Riverside County, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing ordinance
- Riverside County Ord. No. 806 / Title 17, Ch. 17.254
- Max size (election period)
- 32 sq ft per sign (Sec. 3(D)(1))
- Max height
- 6 feet (Sec. 3(D)(1))
- Per-lot aggregate cap
- 80 sq ft total (Sec. 3(D)(1))
- Right-of-way
- Allowed during election period; not on roadway or public trees
- Removal
- Within 10 days after the election (Sec. 3(D)(1))
Summary
In unincorporated Riverside County, political/non-commercial signs are temporary signs under Ordinance No. 806 (Title 17, Chapter 17.254). During an election period they may be up to 32 sq ft and 6 feet tall, with an 80 sq ft per-lot aggregate cap, and may sit in the road right-of-way; they must come down within 10 days after the election.
4710. (a) The governing documents may not prohibit posting or displaying of noncommercial signs, posters, flags, or banners on or in a member’s separate interest, except as required for the protection of public health or safety or if the posting or display would violate a local, state, or federal law. (b) For purposes of this section, a noncommercial sign, poster, flag, or banner may be made of paper, cardboard, cloth, plastic, or fabric, and may be posted or displayed from the yard, window, door, balcony, or outside wall of the separate interest, but may not be made of lights, roofing, siding, paving materials, flora, or balloons, or any other similar building, landscaping, or decorative component, or include the painting of architectural surfaces.
Full Breakdown
Political and other non-commercial signs in the unincorporated area of Riverside County are regulated as "temporary signs" under Ordinance No. 254. A temporary sign is one not intended to be permanent and not on a permanent foundation; the category expressly includes non-commercial signs, including non-commercial signs during an election period. During the election period - generally beginning before a scheduled election and ending shortly after - the ordinance allows expanded non-commercial signage: each sign may be up to 32 square feet in surface area, no sign may exceed 6 feet in height, and no lot may contain such signs with an aggregate surface area exceeding 80 square feet (Sec.
3(D)(1)). Outside an election period, the general rule (Sec. 3(A)(2)) prohibits placing temporary signs within the road right-of-way; the election-period provision is an exception that permits non-commercial signs in the right-of-way, but they may not be placed on any publicly owned tree or shrub or on the improved (traveled) portion of any street. Signs must be removed within 10 days after the election (Sec. 3(D)(1)). & Prof. 3) limits temporary political signs along state highways: no larger than 32 sq ft, placed no sooner than 90 days before the election, removed within 10 days after, and never within a highway right-of-way or within 660 feet of a classified landscaped freeway.
Violations & Fines
Oversized signs (over 32 sq ft), signs over 6 feet tall, lots exceeding the 80 sq ft aggregate, signs left up more than 10 days after an election, or signs on the traveled roadway or on public trees/shrubs violate Ordinance 806 and may be removed by the County. Signs in a state-highway right-of-way may be removed by Caltrans under Bus. & Prof. Code 5405.3.
Frequently Asked Questions
How large can a campaign sign be in unincorporated Riverside County?
When do I have to take political signs down?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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