San Benito County, CA Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)

San Benito County Code § 25.07.016 is the controlling sign ordinance for the unincorporated area. Unlike political signs, garage-sale and other temporary signs are not exempt from the chapter's permit framework: temporary signs are subject to an application and a security deposit, with the deposit refunded once evidence is provided that the sign was removed by the date indicated, or used to cover County staff removal costs if it is not. All signs must comply with applicable federal, state, and local law, including California's Outdoor Advertising Act, and no sign may be placed in or interfere with a right-of-way or easement. The garage sale activity itself is exempt from the outdoor storage and display standards of § 25.07.015 and is instead governed as a temporary use under § 25.02.005, which is where the County sets limits such as the number of sales per year a residence may hold. As a practical matter, this means homeowners should keep directional garage-sale signs on private property with the owner's permission, off the public road right-of-way and out of sight-distance triangles at intersections, and remove them promptly after the sale. Signs left up, placed without consent, or creating a traffic hazard can be removed by County Code Enforcement. Always confirm temporary-use and signage limits with the Resource Management Agency before a sale, since the specific day limits live in the temporary-use provisions rather than the sign section.