Merced, CA Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)

Section 20.48.040(A)(4) sets the sign allowance for every home occupation, minor or major: 'One (1) single, non-illuminated, wall-mounted outdoor sign of not more than one (1) square foot in area is permitted.' No freestanding, illuminated, or additional signs are allowed. The advertising rule in Section 20.48.040(A)(3) works alongside it: no newspaper, radio, or television advertisement may name the business's location address, though contact information like a phone number or email address is fine. Section 20.48.040(A)(2) closes the loop on visual marketing by barring direct retail sales to customers on-site and prohibiting window displays of products meant to attract passersby. Together these standards keep a home occupation from reading as a storefront: no signage beyond the single one-square-foot wall sign, no address-based advertising, and no product displays visible from the street. The standards apply uniformly whether the home occupation is minor (phone/computer/mail only) or major (broader home-based business, including cottage food operations) under Section 20.48.020's categories.