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

Because the home-occupation provisions of Tulare County's Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 352) require the business to remain clearly incidental and secondary to the residence and to preserve the residential character of the area, conspicuous commercial signage at a home occupation is restricted. The County's general zoning regulations limit outward evidence of business activity, and on-premises signs in residential zones are controlled by the County's sign provisions in the zoning ordinance rather than by a separate sign code for home businesses. In practice this means a home occupation cannot use the kind of illuminated, freestanding, or large wall signage permitted for commercial properties; identification is generally limited to what is consistent with a residence.

Any sign beyond what the zoning ordinance allows as accessory to a dwelling typically requires review and, where applicable, a sign or building permit from the RMA. Sign regulations also vary with the parcel's zone designation. Because exact dimension and type limits are set in the adopted zoning ordinance text, owners should confirm the current sign standards for their zone with the RMA Planning counter before installing any sign for a home business. State and federal limits on content-based sign regulation also apply.