Sonoma, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit needed
- No, within 90 days of election
- Per-sign size cap
- 8 square feet
- Parcel aggregate cap
- 32 square feet
- Removal deadline
- 10 days after the election
- Vacant-lot deposit
- $25.00, refundable
- Public property
- Prohibited entirely
Summary
The City of Sonoma lets residents put up political, ideological, or religious signs without a sign permit for the 90 days before a valid election, but each sign is capped at 8 square feet, the parcel total is capped at 32 square feet, and every sign must come down within 10 days after the election.
Political signs, ideological, religious, or signs having any other message which are displayed within 90 days prior to a valid election held within the city may be displayed without a permit, subject to the following regulations: 1. Size. Each sign shall not exceed eight square feet in area or a total aggregate sign area of 32 square feet on a single parcel. 2. Time. Each sign shall be removed within 10 days following the election. 3. Unimproved Property. If the signs pertain to a valid election and are to be displayed on unimproved property, the candidate shall file written approval of the property owner and a deposit of $25.00 with the city clerk for the signs, to be refunded upon removal of the signs. 4. Signs shall not be displayed on public property.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025).
Full Breakdown
090(L) exempts political, ideological, religious, or other message signs from the city's normal sign-permit process, but only inside a defined window: the signs may go up without a permit within 90 days before a valid election held within the city, and the exemption is conditioned on four specific rules. Size is capped at 8 square feet per sign, with a 32-square-foot aggregate ceiling for all such signs on a single parcel. Timing is strict: every sign must be removed within 10 days following the election it references, whether or not the candidate or measure won.
00 deposit, which is refunded once the signs are taken down. Finally, political signs of any kind may not be displayed on public property under any circumstance in the City of Sonoma. 12. The code is current through Ordinance 13-2025 (December 3, 2025).
Violations & Fines
A sign that misses the size cap, stays up past the 10-day removal deadline, or sits on public property is treated as a title violation and can be abated under SMC 18.44.010, including removal by the planning, public works, or police department after a warning notice. Enforcement runs through Chapter 1.12 SMC's general penalty: a first infraction is fined up to $100.00, a second up to $200.00, and a third or later infraction within a year up to $500.00; the city attorney may instead charge a misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a political yard sign in the City of Sonoma?
How big can a political sign be in the City of Sonoma?
When do I have to take down my political sign after an election?
Can I put a political sign on an empty lot I don't own?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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Political Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle political signs.