Sign Ordinance

Chapter 130.36 of the County Ordinance Code (Sign Ordinance) applies to all unincorporated areas of the County. If the proposed sign is located within the Cameron Park Community Region (CPCR) it will also need to meet the Cameron Park Sign Standards(PDF, 756KB) (Res. 127-2025). Lands that are subject to the regulatory authority of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) must meet TRPA standards or any superseding standards.

If you have an existing sign that conforms to the current standards, a change of message that does not alter the size, location, or illumination is exempt from a Planning Sign Permit. However, you may still need to obtain a permit from the Building Division.

Yes, first you will need to submit an Administrative Permit (see Planning Fees) to the Planning Division for review of compliance with Chapter 130.36. Once this permit has been reviewed and approved, you will be able to apply for a permit with the Building Division at which point additional fees will apply. Please contact the Building Division for permit fees via email at bldgdept@edcgov.us or by phone at (530) 621-5315. In certain situations (e.g. U.S. Hwy 50-oriented sign), signs will require a higher-level permit, please see Table 130.36.080.1 of the Sign Ordinance for all Planning Sign Permit and review authority requirements.

Sign standards depend on the zoning of the property (see Section 130.36.070, Sign Development and Design Standards). Some areas—like Planned Developments (PDs), Community Regions, Specific Plans (SP) or properties along Highway 50—have special requirements. To find out the zoning or if these special rules apply to your property, please contact the Planning Division (contact information above).

Temporary signs with commercial messages are not permitted off-site and can only be placed on the parcel where the establishment is located. Please see Section 130.36.050(C). There are some exceptions for signs designated rural areas of the County, please see Section 130.36.030(B)(9).

Yes, window signs including but not limited to vinyl lettering, frosted window decals, and clear decals are permitted on storefront windows so long as they do not cover more than twenty-five (25) percent of the window area. Window signage shall be placed so that law enforcement personnel have a clear and unobstructed view of the interior of the establishment, including any cash registers.

In conformance with Section 130.36.050, commercial establishments can use the following temporary signs to advertise a sale or special event; banner signs, feather banners, sign twirlers and A-frame signs. With the exception of A-Frame signs, all temporary signs may be used for a maximum of 90 cumulative days per calendar year. Per Table 130.36.050.1 (Allowed Temporary On-Site Sign Standards), establishments can use a combination of one banner, feather banner or A-Frame sign (per street frontage) plus one (1) sign twirler per establishment. Please refer to Section 130.36.050(A) for display periods and Table 130.36.050.1 for size and location standards.

On residential property that is currently offered for sale, lease or rental, there can be a maximum of one (1) sign not exceeding eight (8) square feet and a height of five (5) feet. Additionally, up to four (4) signs to direct traffic to the subject property are allowed. The off-site directional signs can be a maximum of eight (8) square feet per sign and three and one-half (3.5) feet in height. Signs shall not be placed on a sidewalk or street or Public Right-of-Way.

Temporary signs that conform with Section 130.36.050 of Sign Ordinance are exempt from Sign Permit requirements.

Temporary signs displaying noncommercial messages are subject to six (6) square feet of signage, a setback of at least five (5) feet from the public right-of-way and cannot project above the roofline of any structure. During the time period beginning 60-days before a special, general, or primary election and ending two (2) weeks after such election, the total allowed sign area for noncommercial messages may be increased to 32 square feet in area.

Yes, authorized home occupations are allowed one (1) sign with a maximum sign area of 2 square feet. The sign must be non-illuminated and compatible in design with existing residential structures. Properties zoned RE (-5 or -10), RM, Agricultural and Resources may also have two (2) freestanding signs, 12 square feet each with a maximum height of 6 feet. For more details, please refer to Section 136.36.070. Signs that meet these standards are exempt from permits.

A Variance can be requested for individual signs to deviate from the development standards outlined in Chapter 130.36. In order to approve the Variance, the Zoning Administrator would need to make the findings listed in Section 130.52.070 of the Zoning Ordinance in compliance with Government Code Section 65906.

On August 16, 2025, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution 127-2025 (Sign Standards for the Cameron Park Community Region(PDF, 756KB)). Signs within this region must conform to the Cameron Park Sign Standards in addition to County Code Chapter 130.36 (Signs). If there is a conflict between standards, the stricter one applies. Signs that require discretionary planning permits (e.g. Design Review or Planned Development permits, see Section 130.36.080) will require review and recommendation from the Cameron Park Design Review Committee. Otherwise, the signs will require an Administrative Permit with the Planning Division prior to obtaining a permit from the Building Division.