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Vallejo, CA Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Exempt season
Oct. 30 to Feb. 1 (16.506.02.A.2)
Per-lamp cap
10 watts, 70 lumens
Flashing holiday lights
Banned on commercial property
Seasonal decorations
Exempt from sign permit (16.509.03.M)
Disguised advertising signs
Not exempt
Noncompliance penalty
$100-$1,000 fine, Sec. 1.12.010

Summary

Vallejo exempts holiday lighting from its outdoor lighting rules only between October 30 and February 1, and only if no single lamp exceeds 10 watts and 70 lumens; flashing holiday lights are barred outright on commercial properties. Section 16.506.02.A.2 sets the exemption, while Section 16.509.03.M separately excuses seasonal decorations from sign permits.

2.Holiday Lights. Holiday lighting from October 30th to February 1st, provided that no individual lamp exceeds ten watts and seventy lumens. Flashing holiday lights are prohibited on commercial properties. [16.509.03.M:] Seasonal Decorations—Private Property. Seasonal and/or holiday decorations and displays such as those related to Thanksgiving or the 4th of July, not including advertising signs disguised as seasonal decorations.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Update 12 - 25).

Full Breakdown

Vallejo regulates holiday displays through two different chapters. 2 exempts holiday lighting from October 30th to February 1st, provided that no individual lamp exceeds ten watts and seventy lumens, and prohibits flashing holiday lights on commercial properties. I. M exempts Seasonal Decorations on Private Property from needing a sign permit at all, covering seasonal and holiday decorations and displays such as those related to Thanksgiving or the 4th of July, but excluding advertising signs disguised as seasonal decorations. 509. 506.

Violations & Fines

Holiday lighting left up past February 1st, exceeding the ten-watt/seventy-lumen cap, or flashing on a commercial property loses its Section 16.506.02.A.2 exemption and must meet the chapter's standard lighting rules or be removed; noncompliance is enforced under Vallejo's general penalty, Section 1.12.010, an infraction ($100-$500 fine) or misdemeanor ($500-$1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both), with each day of the violation counted separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I keep holiday lights up in Vallejo?
The lighting-code exemption in Section 16.506.02.A.2 runs from October 30 through February 1. Outside that window, string lights must meet the standard outdoor lighting rules in Chapter 16.506, including height and shielding limits.
Is there a wattage limit on holiday lights?
Yes. Exempt holiday lighting can't use lamps over 10 watts or 70 lumens each, per Section 16.506.02.A.2; brighter bulbs lose the exemption and must comply with the chapter's general lighting standards.
Can my Vallejo business use flashing holiday lights?
No. Section 16.506.02.A.2 specifically prohibits flashing holiday lights on commercial properties, even during the exempt October 30 to February 1 season.
Do I need a sign permit for a holiday yard display?
No. Section 16.509.03.M exempts seasonal and holiday decorations, such as those for Thanksgiving or the 4th of July, from sign permits, unless the display is really an advertising sign disguised as a decoration.

Sources & Official References

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