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

San Bernardino Development Code Chapter 19.22 treats garage sale signs as temporary signs subject to content-neutral rules. Residents may post one on-site sign at the sale location and additional off-site directional signs only on private property with written owner permission, typically no more than 6 square feet in area and no more than 4 feet above grade. Signs may be posted up to 24 hours before the sale and must be removed within 24 hours after the sale ends. Posting signs in the public right-of-way is prohibited under Municipal Code Chapter 12 and Vehicle Code 21464, including on telephone and utility poles, light standards, street signs and sign posts, in medians, on parkways, or nailed to trees in public areas. Public Works crews and Code Enforcement routinely remove such signs on sight, and residents who repeatedly violate can receive citations starting at 100 dollars under Chapter 8.30. Signs attached to utility poles also risk injuring utility workers and are separately prohibited under PUC rules. For legal advertising, use private property signs, community bulletin boards, Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and the city website events listings. Leaving signs up after the sale (so-called zombie signs) is a common complaint and draws citations.