San Joaquin County, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

San Joaquin County Development Title §9-1040 permits temporary political signs on private property without a permit, limited to approximately 16 square feet per sign in residential zones and 32 square feet in commercial/industrial zones, with no numerical cap per parcel. Signs may be posted for a reasonable campaign window and must be removed within 10 days after the election to which they relate. Placement in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, on traffic control devices, or on county-maintained medians is prohibited and signs are subject to immediate removal by Public Works without prior notice. Content-based restrictions — such as different size or timing rules for political versus commercial messages — are unconstitutional under Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155 (2015), so the county enforces only time, place, and manner rules. Stockton Municipal Code §16.60 (Signs), Lodi Municipal Code §17.49, and Manteca Municipal Code §17.58 follow the same pattern with similar post-election removal deadlines (7 to 14 days). Caltrans enforces separate rules under Streets & Highways Code §5200 for signs within state-highway right-of-way along I-5, I-205, SR-99, SR-120, and SR-4.