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Calaveras County, CA Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Max sign size
12 in. high x 24 in. long
Illumination
not permitted
Mounting
must be on the residence
Sign count
one single-sided sign
Applies to
home occupations & short-term rentals in residential zones
Nonresidential-zone comparison
1 sq. ft. per linear ft. of elevation

Summary

Home occupations and short-term vacation rentals in Calaveras County's residential zones may post one sign, but it must be single-sided, unlit, mounted on the residence itself, and no larger than 12 inches high by 24 inches long, under Section 17.24.100(A)(1).

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Calaveras County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A.Nonresidential Uses. In addition to other signs allowed pursuant to this section, nonresidential uses are allowed the following signs:1.Nonresidential Uses in Residential Zones. Nonresidential uses in residential zones, including home occupations and short term vacation rentals, a single-sided sign without illumination is permitted, provided that the sign is mounted on the residence, and is no larger than twelve inches in height and twenty-four inches in length.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

100(A) covers nonresidential-use signage generally, and its first subsection sets a distinct, much tighter standard for nonresidential uses in residential zones, including home occupations and short-term vacation rentals: a single-sided sign without illumination is permitted, provided that the sign is mounted on the residence, and is no larger than twelve inches in height and twenty-four inches in length. That standard contrasts sharply with subsection A(2), which allows nonresidential uses in commercial or industrial zones a full one square foot of sign area for every linear foot of principal building elevation, an allowance many times larger than the fixed 12-by-24-inch home-business sign.

090. Because the standard requires the sign to be mounted directly on the residence, a freestanding post-mounted sign in the yard does not qualify under this provision, regardless of size.

Violations & Fines

A home occupation or short-term vacation rental sign larger than 12 inches by 24 inches, illuminated, double-sided, or mounted on a freestanding post rather than the residence does not qualify under Section 17.24.100(A)(1) and is enforceable as a zoning violation requiring removal or compliance under the county's Title 17 sign and zoning-clearance requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put up a sign for my home-based business in Calaveras County?
Yes, one single-sided, unlit sign mounted on the residence, no larger than 12 inches by 24 inches, is permitted for home occupations and short-term vacation rentals in residential zones under Section 17.24.100(A)(1).
Can my home business sign be illuminated?
No. Section 17.24.100(A)(1) specifically requires the sign to be without illumination, unlike commercial-zone business signs, which may use shielded external lighting under Section 17.24.090.
Can I put my home business sign on a post in the yard instead of on the house?
No. The provision requires the sign to be mounted on the residence itself; a freestanding yard sign does not meet this standard and would not qualify for this permit tier.
Does this same size limit apply to short-term vacation rentals?
Yes. Section 17.24.100(A)(1) names short-term vacation rentals alongside home occupations, so both are held to the same 12-by-24-inch, unlit, residence-mounted sign standard in residential zones.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Calaveras County

All Calaveras County rules

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