# Sign Regulations in Hawthorne, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hawthorne, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/hawthorne
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/42639682#42639682)

## At a glance

Hawthorne, California regulates 5 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential Zone zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 3 square feet, with a 5 feet from the sidewalk edge setback (Sec. § 17.35.000C.2.a). Most commercial signs in Hawthorne require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zone | 3 | 6 feet | 3 square feet | — |
| Non-residential Zone | 2 | 15 feet | 30 square feet | — |
| R-3 Zone, R-4 Zone | 1 | 15 feet | 30 square feet | — |
| Horticultural Zone (H) | 1 | 15 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Commercial Zone, Industrial Zone | 2 | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — |
| Regional Commercial Classification Zone | 1 | 40 feet | 350 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Residential Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | 5 feet from the back of the sidewalk | 1 per dwelling unit | Freestanding or wall-mounted, not on roof or fascia other than street address | — | § 17.35.130A.1, § 17.35.000C.2.b.i, § 17.35.000C.2.b.ii |
| Freestanding Sign | 4 feet | 3 square feet | — | 5 feet from the sidewalk edge | 5 per parcel | Setback at least 5 feet from the sidewalk edge | — | § 17.35.000C.2.a |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | — | — | — | 1 per qualified street frontage | Qualified street frontage | — | § 17.35.000C.2.d.i |

### Non-residential Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 15 feet | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Attached to the street front wall of the building | — | § 17.35.000C.2.b.ii |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Street frontage | — | § 17.35.000C.2.c |

### Commercial Zone, Industrial Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | — | 1 per qualified street frontage | Qualified street frontage | — | § 17.35.110A.1, § 17.35.110A.2 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the wall of the building | — | § 17.35.110D.1, § 17.35.110D.2 |

## Prohibited signs in Hawthorne

- Aerial signs or aerial devices
- Electronic reader board signs, electronic message centers and changeable electronic variable message signs, excepted as noted in this chapter
- Exposed neon, exposed LED or similar illuminated signs
- Inflated signs, balloons (balloons, figures, and blimps) and figures
- Non-residential signage except as noted in this chapter
- Pole signs
- Projecting signs
- Roof signs
- Signs erected in a manner that a portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of a fire escape, exit or standpipe or obstruct a required ventilator, door, stairway or window above the first story
- Signs in violation of Section 3479 or 3480 of the California Civil Code
- Signs painted on fences, walls, roofs, storage bins or cargo containers
- Strings of lights or signs outlined with individual light bulbs
- Any portable sign located on or projecting over the public right-of-way, required parking space or landscaped area, except for menu boards and umbrella signs located in the public right-of-way and operating in conjunction with permitted outdoor dining
- Off-premises signs, except as otherwise provided by this code
- Any balloon sign that is made of electrically conductive material
- Signs advertising home occupation businesses
- Temporary signs, except as otherwise provided by this code
- Vehicle signs, except for artwork, graphics, signs or other written or pictorial messages that are permanently placed upon or affixed to a business or commercial vehicle and are incidental to the usual and customary use of the vehicle
- Flashing and/or blinking signs

## Signs exempt from permit in Hawthorne

- Holiday decorations
- Sports equipment, including, but not limited to, basketball courts, goals, ballbounces, and tetherball
- Real estate signs
- Political signs
- Temporary signs for authorized community events
- Menu boards and portable umbrellas used in conjunction with permitted outdoor dining
- One garage sale sign
- Business door nameplates
- Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public officer and government signs
- Warning or information signs authorized by federal, state or municipal authority
- Directional or informational signs less than six square feet in area in conjunction with any multiple-family use
- One non-programmable LED or neon sign under two square feet in non-residential zones
- On the premises of public schools and public charter schools, permanent signs, including EMCs
- Security signs advising of home and business security
- Temporary non-commercial signs on residential property
- Banner holiday temporary sign

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Establishing a process for the review and approval of sign permit applications
- The approval of a comprehensive sign program shall be required when any of the following circumstances exist, or when an applicant requests the approval of a comprehensive sign program
- On multiple tenant developments, no permits for electronic message center signs shall be issued until approval of a master sign program is granted in accordance with this chapter
- Temporary signs requiring permits shall be subject to the following regulations: Not more than four temporary sign permits shall be issued per calendar year, not to exceed twenty-one days duration each. No more than two temporary sign permits may be in effect concurrently

## 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 7 zoning districts in Hawthorne — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Hawthorne+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-hawthorne

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