Political Signs: Rialto vs San Bernardino
How do political signs rules compare between Rialto, CA and San Bernardino, CA?
Rialto and San Bernardino have similar restriction levels.
Rialto, CA
San Bernardino County
Rialto regulates temporary signs (including political/campaign signs) under Title 18 Zoning, Chapter 18.78 Sign Regulations. Content-neutral standards apply to size, height, location, and removal. State law (Cal. Gov. Code §65850 and First Amendment case law, e.g., Reed v. Town of Gilbert) prohibits content-based discrimination, so political signs are generally treated as temporary signs subject to the same neutral time/place/manner rules.
View full Rialto rules →San Bernardino, CA
San Bernardino County
San Bernardino allows temporary political signs on private property under Development Code 19.22, subject to size and timing limits. Signs in the public right-of-way or on utility poles are removed on sight.
View full San Bernardino rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Rialto | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | Rialto MC Ch. 18.78 (Sign Regulations) | - |
| State Floor | Cal. Elec. Code §20008 (90 days pre / 10 days post) | - |
| Minimum Size Allowed | Up to 32 sq ft on private property | - |
| Right-of-Way | Prohibited; subject to removal | - |
| Content Neutrality | Required (Reed v. Gilbert, 2015) | - |
| Max residential sign | - | Around 6 square feet per sign |
| Posting window | - | 90 days before through 10 days after election |
| Right-of-way | - | Prohibited; removed on sight |
| HOA rule | - | Cannot ban political signs under Civil Code 4710 |
| Citation | - | Starting at 100 dollars for violations |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Rialto FAQ
Can Rialto limit how long my political sign stays up?
Not on private property below the state floor. Cal. Elec. Code §20008 lets residents display political signs at least 90 days before an election and up to 10 days after on private property fronting a non-state highway.
Can I put a campaign sign on the public parkway strip?
No. Rialto MC Ch. 18.78 and §12 (Streets/Sidewalks) prohibit signs in the public right-of-way; they may be removed without notice.
Is there a size cap?
Rialto applies its temporary-sign size limits, but Cal. Elec. Code §20008 guarantees up to 32 sq ft regardless of local cap.
San Bernardino FAQ
Can I put political signs on my lawn in San Bernardino?
Yes. Political signs are allowed on private property with the owner permission, subject to the sign code size and timing limits, typically up to 6 square feet in residential zones.
What happens if my signs end up in the median?
Public Works removes signs from the right-of-way on sight, and campaigns or residents who repeatedly place signs in public areas can be cited under Chapter 8.30 and Chapter 19.22.
Can my HOA take down my candidate sign?
No, not entirely. Civil Code 4710 prohibits HOAs from banning political signs, though they may enforce reasonable size, number, and duration limits that are not more restrictive than the city code.
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