Anaheim, CA Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Removal deadline
- 45 calendar days after the holiday
- Covered items
- String lights, inflatables, projecting lights, ground displays
- Applies in
- Single-family residential zones (RH and RS)
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
- Latest amendment
- Ordinance 6627, effective August 11, 2026
Summary
Anaheim gives residents 45 calendar days after a holiday to take down holiday decorations, including string lights, inflatables, projecting light devices and ground-mounted displays, under Section 18.04.030.1104. The rule applies citywide in single-family residential zones as part of the code's temporary-use standards.
.1104 Holiday decorations shall be removed within forty-five (45) calendar days after the holiday. This includes but is not limited to any projecting light devices, inflatable devices, exterior string lights generally associated with holidays, or other ground mounted decorations.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-28: Code: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026 | Zoning: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026).
Full Breakdown
' The provision sits alongside the chapter's other temporary-use limits, such as the ban on cargo containers used for anything but active construction storage and the requirement that portable canopies and shade sails not be visible from the public right-of-way. The City Council has amended the holiday-decoration deadline repeatedly since it was first adopted by Ordinance 5920 in 2004, most recently by Ordinance 6627 on August 11, 2026, showing the rule remains an active enforcement priority in single-family neighborhoods. Because the standard sits in the single-family zone chapter, it reaches yard displays, roof and eave lighting, and freestanding inflatable figures placed on a residential lot, but does not by its terms extend to indoor decorations.
04 does not set its own fine schedule: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both, with each day the decorations remain up after the deadline counted as a separate violation.
Violations & Fines
Leaving holiday decorations up beyond the 45-day removal window is enforced as a Code violation under the city's general penalty, Section 1.01.370: a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both. Because each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense, Code Enforcement typically issues a written correction notice before any citation, giving the property owner a chance to remove the display.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I keep holiday lights up in Anaheim?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anaheim
California rules heatmap·Compare Anaheim to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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