San Bernardino, CA Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)

San Bernardino, like most California cities, imposes tight limits on signage associated with home-based businesses to preserve the residential character of neighborhoods. The Development Code governing home occupations typically prohibits any exterior signage advertising the business, including yard signs, window graphics, vehicle-mounted business signs parked permanently in the driveway, and banners. The rationale is both aesthetic and zoning-based: home occupations are a secondary permitted use only when they remain indistinguishable from normal residential activity. A small non-illuminated identification plate, generally limited to one square foot and mounted flush on the building, may be allowed in some zones where professional offices or bed-and-breakfasts are specifically authorized, but this exception usually does not extend to standard home occupations. Temporary signs for open houses or short promotional events must follow the general sign code and are usually limited in size and duration and prohibited in the public right-of-way. Vehicles used for the business may display limited business lettering but cannot be parked overnight in front of the home as rolling billboards if the lettering exceeds typical sizes. California sign laws like the Outdoor Advertising Act apply to off-site signage and do not override local residential sign prohibitions. Commercial activity that relies heavily on drive-by signage typically does not qualify as a legal home occupation and must locate in a commercial zone.