# Sign Regulations in Bellflower, California

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Bellflower, California, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Bellflower, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/bellflower
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43105348#43105348)

## At a glance

Bellflower, California regulates 5 sign types across 15 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Varies by type tall and Varies by type, with a Not less than 100 ft. from any other freestanding sign on the same side of the street setback (Sec. § 17.68.480). Most commercial signs in Bellflower require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (15 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | Varies by type | Varies by type | — |
| Town Center (TC) District | 2 | 75 ft. | 300 sf. | — |
| Design for Development for the South Bellflower Commercial Area (DFD) | 2 | 75 ft. | 300 sf. | — |
| Specific Plan | 2 | 75 ft. | 300 sf. | — |
| C-G (General Commercial) | 2 | 75 ft. | 300 sf. | — |
| M-1 (Light Industrial District) | 2 | 75 ft. | 300 sf. | — |
| Residential Zones | 1 | Cannot extend above the eave-line | 18 sf. | — |
| SF (Single Family) | 1 | Cannot extend above the eave-line | 18 sf. | — |
| A-E (Agricultural Estate) | 1 | Cannot extend above the eave-line | 18 sf. | — |
| R-1 (Low Density Residential) | 1 | Cannot extend above the eave-line | 18 sf. | — |
| R-2 (Medium Density Residential) | 1 | Cannot extend above the eave-line | 18 sf. | — |
| R-3 (Multiple Residential) | 1 | Cannot extend above the eave-line | 18 sf. | — |
| S-C-H (Senior Citizen Housing) District | 1 | Cannot extend above the eave-line | 18 sf. | — |
| O-S | 1 | 6 ft. | Varies by location | — |
| P | 2 | 75 ft. | 300 sf. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 15 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | Varies by type | Varies by type | — | — | Maximum of three temporary signs per business location per year | Private property with owner's consent | — | § 17.68.130, § 17.68.140, § 17.68.150, § 17.68.155, § 17.68.170 |
| Wall Sign | Cannot extend above the eave-line | Varies by zone | — | — | 1 per wall, or 1 per storefront for buildings with multiple tenants. Max. 2 signs per business. | Horizontal band parallel to business storefront | — | § 17.68.480, § 17.68.500 |
| Freestanding Sign | Varies by type | Varies by type | — | Not less than 100 ft. from any other freestanding sign on the same side of the street | 1 sign per separate street frontage | Not less than 5 ft. from an interior property line and each ingress/egress driveway | — | § 17.68.480 |

### Town Center (TC) District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Roof Sign | 15 ft. above the roof line | 40 sf. | — | — | 1 per building | On the roof | — | § 17.68.390, § 17.68.480 |
| Freestanding Sign | 75 ft. | 300 sf. | — | Not less than 100 ft. from any other freestanding sign on the same side of the street | 1 sign per separate street frontage | Not less than 5 ft. from an interior property line and each ingress/egress driveway | — | § 17.68.390, § 17.68.480 |

### Design for Development for the South Bellflower Commercial Area (DFD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Cannot extend above the eave-line | Varies by building wall | — | — | 1 per wall, or 1 per storefront for buildings with multiple tenants. Max. 2 signs per business. | Horizontal band parallel to business storefront | — | § 17.68.480, § 17.68.500 |
| Freestanding Sign | 75 ft. | 300 sf. | — | Not less than 100 ft. from any other freestanding sign on the same side of the street | 1 sign per separate street frontage | Not less than 5 ft. from an interior property line and each ingress/egress driveway | — | § 17.68.390, § 17.68.480 |

## Prohibited signs in Bellflower

- It is unlawful for any person to post, display or affix any sign on any public property or on any building, structure, or vegetation located on, over or across public property.
- No sign shall be placed within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, street sign, traffic signal or intersection where such placement might constitute a safety hazard to motorists.
- Signs may not be supported with exposed bracing, angle iron, guy wires, cables, or similar materials.
- Sign illumination cannot contribute to night-sky light pollution.
- Signs cannot be connected to visible overhead electrical power lines.
- It is unlawful to erect signs that are detrimental to public health or safety.
- Signs may not block or shadow solar energy collection devices from direct sun exposure.
- Unless expressly allowed by this Code, signs with commercial copy are prohibited in residential zones.
- Unless expressly allowed by this Code, illuminated signs are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to display signs on public property owned by the City unless otherwise provided by this chapter or by City Council approval.
- It is unlawful to erect, allow, or maintain wind-activated signs such as spinner, pennants, streamers, and balloons.
- Unless otherwise provided in this Code or by City Council resolution, it is unlawful to erect, allow, or maintain signs with commercial messages that face any residential area.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bellflower

- Nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to any temporary sign posted on public property where such sign posting is required by the City as a condition of an encroachment permit.
- Nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to any temporary sign posted on public property by a public utility or City franchise holder performing work on public property or in the public right-of-way associated with work allowed by the Public Utilities Code or a City-approved franchise agreement.
- Nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to the City.
- Nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to temporary signs posted by any other public agency when acting in the course and scope of its official governmental business, provided it has first obtained permission from the agency owning the property.
- Accessory Signs in commercial and industrial zones.
- Barber Poles bearing no copy.
- Construction Project Signs displayed during the time period beginning with the City's issuing a building permit and ending with the City's issuing of a certificate of occupancy for the last unit or portion of the building.
- Directional Signs that do not include commercial copy.
- Flags or similar devices with noncommercial images and symbols.
- Historical Site Plaques designating a building as a historical structure.
- Legally Required or Authorized Signs conforming to the requirements of the authorizing law.
- Noncommercial Group Signs displaying the name(s) or message(s) of noncommercial organizations or groups.
- Noncommercial Messages; Residential Uses.
- Professional and Business Signs for a professional office or a professional office within another establishment.
- Public Interest Notices placed on bulletin boards or kiosks maintained by the State or other public entity.
- Public Message Signs displaying noncommercial messages for public information.
- Real Estate Signs as defined in Civil Code Section 713.
- Special Events For Charitable And Other Noncommercial Groups And Establishments.
- Temporary Freestanding Signs.
- Temporary Window Signs covering up to 25% of the total first floor frontage glass area or 25% of the window area on the second floor of a main building.
- Time and Temperature Signs in commercial and industrial zones.
- Umbrellas displaying commercial or noncommercial messages.
- Warning Signs displaying messages warning of danger.
- Vending Machine Signs painted on or attached to vending machines, gas pumps, ice containers or similar dispensing devices.
- Temporary Yard Signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive Master Sign Plan is required whenever the development is within the Town Center (TC) District, Design for Development for the South Bellflower Commercial Area (DFD), or any Specific Plan.
- A comprehensive Master Sign Plan is required whenever three or more separate commercial tenant spaces are created on the same parcel.
- A comprehensive Master Sign Plan is required for roof signs in the Town Center (TC) District per the standards in Table 480-3.
- A comprehensive Master Sign Plan is required for freestanding signs in the Town Center (TC) District that exceed the maximum allowable standards in Table 480-4.
- Roof or Freestanding signs in the Town Center (TC) District, C-G (General Commercial), M-1 (Light Industrial District), and Design for Development for the South Bellflower Commercial Area (DFD) that exceed the maximum allowable standards are subject to Planning Commission approval.
- A Master Sign Plan is required for signs for nonresidential uses in residential zones.
- A Master Sign Plan is required when an existing multi-tenant shopping center proposes a façade remodel that requires removal of three or more existing signs.
- A Master Sign Plan is required when four or more permanent non-exempt signs are proposed for a single use.
- The Director determines that a Master Sign Plan is needed because of special project characteristics or when unique, creatively designed signs are being proposed.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 15 zoning districts in Bellflower — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bellflower+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bellflower

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