed a defined maximum cumulative display area, which is available at all times, subject to: ... 2.Permissible message types: any variety or combination of constitutionally protected noncommercial speech (including but not limited to political/election signs); ... 4.Maximum display area: sixteen square feet per parcel per frontage...
Garage Sale Signs
In National City, a garage sale is allowed one unlighted advertising sign of no more than six square feet, and that sign must sit on the premises of the sale. It goes up no earlier than one week before the sale and comes down when the sale ends. National City Municipal Code § 7.21.060 prohibits signs in the public right-of-way.
National City Garage Sale Signs: Six Square Feet Maximum
Some RestrictionsNational City Municipal Code § 7.21.060
Only one unlighted advertising sign not exceeding six square feet in area may be located on the premises of the sale. The sign must be of a temporary nature, may be displayed not more than one week in advance of such sale, and must be removed upon conclusion of the sale. Signs are prohibited in the public right-of-way.
Digital Billboards
National City prohibits new billboards and the conversion of existing billboards to digital display in every zone (§ 18.47.070). Digital display signs for onsite or noncommercial messages are allowed in industrial, commercial, and mixed-use districts with a sign permit and a master sign program, limited to one per site, eight seconds per still image, and no operation between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
National City Digital Billboard and Digital Sign Rules
Significant RestrictionsNational City Municipal Code § 18.47.080
K.Digital Display Signs. Signs using digital display are allowed in the following zones: industrial, commercial, and mixed-use districts, subject to a sign permit, and subject to:1.Maximum height: the same rule that would apply to the same sign if it were not using digital display;2.Minimum requirement: digital display must be part of a master sign program; ... c.Maximum Number: No more than on...
Window Signs
In National City, § 18.47.060(F) exempts a window sign from the sign permit requirement only if it does not exceed fifteen percent of the area of a window or twelve square feet, whichever is less. The Regulatory Sign Ordinance defines a window sign as one painted or mounted on the pane, or mounted within five feet of a window and oriented for viewing by exterior passersby.
National City Window Sign Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsNational City Municipal Code § 18.47.060
The signs listed in this section are exempt from the requirement of prior approval (either by sign permit or site plan review), but still subject to the rules stated in this chapter. ... F.Window signs that do not exceed fifteen percent of the area of a window or twelve square feet, whichever is less;
Freeway-Facing Signs
In National City, no advertising display can be placed or maintained on property within six hundred sixty feet of a freeway, in any district or zone, if it is designed to be viewed primarily from the freeway or creates a hazard to vehicles or people on the freeway. Violations are infractions, and the city attorney can sue to stop them.
National City Freeway-Facing Sign Restrictions
Heavy RestrictionsNational City Municipal Code §§ 9.32.010 and 9.32.020
C."Freeway" means a highway in respect to which the owners of abutting lands have no right to easement of access to or from their abutting lands or in respect to which such owners have only limited or restricted right or easement of access, and which is declared to be such in compliance with the Streets and Highway Code of the state. ... No advertising displays shall be placed or maintained on ...
Looking for San Diego County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement National City city rules.
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