Sierra County, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

A review of the Sierra County Code (current through Ordinance 1145, April 2026) found no sign-content ordinance in the Zoning title (Title 15) or elsewhere regulating political or campaign signs on private property. Title 15's zoning chapters cover general provisions, definitions, land-use standards, and zoning districts, but none establish political-sign size limits, durations, or permits. The only code reference to a sign is SCC 11.04.050, which concerns official traffic and parking signs, not campaign signs. Because there is no local sign ordinance, the controlling rules for political signs near state highways come from California's State Outdoor Advertising Act. Under Business and Professions Code 5405.3, temporary political signs that encourage a particular vote may be displayed without an outdoor-advertising permit if they are no larger than 32 square feet, are placed no sooner than 90 days before the election, are removed within 10 days after the election, are not placed within a highway right-of-way (or within 660 feet of a classified landscaped freeway and visible from it), and a Statement of Responsibility has been filed with Caltrans naming who will remove the sign. On purely private property away from state highways, content-based restrictions are also limited by the First Amendment. Property owners should confirm whether any homeowners association or specific-plan rules apply, and contact the Sierra County Planning Department before placing signs in a public right-of-way.