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

Garage and yard sale signs in unincorporated Tuolumne County are treated as temporary signs under the County's Title 17 (Zoning) sign standards, found in Chapter 17.34 of the Ordinance Code; the County does not have a dedicated garage-sale ordinance. As temporary advertising for a short event, such signs are generally allowed on the private property where the sale occurs and are expected to be removed promptly after the sale. Placement in the public right-of-way is more restricted: signs posted along County roads can be removed as encroachments, and Chapter 12.06 of the Ordinance Code specifically addresses directional signs in County rights-of-way. Signs may not be attached to utility poles, street signs, traffic-control devices, or trees within the right-of-way, and they must not obstruct sight distance at intersections or driveways or interfere with pedestrians. Where a sale sign would be placed near a state highway, the same Caltrans Outdoor Advertising Act limits that govern other temporary signs apply within the state right-of-way. Because the practical rules turn on whether the sign is on private property versus public right-of-way, the safest approach is to keep garage-sale signs on private property with the owner's permission, keep them small, and remove them as soon as the sale ends. Confirm the current temporary-sign standards in Chapter 17.34 with the Community Development Department, which updated Title 17 in 2024.