Sign Regulations in Santa Barbara County, CA (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Santa Barbara County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
Political and other noncommercial signs are exempt from the county's sign permit requirements under Development Code Sec. 35.38.030.P, with one limit: they cannot go in the public right-of-way. Placement and removal timing instead follows the California Elections Code, not a county deadline.
Santa Barbara County Political Sign Rules
Few RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 35.38.030.P
P.Political, Social Issue, and Other Noncommercial Signs. Signs informing of political candidates, parties, issues, measures, propositions, philosophies or personal beliefs, and which are not commercial messages, shall be exempt from all regulations of this Chapter, except that such signs shall not be placed within the public right-of-way. Political signs shall conform to the requirements of th...
Digital Billboards
Mobile billboards, vehicles carrying signs for hire to advertise, are banned outright across unincorporated Santa Barbara County. Electronic message center (digital) signs are legal only as institutional signs or fuel-price signs at service stations, must hold each static message for at least eight seconds, and are capped at 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light.
Santa Barbara County Digital Sign and Billboard Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code § 35.38.040(C), § 35.38.060(E)(2)
C.Mobile Billboards. Any sign carried or conveyed by a vehicle for the primary purpose of general advertising for hire. This prohibition eliminates mobile billboard advertising within the County to reduce traffic congestion, promote the safe movement of vehicular traffic, to reduce air pollution, and improve the aesthetic appearance of the County. ... a.Limitations. Electronic Message Center (E...
Window Signs
A nonresidential business in unincorporated Santa Barbara County can cover up to 25 percent of its window area with signage, with no cap on the number of individual signs as long as that 25 percent ceiling per window isn't exceeded. Window signs must sit flush with the glass, stay below the second story, and cannot be illuminated.
Santa Barbara County Window Sign Coverage Limit
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Table 35.38.070 (Window Signs)
Window Signs | Nonresidential | 25 percent of the window area | No limit, provided the maximum sign area per window is not exceeded | Shall not be placed on windows higher than the second story | Shall be flush with the window | - | Not allowed
Sign Regulations by City in Santa Barbara County
1 cities in Santa Barbara County have their own sign regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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