Kern County, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Max display period
- 90 days total per Section 19.84.100
- Removal deadline
- Within 15 days after the campaign ends
- Residential size cap
- 6 square feet, 4 feet tall
- Outside residential zones
- No numeric size cap stated
- Permit required
- None for campaign signs under § 19.84.100
- Misdemeanor penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
Temporary political, religious and civic campaign signs in unincorporated Kern County can stay up no more than 90 days and must come down within 15 days after the campaign ends. In residential zoning districts each sign is capped at 6 square feet and 4 feet tall; outside residential districts, Section 19.84.100 states no separate numeric size limit.
Temporary political, religious and civic campaign signs may be erected for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days and shall comply with the following standards: A.The signs shall be removed within fifteen (15) days following the conclusion of the campaign.B.In residential districts, each sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area or a height of four (4) feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
010. Temporary political, religious and civic campaign signs may go up for no more than 90 days total, and Subsection A requires removal within 15 days after the campaign concludes, so a sign can realistically stand for roughly three months even if erected the day the display period opens. Subsection B applies only 'in residential districts': there, each sign is capped at 6 square feet of area or 4 feet of height. 150 on flashing or animated illumination and other traffic-hazard sign types. 100 does not require a permit, application fee or planning department review before a campaign sign goes up, so compliance turns entirely on the 90-day/15-day timing and the residential-zone size cap. 180 does not excuse a temporary sign from these specific time and size limits.
Violations & Fines
A sign left up past the 90-day/15-day window, or oversized for a residential district, is a Title 19 zoning violation. The Kern County building official can issue a notice of violation under Section 19.114.065 and, if unresolved, record it against the property; Section 19.114.060 makes a knowing violation a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail, with the county also able to pursue civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation under Section 19.114.080.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put up a campaign sign on my Kern County property?
How long can a campaign sign legally stay up in unincorporated Kern County?
Is there a size limit if my house is in an agricultural or commercial zone?
What happens if I don't take my campaign sign down in time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kern County to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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