Colusa County, CA Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Dedicated garage-sale rule?
- No - not a separate category in Sec. 44-3.50
- Governing section
- Colusa County Code Sec. 44-3.50 (Sign Regulations)
- Off-site signs
- Generally prohibited (Sec. 44-3.50.060)
- Right-of-way placement
- Permit-exempt temporary signs may not be on public property/right-of-way
- Small on-site sign
- Up to 8 sq ft may be allowed without a permit (Sec. 44-3.50.040(a)(1))
Summary
Unincorporated Colusa County's Zoning Code has no sign category specifically for garage or yard sale signs. Such temporary signs fall under the general Sign Regulations of Section 44-3.50: they cannot be placed on public property or in the public right-of-way, and off-site signs (signs advertising something not on the parcel where the sign sits) are generally prohibited.
Signs that identify a use, facility, or service which is not located on the parcel or premise where the sign is located, except for temporary real estate signs consistent with Section 44-3.50.040 (Signs Allowed Without Permits) and off-site billboards consistent with Section 44-3.50.080 (Signs Allowed With a Permit).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 850, passed April 7, 2026).
Full Breakdown
50 (Sign Regulations) lists the categories of signs allowed with and without a permit, but it does not single out 'garage sale' or 'yard sale' signs. There is no dedicated exemption or permit for them, so they are treated under the general rules. A small on-site sign may qualify as a permanent sign allowed without a permit if it is no greater than 8 square feet and meets the general standards (Sec. 040(a)(1)), but temporary off-premise advertising is restricted. 060 (Prohibited Signs) bars 'signs that identify a use, facility, or service which is not located on the parcel or premise where the sign is located,' except for limited temporary real estate signs and permitted off-site billboards.
A garage sale sign placed on a roadside or at an intersection away from the home being advertised is an off-site sign and is therefore generally prohibited. In addition, the temporary-sign rules provide that permit-exempt temporary signs 'shall not be placed on public property or in the public right-of-way' (Sec. 040(b)), may not be illuminated, and are height-limited. Because Colusa County's code has no specific garage-sale-sign allowance, residents should keep such signs on their own property, obtain the owner's consent for any private property used, and avoid the public right-of-way. Confirm placement with Colusa County Planning & Building.
Violations & Fines
Placing a garage sale sign in the public right-of-way, on public property, on a parcel other than the one being advertised (an off-site sign), or on private property without the owner's consent violates Section 44-3.50 of the Colusa County Zoning Code. Code enforcement may remove signs unlawfully placed in the public right-of-way and require correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there special rules for garage sale signs in unincorporated Colusa County?
Can I put garage sale signs on a county road or at an intersection?
Where can I confirm the rules for a yard sale sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colusa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Colusa County to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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