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Westminster, CA Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)

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

Key Facts

Exemption
Holiday lights/decorations, no commercial message
Duration
"Reasonable periods" before/after the holiday
Permit
None required
Fee
None
Loses exemption if
Display carries a commercial message
Related ban
Strings of lights otherwise prohibited (§17.330.040(B))
Citation
Westminster Code § 17.330.030(D)

Summary

Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message are fully exempt from Westminster's sign regulations, but only for a 'reasonable' period before and after the holiday they mark, per Westminster Code § 17.330.030(D). No permit, fee, or size limit applies to a compliant display, though a light show that also carries a commercial message loses the exemption entirely.

§ 17.330.030. Exempt Signs. The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this Chapter:

D. Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, but only during reasonable periods before and after recognized local, State, or national holidays.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4982734; v10 updated 2026-06-10).

Full Breakdown

' That exemption only runs 'during reasonable periods before and after recognized local, State, or national holidays,' language that gives code enforcement discretion over how long is too long rather than fixing a set number of days as the chapter does for banners (60 days) or future-development signs (180 days). 030(D), holiday light strings would themselves be an outright prohibited sign year-round. The exemption is narrow: it covers only displays with no commercial message. 025.

Violations & Fines

A holiday display that overstays its 'reasonable period' or that carries a commercial message loses its exemption under § 17.330.030(D) and reverts to being an unpermitted or prohibited sign, principally the citywide ban on 'strings of lights' in § 17.330.040(B). That triggers the same general penalty structure as any other code violation under § 1.12.010: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, or, at the city attorney's discretion, an infraction with escalating fines of $100, $200, and $500. Each day of continued display is a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep holiday lights up on my house in Westminster without a sign permit?
Yes. Westminster Code § 17.330.030(D) exempts holiday lights and decorations that carry no commercial message from all sign regulation, including the permit and fee that a banner or temporary sign would need. The catch is timing: the display is only exempt during 'reasonable periods' before and after the holiday it celebrates.
How long is a 'reasonable period' for holiday lights under Westminster's code?
The ordinance doesn't set a fixed number of days; it exempts holiday lights only 'during reasonable periods before and after recognized local, State, or national holidays.' That leaves the call to code enforcement and the Community Development Director case by case, so a display left up for months after the holiday risks losing its exempt status.
Are strings of lights normally allowed as signs in Westminster?
No, and that is why the holiday exemption matters. Section 17.330.040(B) lists 'strings of lights' among the sign types prohibited citywide. Section 17.330.030(D) carves out a specific exception for noncommercial holiday lights and decorations; without that exemption, the same lights would be a prohibited sign the rest of the year.
Does a holiday display with a sale sign attached still qualify for the exemption?
No. The exemption in § 17.330.030(D) applies only to decorations 'with no commercial message.' A holiday display that also advertises a sale, discount, or business name loses the exemption and instead must comply with the City's temporary sign permit and duration rules under § 17.330.025, including its own display-period limits and fees.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Westminster

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard FiresSome RestrictionsPolitical SignsSome RestrictionsDigital BillboardsSignificant RestrictionsFreeway-Facing SignsSignificant RestrictionsWindow SignsSome RestrictionsGarage Sale SignsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Outdoor BurningSignificant RestrictionsFire Regulations: Brush ClearanceSome Restrictions

All Westminster rules

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