Yolo County, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Placement window
- Up to 90 days before the election
- Removal deadline
- Within 10 days after the election
- Size cap
- 32 square feet maximum
- Quantity
- One political sign per parcel
- Review required
- None; allowed by right, no Site Plan Review
- Right-of-way
- Prohibited within any road right-of-way
Summary
Temporary political signs are allowed by right in unincorporated Yolo County without Site Plan Review under Sec. 8-2.1205(f), as long as they go up no more than 90 days before an election and come down within 10 days after, are capped at 32 square feet, and limited to one per parcel.
Temporary signs of any nature, including temporary event and/or political signs, that are posted for a duration of not more than ninety (90) days. Temporary event and/or political signs shall be placed no sooner than ninety (90) days prior to the scheduled event or election, and shall be removed within ten (10) days after such event or election, as required by the State Outdoor Advertising Act. Such signs shall not be larger than thirty-two (32) square feet and be limited to one (1) per parcel, in addition to other signs allowed in this section. No such sign shall be placed within the right-of-way of any street, road, or highway located within the unincorporated area of Yolo County or have lights that interfere in any manner with the operation of motor vehicles on any street, road, or highway.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Supplement 2026 S-21 includes: Local legislation current through Ord. 1584, effective June 25, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 1205 lists the signs the county allows 'by right,' meaning without a discretionary Site Plan Review, as long as they meet the Zoning Code's general sign standards in Sec. 1207 and any required building permit. ' Size and quantity are capped too: no larger than 32 square feet, and limited to one per parcel in addition to any other signs the section already allows. The Code also bars placing a political sign within the right-of-way of any county street, road, or highway, and bars any lights on the sign that could interfere with a driver's view of the roadway.
Sec. 1202 defines a 'political sign' narrowly as 'a temporary sign used in connection with a local, State, or national election or referendum,' which keeps the 90-day by-right track limited to actual election and referendum messaging rather than general advocacy signage, which would instead fall under the county's other permanent or temporary sign rules and could require Site Plan Review under Sec. 1206. Sec. 1209 separately protects the right to swap non-commercial messages onto any commercial sign otherwise allowed.
Violations & Fines
A political sign left up past the 90-day placement window, larger than 32 square feet, or exceeding one per parcel violates Sec. 8-2.1205(f) and becomes an illegal nonconforming sign under Sec. 8-2.1204(b), which the county can order removed within 30 days of the compliance deadline; unremoved signs may be abated at the owner's cost under the Code's general enforcement provisions in Sec. 1-5.07.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put up a political yard sign in unincorporated Yolo County?
How big can a political sign be, and how many can I put on my property?
What happens if I leave my political sign up too long?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yolo County
California rules heatmap·Compare Yolo County to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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