Merced County, CA Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 18.44.110(F), Freeway-Oriented Signs
- Max height
- 60 feet
- Max area
- 200 sq ft per tenant
- Freeway proximity
- Parcel within 500 ft of ROW
- Sign spacing
- 750 feet minimum apart
- Permit required
- Conditional Use Permit, Ch. 18.116
- Illumination
- External illumination prohibited
Summary
Freeway-oriented signs in unincorporated Merced County top out at 60 feet tall and 200 square feet of sign area per tenant under Zoning Code § 18.44.110(F), and every one needs a Conditional Use Permit under Chapter 18.116. Signs must sit within 500 feet of the freeway right-of-way, at least 750 feet from the next freeway sign, and external illumination is banned.
Freeway-Oriented Signs.
1. Freeway-oriented signs shall be located on the same premises on which the structure or use is being advertised.
2. Freeway-oriented signs shall not exceed 60 feet in height.
3. Freeway-oriented signs may only be located on parcels located no more than 500 feet from the outside edge of a freeway right-of-way.
4. Freeway-oriented signs shall not be placed within 750 feet of another freeway-oriented sign.
5. Freeway-oriented signs shall not exceed 200 square feet of sign area per tenant, or 100 square feet of sign area per tenant for each side of a double-sided sign.
7. Freeway-oriented signs shall require the approval of a Conditional Use Permit in compliance with Chapter 18.116 (Conditional Use Permits).
8. External illumination is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4930839; v8 updated 2026-06-02).
Full Breakdown
080(C) bans countywide. Height is capped at 60 feet, and where a sign sits within 500 feet of a freeway overpass, that height may be measured from the overpass centerline instead of grade. Eligible parcels can be no more than 500 feet from the outside edge of the freeway right-of-way, and no freeway-oriented sign may stand within 750 feet of another one. Sign area is capped at 200 square feet per tenant, or 100 square feet per tenant per face on a double-sided sign. 116, and external illumination of any kind is prohibited outright.
The sign must sit in a landscaped bed providing at least two square feet of landscaping for every square foot of sign area measured at its base, and it must incorporate the County of Merced logo, clearly visible and proportionally sized on each face, with the logo's area excluded from the maximum sign-face calculation. These standards trace to Ord. 1976 § 2 in 2019 and were last revised by Ord. 2062 in June 2026.
Violations & Fines
Erecting or maintaining a freeway-oriented sign without an approved Conditional Use Permit, or one that exceeds the 60-foot height, 200-square-foot area, or 750-foot spacing limits, violates § 18.44.110(F) and can trigger permit revocation under Chapter 18.152 in addition to the standard zoning penalty in § 18.154.070: an infraction fine up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for each further offense, or prosecution as a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business put up a sign facing the freeway in unincorporated Merced County?
How tall and large can a freeway-facing sign be?
Can a freeway sign be lit up at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Merced County
California rules heatmap·Compare Merced County to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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