Sign Regulations in Ventura County, CA (2026)

5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Ventura County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Ventura County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Political Signs

Ventura County's Coastal Zoning Ordinance caps political signs in the unincorporated coastal zone at 32 square feet each and 96 square feet per lot, and bars posting more than 90 days before an election.

Ventura County Political Sign Rules

Some Restrictions

Ventura County Ordinance Code § 8175-5.13.10.17

No political sign face shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in sign area. The aggregate sign area of all temporary political signs placed or maintained on any lot in one (1) ownership shall not exceed ninety-six (96) square feet.c.Time Frames. Political signs shall not be posted sooner than ninety (90) days prior to a scheduled election administered by the County Elections Division. Said si...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Holiday Displays

Temporary holiday and seasonal string lights are exempt from the county's Santa Monica Mountains outdoor-lighting rules, as long as the bulbs run under 2,700 Kelvin and light only dining or entertainment areas.

Ventura County Holiday String Light Exemption

Few Restrictions

Ventura County Ordinance Code § 8177-4.1.11.2(b)(4)

Temporary seasonal or festive lighting that is not used as permanent landscape lighting (e.g., string lighting). String lights under a color-correlated temperature of two thousand seven hundred (2,700) Kelvin that are used only in occupied dining and entertainment areas are exempted.(c)Outdoor light fixtures downward facing and fully shielded with a maximum output of sixty (60) lumens or less, ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Digital Billboards

Unincorporated Ventura County bans any sign that flashes, scintillates, moves or rotates: a blanket prohibition that rules out standard digital and electronic billboard displays outright.

Ventura County Bans Flashing Digital Signs

Heavy Restrictions

Ventura County Ordinance Code § 8110-4(c)

The following signs and sign types are prohibited: a.Sandwich-board, A-frame and portable freestanding signs;b.Bench signs, except at bus stops designated on a valid bus schedule;c.Signs which flash, scintillate, move or rotate, except for clocks and time and temperature signs;

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Window Signs

In unincorporated Ventura County, signage placed in a storefront window can't cover more than 25 percent of that window's area, and anything over 10 square feet also counts against the store's wall-sign allowance.

Ventura County Window Sign Coverage Limit

Some Restrictions

Ventura County Ordinance Code § 8110-6.13

Window signs shall not exceed 25 percent of a given window's area. That portion of the total window signage area that exceeds ten square feet on any individual business shall be counted toward the attached sign area permitted for that business. Signs attached to the exterior surfaces of windows are prohibited.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Freeway-Facing Signs

Unincorporated Ventura County bars freestanding off-site advertising billboards inside designated Scenic Corridors or anywhere visible from a Scenic Highway, expressly protecting ocean views seen from freeways.

Ventura County Freeway Billboard Restrictions

Significant Restrictions

Ventura County Ordinance Code § 8110-6.7.1

Freestanding off-site advertising signs are prohibited within Scenic Corridors or if visible from a Scenic Highway. No such sign shall be established so as to obstruct the view toward any area of scenic or historic significance designated by the Planning Commission. The view of the ocean from a freeway has scenic significance.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗