Modesto, CA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

102(fff) defines a window sign as any sign temporarily displayed on the inside of a window, or temporarily painted on a window, facing a street, highway, parking lot, walkway or mall. 1-2, covering the P-O, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-M, M-1 and M-2 zones, sets no cap on how many window signs a business can display and no additional requirements beyond the 50 percent coverage limit, meaning a storefront can post as many separate signs as it likes as long as their combined area stays at or under half the window surface, with no height limit stated.

1-1, the residential and office table, carries a narrower version of the same rule limited to window signs for nonconforming uses, also capped at 50 percent of the window and matched to the window's own height, but adding that the sign must face a public street and be externally illuminated only, except for neon signs inside windows. 105(a)(1), so unlike a garage sale or political sign, a Modesto business generally needs a sign permit from the Chief Building Official before installing window signage, on top of holding coverage under the 50 percent line.