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

Trinity County's sign code does not single out garage or yard sale signs; in practice these are temporary, non-advertising notices regulated under the noncommercial sign provisions of the county's draft Zoning Code Chapter 17.70 (Public Review Draft, April 2026), which carries forward adopted Title 15.08. Under Section 17.70.060, temporary noncommercial signs are allowed without a permit in any zone if they comply with the standards: they may not be illuminated, and on residential uses up to four such signs are permitted per dwelling unit with each sign not exceeding six square feet (up to six signs of eight square feet on nonresidential parcels). Because a garage sale is a specific event, a sale sign should be removed promptly after the event - the chapter requires event-related noncommercial signs to come down within 14 days of the event date, and signs left up may be removed by the county. The prohibited-sign rules in Section 17.70.070 are the key constraints for sale signs: no sign may be placed in the public right-of-way; no sign may be affixed to natural features like trees, rocks, or shrubs, or to utility poles; and no sign may be located at a road or driveway intersection so as to create a traffic hazard by obstructing vision. Express permission of the property owner is required before posting any sign under Section 17.70.030. Off-site directional sale signs in the public right-of-way are not permitted without an encroachment permit.