Sign Code Summary

City of Calistoga, CA

Local sign ordinance requirements — free, cited to the source section.

Last updated April 2026

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Understanding sign regulations in City of Calistoga, CA

Every outdoor sign in City of Calistoga is governed by the municipality’s sign ordinance, which sets how large a sign may be, how tall it may stand, how far it must sit from the property line, whether it may be illuminated, and which sign types are permitted in each zoning district. This page summarizes those requirements in plain language and links each value back to the section of the City of Calistoga code it came from.

Sign rules here are layered. The base zoning district — commercial, industrial, or residential — sets the default limits, and overlay districts such as historic or downtown districts can tighten them further. Because the most specific jurisdiction controls, a freestanding monument sign on a commercial parcel and a wall sign in a historic overlay can face very different limits even on the same street in City of Calistoga.

Use the figures below as a fast first check, then run a full address lookup to confirm the exact limits for a specific parcel in City of Calistoga, California. The full report also covers permit requirements, prohibited sign types, and illumination rules — each cited to the source ordinance so your permit application can reference it directly.

Before you order or install a sign in City of Calistoga, confirm three things: the maximum sign area and height allowed in the parcel’s zoning district, the minimum setback from the right-of-way, and whether the sign type you want — freestanding, monument, wall, projecting, or awning — is permitted there at all. Many permit denials come from missing a setback or an overlay-district restriction rather than from the size of the sign itself, so checking the governing section before applying saves a costly resubmittal.

Max ground sign height

Monument: 8 ft; Pylon: Not specified

Building Signs

Building Sign Formula: 32 square feet or one square foot for each linear foot of business frontage on a public street up to 50 square feet, whichever is greater
Building Sign Max Number: Up to three business identification signs
Building Sign Illumination: in full report

1 more building signs rule in the full report →

Definitions

Signs On Public Property Without A Permit Definition: Any sign which is located within the public right-of-way without a valid permit shall be ordered removed by the Planning and Building Director, based on state and local codes, and a notice of removal shall be sent to the owner, as set forth in CMC § 17.

General Info

Jurisdiction Name: City of Calistoga, CA

General Standards

Alternative Measurement Method: At the discretion of the Planning Commission, an alternative measurement may be applied; provided, that the method of computation does not exclude the area between the words or images on the sign
Max Signs Per Road Frontage: center identification signs: No more than one sign shall be permitted per street frontage
Hazardous Sign Removal Requirement: in full report

1 more general standards rule in the full report →

Ground Signs

Ground Sign Type: Monument and pylon/pole
Ground Sign Formula: Monument: 50 sq ft; Pylon: 50 sq ft
Ground Sign Max Height: in full report
Ground Sign Max Height: in full report
Max Signs Per Property: in full report

3 more ground signs rules in the full report →

Permit Process

All Sign Permit Requirement: All signs: All signs subject to a permit under this chapter shall also require design review in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 17.

Temporary Signs

Temp Signs Allowed: Permit required
Temp Sign Rules: Max area: 24 sq ft; Max duration: 90 days; Permit required

Window Signs

Window Sign Allowable Area: 2 sq ft
Window Sign Area Percentage: temporary window displays: Signs comprising part of temporary window display containing lettering two inches or less in height may comprise no more than one-half of window area

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