Redwood City, CA Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Exempt category
- "Cultural Decorations" under the sign definition
- Named examples
- Halloween, Christmas, New Year's displays
- Where it applies
- Residential property, noncommercial displays only
- Limits imposed
- None: no permit, size, or duration cap
- Commercial displays
- Fall back to standard sign rules
Summary
Redwood City's sign code exempts holiday and cultural yard displays entirely. City Code Section 3.60 excludes "Cultural Decorations", noncommercial displays on residential property tied to cultural observances such as Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's, from the definition of a sign, so no sign permit or size limit applies.
Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the following are not within the definition of "sign" for the regulatory purposes of this Article:
A.Architectural Features: Decorative or ornamental elements of buildings, not including letters, trademarks or moving parts.B.Cornerstones and Foundation Stones:C.Cultural Decorations: Displays of noncommercial nature, mounted on private property used for residential purposes, which pertain to cultural observances. Such decorations include, but are not limited to, Halloween, Christmas and New Years.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Zoning Code: Supplement 29 | City Code: Supplement 61 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
61. 60's definition of "sign," however, carves out thirteen categories that never count as a sign for regulatory purposes, and category C is "Cultural Decorations": displays of a noncommercial nature, mounted on private property used for residential purposes, which pertain to cultural observances, expressly naming Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's as examples. 89. The same subsection also exempts architectural ornamentation, grave markers, manufacturer's marks on products, and noncommercial religious or political symbols permanently built into a structure, placing holiday decor among things the City treats as not signage at all rather than signage that merely qualifies for an exception.
The exemption is not unlimited: it applies only on residential property and only to displays that are noncommercial in nature, so a business using an inflatable Santa to advertise a sale falls back under the standard commercial sign rules instead of this carve-out. 60 imposes a duration limit, size cap, or setback on cultural decorations, unlike the City's temporary sign rules, which cap most non-exempt temporary displays at ninety days and thirty-two square feet.
Violations & Fines
Because Cultural Decorations fall outside the definition of "sign," there is no citation, fee, or removal order under Article III for a Halloween or Christmas display on a home. If a display crosses into commercial advertising, or sits on nonresidential property, the City can treat it as a standard sign and require removal or a permit under Section 3.61.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for Christmas lights or a Halloween display in Redwood City?
Is there a size limit on holiday lawn decorations?
Would an inflatable Santa advertising a store sale qualify for this exemption?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redwood City
California rules heatmap·Compare Redwood City to another location·View the California holiday decorations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.