City of Los Angeles Real Estate Sign Rules & Sign Ordinance
City of Los Angeles Real Estate Sign Rules & Sign Ordinance
🏠 'For Sale' Sign Rules
| Maximum size | On-site temporary signs ~2 sq ft per linear foot of frontage (a customary ~6 sq ft yard sign) |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | Not separately specified in § 14.4.16 |
| Number allowed | Not numerically capped (combined temporary-sign area is the limit) |
| Illumination | Not illuminated |
| When to remove | Within 30 days of installation; customarily removed after close of escrow |
📍 Open House & Directional Sign Rules
| Allowed? | On-site only; off-site directional signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited |
|---|---|
| Maximum size | On-site within the frontage formula |
| Maximum height | Not specified |
| Number allowed | Not specified |
| Permitted hours | No open house carve-out; the right-of-way prohibition applies at all times |
| Placement rules | On the subject property only; never on sidewalks, parkways, curbs, street trees, utility/light poles or hydrants (§ 28.04) |
Permits & enforcement
Permit: A customary on-property residential for-sale sign is generally treated as permit-exempt; no permit is available to place a real estate sign in the public right-of-way (it is prohibited). Confirm with LADBS for a specific install
If a sign is removed: Illegally posted signs are removed by the City; the agent/broker/brokerage named on the sign is presumed responsible and liable for removal costs plus escalating penalties ($100, then $250, then $500, then a misdemeanor after three in a year)
City contact: LA Dept. of Building & Safety (213) 482-7077; Bureau of Street Services (StreetsLA) Investigation & Enforcement (213) 485-5050; City Planning (213) 482-7077
The public right-of-way is the headline rule and the #1 compliance risk in the City of LA — all snipe/A-frame directional signs in the parkway are prohibited and the named agent is presumed liable. Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Bel Air, Venice and Hollywood are neighborhoods within the City of LA and share the LAMC. Venice and Pacific Palisades are in the Coastal Zone (Venice has its own Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan sign rules); Bel Air listings are commonly under private HOA/association CC&Rs. The exact numeric height/number for a single residential sign is not stated as a discrete figure in § 14.4.16.
Official source:Los Angeles Municipal Code Chapter I, Article 4.4 (Sign Regulations), § 14.4.16 (Temporary Signs); right-of-way prohibition § 28.04
Ordinance reference: Article 4.4 added by Ord. 179,416 (operative 2008); § 28.04 amended by Ord. 180,998 (2010)
Frequently asked questions
Can I put an open house sign in City of Los Angeles?
No. City of Los Angeles does not authorize off-site open house or directional signs. On the subject property only; never on sidewalks, parkways, curbs, street trees, utility/light poles or hydrants (§ 28.04). Signs must stay on the property being sold.
How big can a 'For Sale' sign be in City of Los Angeles?
A residential for-sale sign in City of Los Angeles may be up to On-site temporary signs ~2 sq ft per linear foot of frontage (a customary ~6 sq ft yard sign), with a maximum height of Not separately specified in § 14.4.16. You may post Not numerically capped (combined temporary-sign area is the limit). Illumination: Not illuminated. Removal: Within 30 days of installation; customarily removed after close of escrow.
Do I need a permit for a real estate sign in City of Los Angeles?
A customary on-property residential for-sale sign is generally treated as permit-exempt; no permit is available to place a real estate sign in the public right-of-way (it is prohibited). Confirm with LADBS for a specific install. The governing rule is Los Angeles Municipal Code Chapter I, Article 4.4 (Sign Regulations), § 14.4.16 (Temporary Signs); right-of-way prohibition § 28.04.
What happens if my sign is removed in City of Los Angeles?
Illegally posted signs are removed by the City; the agent/broker/brokerage named on the sign is presumed responsible and liable for removal costs plus escalating penalties ($100, then $250, then $500, then a misdemeanor after three in a year). For questions, contact LA Dept. of Building & Safety (213) 482-7077; Bureau of Street Services (StreetsLA) Investigation & Enforcement (213) 485-5050; City Planning (213) 482-7077.
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