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Sign Regulations in Westminster, CA (2026)

6 verified sign regulations for Westminster, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Political Signs

Political signs in Westminster need no city permit, but they must come down within 30 days after the election, sit only on private property with the owner's permission, keep a 5-foot setback from any public right-of-way, and stay under 40 square feet in area, per Westminster Code § 17.330.025(B)(1)(e). Larger freestanding signs need proper footings and Uniform Building Code bracing.

Westminster's Political Sign Removal and Size Rules

Some Restrictions

Westminster Municipal Code § 17.330.025(B)(1)(e)

Political signs. All political signs shall be removed within 30 days after the election without leaving debris. Political signs shall only be located on private property with the permission of the property owner. All such signs shall maintain a setback of at least five feet from any public right-of-way. Political signs shall comply with all requirements of this Chapter applicable to temporary s...

Garage Sale Signs

Westminster forbids garage-sale signs on any public property, naming utility poles, street name signs, traffic signs, trees, and walls as off-limits. Even a legally placed sign on private property must come down every day by the time the sale ends, so signage cannot stay up overnight.

Westminster Bans Garage Sale Signs on Public Property

Some Restrictions

Westminster Code § 17.540.045(B)(4)

No signs advertising a garage sale shall be placed on any public property, including, but not limited to, utility poles, street name signs, traffic signs, trees or walls. The permittee shall remove any and all legally placed advertising signs each day at or before the end of the garage sale.

Holiday Displays

Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message are fully exempt from Westminster's sign regulations, but only for a 'reasonable' period before and after the holiday they mark, per Westminster Code § 17.330.030(D). No permit, fee, or size limit applies to a compliant display, though a light show that also carries a commercial message loses the exemption entirely.

Westminster's Holiday Lights Sign Exemption

Light Restrictions

Westminster Municipal Code § 17.330.030(D)

§ 17.330.030. Exempt Signs. The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this Chapter: D. Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, but only during reasonable periods before and after recognized local, State, or national holidays.

Digital Billboards

Digital billboards are allowed only as a conditional use along the I-405 and SR-22 freeway corridors in commercial and industrial zones, capped at 90 feet tall, one per property, and require an operating agreement with the City, per Westminster Code § 17.330.090. Static, printed, or painted billboards are barred outright: only true digital displays qualify.

Westminster's Electronic Freeway Billboard Rules

Significant Restrictions

Westminster Municipal Code § 17.330.090

§ 17.330.090. Electronic Billboard Freeway Signs. F. Development Standards 1. Maximum height. The maximum height of an electronic billboard shall be 90 feet... 3. Maximum number per property. No more than one electronic billboard shall be permitted per individual property or site. G. Standards of Design 1. Digital requirement. Only digital billboards are permitted. Static images, including, but...

Window Signs

Westminster's sign design standards limit permanent window signs to one per window, confine placement to the upper half of the glass, and restrict ground-floor-only display in multi-story buildings. Illuminated cabinet or can-type window signs must sit at least three feet behind the glass, and total window sign area is set by the code's Table 3-11 sign-area schedule under Chapter 17.330.

Westminster Caps Window Signs at One Per Window

Some Restrictions

Westminster Code § 17.330.085.B.5

5. Window signs. a. Number of signs. If permanent window signs are used, they shall be limited to one per window. b. Sign area. The area of any permanent window sign shall be in accordance with the provisions outlined in Table 3-11. c. Illuminated signs. Internally illuminated cabinet or "can" signs and changeable-copy signs should be placed at least three feet behind the window surface. d. Pla...

Freeway-Facing Signs

Westminster only allows freeway-facing signage in the form of electronic billboards, and only as a conditional use on commercial or industrial sites adjacent to Interstate 405 or State Route 22. Every other site, including anything not fronting those two freeways, is off-limits, and any approved billboard must sit at least 200 feet from the nearest residential structure under Section 17.330.090.

Westminster Freeway Signs Limited to Electronic Billboards

Significant Restrictions

Westminster Code § 17.330.090.E.2, E.5

E. Locations Prohibited 2. On sites that are not adjacent to Interstate 405 (I-405) or State Route 22 (SR-22) freeways. 5. Within 200 feet of residential uses, as measured from the closest edge of the electronic billboard sign face to the exterior wall of the nearest habitable residential structure, as such use exists on the date the electronic billboard Conditional Use Permit application is ap...

Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Westminster city rules.

Sign Regulations in Orange County