Cathedral City, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Chapter 9.62 of the Cathedral City Municipal Code never uses the words political or campaign sign. The provision that governs a sign with a message that is not selling anything, such as a candidate or ballot measure message, is § 9.62.060(B), which covers a temporary sign displaying a noncommercial message. That sign does not require prior approval of the city planner. It can be displayed consistent with the temporary sign program immediately upon filing the program with the planning department, and no fee is required for the filing. A temporary sign with a commercial message is treated differently: the applicant must file the program, pay the filing fee set by City Council resolution, and have the city planner or designee approve it.

City staff can still remove a noncommercial sign. If the sign displayed is inconsistent with the program on file, or the program does not show that each sign meets the temporary sign conditions, staff can remove it after notice to the responsible person.

The physical limits in § 9.62.060 apply to temporary signs in Cathedral City: a maximum of 16 square feet per sign, a maximum height of 5 feet, a cumulative maximum area of 80 square feet per lot, and no illumination. On nonresidential lots improved with a multi-unit structure, the maximum face area per sign rises to 32 square feet. No temporary sign can go on any property without the consent of the owner or tenant. No temporary sign can be placed on public property or in the street right-of-way, including utility poles, sign poles, trees, fences, walls and public buildings, and none can pose a visibility hazard or sit within a sight triangle.

Removal is directed by the code compliance chief or designee. A temporary sign in the public right-of-way that threatens public safety can be removed immediately, and so can one left on public property more than 10 days after the event named on its face. Other violating temporary signs come down after at least 24 hours' notice, and the city can destroy an unclaimed sign 7 days after removal.