Merced County, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 18.44.070(A)(4), Exempt Signs
- Permit required
- None (exempt sign)
- Residential size cap
- 8 square feet
- Non-residential size cap
- 32 square feet
- Removal deadline
- Within 10 days after the event
- Prohibited locations
- Trees, fences, utility poles, right-of-way
Summary
Political signs count as exempt non-commercial temporary signs under Zoning Code § 18.44.070(A)(4): no permit is needed, but each sign is capped at 8 square feet in residential zones (32 in non-residential zones), must come down within 10 days of the election or event, and cannot go on trees, fences, utility poles, or the public right-of-way.
Non-Commercial Temporary Signs. Non-commercial temporary signs such as political signs and signs including those advertising special and seasonal events when the signs contain no reference to the goods or services sold or provided by the establishment, may be allowed in any zone subject to the following limitations:
a. Signs shall be removed within 10 days following the event;
b. Signs shall have a maximum of eight square feet of sign area in residential zones and a maximum of 32 square feet of sign area in all non-residential zones.
c. Signs are prohibited within a street intersection, sight distance triangle, or at a location where the sign may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with, an authorized traffic sign.
d. Signs shall not be nailed or affixed to trees, fences, or public utility poles and shall not be located in the public right-of-way, parkway, or on publicly-owned land.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4930839; v8 updated 2026-06-02).
Full Breakdown
070(A)(4) treats political signs as a subset of non-commercial temporary signs, allowed without a Sign Permit in any zone across unincorporated Merced County provided the sign carries no reference to goods or services for sale. Four conditions attach: the sign must be removed within 10 days following the election or event it references; residential-zone signs cannot exceed eight square feet while signs in non-residential zones cannot exceed 32 square feet; placement is barred inside a street intersection, a sight distance triangle, or anywhere it could interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with an authorized traffic sign; and the sign cannot be nailed or otherwise affixed to a tree, fence, or public utility pole, nor placed in the public right-of-way, parkway, or on other publicly owned land.
070(A), alongside 12 other categories such as real estate and construction signs, all of which are excluded from the county's overall sign-area and sign-count calculations. The rule was adopted by Ord. 1976 § 2 in 2019 and the exempt-signs list was last amended by Ord. 2039 in May 2024.
Violations & Fines
A political sign left up more than 10 days after the election, oversized for its zone, or affixed to a utility pole, fence, or the public right-of-way loses its exemption and becomes an unpermitted sign, an infraction under § 18.154.070(D)(1) punishable by up to $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for each further violation, with continued display treated as a separate daily offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a political yard sign in unincorporated Merced County?
How big can a political sign be on my property?
Can I put a political sign on a utility pole or in the road right-of-way?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Merced County
California rules heatmap·Compare Merced County to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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