San Benito County, CA Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Sale exemption
- 3 sales per address/year
- Sign requires
- temporary sign permit
- Max sign size
- 32 square feet
- Permit term
- 100-day period
Summary
In unincorporated San Benito County the garage sale itself is permit-exempt (up to three per address per year), but any sign advertising it still needs a temporary sign permit, a 32-square-foot size cap, and a refundable deposit.
Temporary signs on private property shall be allowed only upon the issuance of a temporary sign permit, which shall be subject to the following requirements:
(a) Term. A temporary sign permit shall allow the use of a temporary sign for a specified 100-day period.
(b) Application. Applicant shall obtain a temporary sign permit prior to placement of signs.
(c) Submittal. Application shall include location of sign(s), image or sketch of sign, time period for which the sign shall be in place and the signature of the applicant and owner(s) on the property or properties in which the sign(s) shall be placed.
(d) Deposit. A security deposit for each sign shall be made available at the time of application for the temporary sign permit. The security deposit will be returned if evidence that the sign(s) have been removed the day after the 30-day time period. Should the sign(s) not be removed within the required time period, the deposit will cover costs for county staff to remove the sign(s).
(e) Size. Temporary signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in size.
(10) All signs, banners, beacons, billboards, markers, and pennants shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws. No advertising displays, including but not limited to signs and billboards, may be placed or maintained in violation of state or federal law, including but not limited to
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: current through Ordinance 1078).
Full Breakdown
County zoning exempts up to three garage or yard sales per address each year from a temporary use permit (§ 25.02.004(C)(1)(d)), and separately exempts yard/garage sales from temporary event permitting (§ 25.02.005(G)(1)(c)). The code does not carry a matching exemption over to the sign itself: under § 25.07.016(C)(9), any temporary sign on private property, garage sale signs included, requires a temporary sign permit good for a 100-day term, capped at 32 square feet, with a security deposit posted at application to cover county removal if the sign isn't taken down on time. This applies only in the unincorporated county, not inside Hollister or San Juan Bautista.
Violations & Fines
Posting a garage sale sign without first obtaining a temporary sign permit, exceeding the 32-square-foot size cap, or leaving the sign up past the permit period risks forfeiture of the security deposit and removal by county staff at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for my garage sale in unincorporated San Benito County?
What about the sign advertising the sale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Benito County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Benito County to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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