# Sign Regulations in La Habra, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** La Habra, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/la-habra
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-16
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/42846405)

## At a glance

La Habra, California regulates 39 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Portable Signs in the Mixed-Use Residential (MX) zoning district are capped at 36 inches tall, 12 square feet (collective), and 24 inches wide, with a Not extending into ROW or adjacent properties setback (Sec. Table 18.23.030.A; §18.23.090). Most commercial signs in La Habra require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Residential Zones (R-1a, R-1b, R-1c) | 3 | — | — | — |
| Multiple-Family Residential Zones (R-2 to R-7) | 6 | 6 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Mobile Home Park (MHP) | 5 | 6 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential Zones (C-R, C-P, C-1, C-2, C-2s, C-2sH, C-3, C-U, PC-I, M-1, P, D, PUD, OS, SP-1, ES) | 22 | 15% of the total wall height (including logo and copy) | 70% of valance area | — |
| MX Mixed Use Overlay | 2 | — | Maximum dimensions: 12 inches (vertical) by 48 inches (horizontal) | — |
| Mixed-Use Residential (MX) | 7 | 36 inches | 50 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 36 inches | 100 square feet (collective) | — |

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

### Nonresidential Zones (C-R, C-P, C-1, C-2, C-2s, C-2sH, C-3, C-U, PC-I, M-1, P, D, PUD, OS, SP-1, ES)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Commercial Land Uses) | 15% of the total wall height (including logo and copy) | 30% of the area of each building elevation where permitted | 75% of building façade length | — | 1 per business elevation facing street/public entrance | On each building elevation facing street or providing public entrance; no encroachment into ROW without permit | — | §18.23.080; §18.23.060 |
| Wall Sign (Light Manufacturing and Planned Commercial-Industrial Land Uses) | 15% of the total wall height (including logo and copy) | 15% of the area of each building elevation where permitted | 75% of building façade length | — | 1 per business elevation facing street/public entrance | On each building elevation facing street or providing public entrance; no encroachment into ROW without permit | — | §18.23.080; §18.23.060 |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | — | — | Minimum 15 feet from public ROW (exceptions with study); minimum 3 feet from vehicle traffic/parking; not within 250 feet of another freestanding on same property | 1 per street frontage | In landscaped area or planter | — | §18.23.080; §18.23.060.H |
| Freestanding Sign (Automobile Service Station) | 8 feet | — | — | Per general freestanding | 1 (freestanding or monument) | In landscaped area | — | §18.23.080; §18.23.060.H |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | Not over ROW without permit | 1 per primary façade adjacent to pedestrian walkway | Perpendicular to building façade (or 45 degrees at corner); ground-floor or above with direct access; min 8 feet clearance above walkway; max 5 feet projection from building; min 6 inches clear from structure; no over ROW without encroachment permit | — | Table 18.23.030.A; §18.23.080 |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | — | 70% of valance area | — | — | 1 per awning/canopy | On valance of awning/canopy; first-story occupancies only; may project over ROW in MX with Design Review | — | §18.23.080; §18.23.060.F |
| Canopy Sign (Automobile Service Station) | — | 20 square feet (not exceed 70% vertical face) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On canopy vertical face | — | §18.23.080 |
| Pump-top Video Display (Automobile Service Station) | — | 19 inches diagonal (viewable screen) | — | Minimum 40 feet to residential zone or use boundary | 1 per pump dispenser | On pump dispenser | — | Table 18.23.030.A; §18.23.080 |

### Mixed-Use Residential (MX)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Sign | — | 30 square feet (collective for all attached signs) | — | — | 1 or more (collective area limit) | Attached to building (includes wall, awning, canopy, directory; awning valance signs permitted with Design Review if over ROW) | — | §18.23.070; Table 18.23.030.A; §18.23.080; §18.23.060.F |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | 50 square feet | — | Minimum 3 feet from vehicle traffic/parking; no specific ROW setback | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage in landscaped area | — | §18.23.070; §18.23.060.H |
| Portable Sign | 36 inches | 12 square feet (collective) | 24 inches | Not extending into ROW or adjacent properties | 1 per business | Within building recesses or not obstructing traffic; not in parking spaces or ROW | — | Table 18.23.030.A; §18.23.090 |
| Nameplate Sign | — | — | — | — | As needed | On building or property | — | Table 18.23.030.A |
| Memorial Sign | — | — | — | — | As needed | On property | — | Table 18.23.030.A |
| Convenience Sign | — | — | — | — | As needed | On property | — | Table 18.23.030.A |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | As needed | Attached or freestanding | — | Table 18.23.030.A |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 45 square feet | — | Not in ROW | Multiple subject to approval | On-site during construction | — | Table 18.23.030.A; §18.23.090 |
| Real Estate Sign (On-Site Residential) | 6 feet | 8 square feet | — | Min 10 feet from curb face | As needed | On-site, min 10 feet from curb | — | §18.23.090 |
| Real Estate Sign (On-Site Commercial/Industrial) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | Min 10 feet from curb | As needed | On-site, min 10 feet from curb | — | §18.23.090 |
| Real Estate Sign (Open House Residential) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | Not impeding access; min 10 feet from curb for on-site | 1 on property + directionals + 2 flags | On property parkway + 1 directional at 2 closest intersections + 2 flags in parkway | — | §18.23.090 |
| Subdivision Sign | 12 feet | 50 square feet | — | Not in ROW | Per frontage | Along each street frontage of tract | — | Table 18.23.030.A; §18.23.090 |
| Banner Sign | — | 45 square feet | — | Not in ROW | As permitted | Attached to exterior building wall below eave/parapet; not on lights, vehicles, plants | — | Table 18.23.030.A; §18.23.090 |
| Special Event/Seasonal Commercial Sales Lot Sign | 8 feet | 100 square feet (collective) | — | — | 1 per commercial street frontage | On-site | — | Table 18.23.030.A; §18.23.090 |
| Portable Sign | 36 inches | 12 square feet (collective) | 24 inches | Not into ROW/properties | 1 per business | Within recesses or not obstructing flow; not in parking/ROW | — | Table 18.23.030.A; §18.23.090 |

## Prohibited signs in La Habra

- Animated signs are prohibited in all zones
- Billboard signs are prohibited in all zones
- Digital display signs are prohibited in all zones
- Electronic message signs are prohibited in all zones
- Feather signs are prohibited in all zones
- Flashing signs are prohibited in all zones
- Human advertisement signs are prohibited in all zones
- Inflatable advertising devices are prohibited in all zones
- Non-appurtenant signs are prohibited in all zones
- Off-site or off-premises signs are prohibited in all zones
- Revolving signs are prohibited in all zones
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zones
- Vehicle signs are prohibited in all zones
- No signs shall be erected or displayed on city property or in a public right-of-way except as specifically provided
- No person shall attach any item to private utility company poles without prior written approval from the utility company
- Any sign that does not meet the design standards of this chapter is prohibited unless deviations are permitted or conditionally permitted
- Signs shall not have blinking, flashing, or intermittent lights or other illumination devices that have a changing light intensity, brightness, or color (unless otherwise allowed)
- The use of colored lights in a manner that could be confused or interpreted as traffic control devices is prohibited
- No sign shall extend or project over any public sidewalk, street, alley or other public property unless otherwise permitted
- No sign shall be located in a manner which may obstruct or interfere with the view of a traffic signal or other traffic regulatory signs
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected in such a manner that will interfere with any opening, fire exit or standpipe
- Any signs which are not specifically listed in the sign matrix are prohibited unless determined substantially similar to a permitted or conditionally permitted sign

## Signs exempt from permit in La Habra

- Official notices issued by any court or public body or officer
- Official notices posted by any court or public body or officer in performance of a public duty or by any person giving legal notice
- Anything erected or installed for displaying notices posted by any public officer in performance of a public duty or by any person giving legal notice
- Directional, warning or information signs or structures required by or authorized by law or by federal, state, county, or city authority
- A structure erected near a city or county boundary which contains the name of such city or county
- Traffic or other municipal signs required by law, including railroad crossing signs, legal notices, and temporary emergency or non-advertising signs authorized by the city council
- The display of the flag of the city, United States or the state of California, or any structure used exclusively for displaying these flags

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign program is required for new multi-tenant shopping centers, office parks, other multi-tenant and mixed-use developments consisting of three or more separate suites/tenants that share the same parcel or structure and use common access and parking facilities
- A sign program is required for redesign, remodel, or redevelopment of existing multi-tenant or mixed-use developments that do not have an existing sign program adopted after the effective date of this chapter
- Multiple freestanding tenant signs shall be subject to the approval of a sign program
- Permitted signs shall be subject to the requirements of a sign program pursuant to Section 18.23.050
- Conditionally permitted signs may require a sign program if they deviate from design standards, processed as a conditional use permit
- Individual tenant sign proposals shall be approved by the property owner prior to submittal of a sign permit and shall comply with an approved sign program where applicable
- A sign program that complies with chapter requirements is processed as a design review; if it deviates or includes CUP signs, it is processed as a conditional use permit

## 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 La Habra — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=La+Habra+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-la-habra

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