Sonora Signage Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Home-based businesses in Sonora operating under a Home Occupation Permit (required under Municipal Code Chapter 17.59) are prohibited from displaying exterior signs advertising the business. This prohibition extends to signs attached to the residence, signs placed in windows visible from the public street, signs mounted on fences or walls, and freestanding signs in the yard. The intent is to ensure that home occupations do not visually alter the residential character of the neighborhood or attract walk-in commercial traffic.

Sonora's sign regulations under Title 17 further define permitted signage by zone. Residential zones (R-1, R-2, and similar designations) are limited to very small identification signs — typically one nameplate-type sign of 1 square foot or less identifying the occupant — but not commercial business advertising. Commercial signs in residential zones require a sign permit and are generally not approved for home occupation uses.

Vehicle signage is treated separately: a business-branded company vehicle parked at a home occupation location is generally permissible under parking regulations, as the sign is on the vehicle rather than the property. However, such vehicles must comply with all standard parking rules (72-hour limit, no blocking sidewalks, height restrictions near intersections). For short-term rentals, Sonora's STR ordinance separately and expressly prohibits any sign indicating the property's rental availability.