# Sign Regulations in La Mirada, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** La Mirada, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/la-mirada
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-03
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/lamirada/latest/lamirada_ca/0-0-0-23429)

## At a glance

La Mirada, California regulates 14 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Individual business)s in the C-4 zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 32 square feet, with a Subject to clear-vision triangle and safe sight-distance; min street frontage 135 ft (Note 6). setback (Sec. Table 21.76.070 (C-4, Monument – Individual business); Notes 3,6,7,10; 21.76.080(b)-(c).). Most commercial signs in La Mirada require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-3, R-4 | 2 | 6 feet | 36 square feet | — |
| C-O, C-1 | 3 | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| C-4 | 6 | 15 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| C-F | 7 | 50 feet (measured from finished grade at base to highest projection) | 700 square feet per sign face (e.g., 14 ft x 48 ft), up to 2 faces | — |
| M-2 | 4 | 15 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 100 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### C-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building-attached Sign (Individual business) | — | Variable: 2.0 sq ft per linear foot of business frontage; also limited by 35% of wall area (Note 5). | — | — | 1 building-attached sign per business frontage for an individual business. | On building frontages facing a street, parking lot, or mall; not above roofline (21.76.080(a)(1)). | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-4, Building-attached (Individual business)); Notes 1,5; 21.76.070(b); 21.76.080(a)-(c); 21.76.050(13). |
| Building-attached Sign (Integrated development) | — | Variable: 2.0 sq ft per linear foot of each business frontage; must also be ≤35% of wall area (Note 5). | — | — | 1 building-attached sign per business frontage per tenant suite, with potential additional ancillary signs for large tenants per Note 12. | On tenant frontages facing street, parking lot, or mall; not above roofline. | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-4, Building-attached (Integrated development)); Notes 1,5,7,12; 21.76.070(b); 21.76.080(a)-(c). |
| Monument Sign (Individual business) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | Subject to clear-vision triangle and safe sight-distance; min street frontage 135 ft (Note 6). | 1 monument sign per street frontage for an individual business (where frontage and other conditions are met). | On-site, 1 per street frontage for qualifying parcels; may be in planter medians abutting driveway or within project driveway if safe sight-distance is maintained (21.76.080(b)). | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-4, Monument – Individual business); Notes 3,6,7,10; 21.76.080(b)-(c). |
| Monument Sign (Integrated development) | 6 feet | 64 square feet | — | As above, including clear-vision triangle; minimum street frontage 135 ft (Note 6). | 1 monument sign per street frontage for an integrated development. | On-site, 1 per street frontage for qualifying integrated developments; may be located in planter medians abutting driveway or within driveway, subject to safe sight-distance (21.76.080(b)). | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-4, Monument – Integrated development); Notes 3,6,7,10; 21.76.080(b)-(c). |
| Pylon Sign (Individual business) | 15 feet | 32 square feet | — | Minimum street frontage 150 ft (Note 6). Must observe clear-vision triangle and safe sight-distance (21.76.050(4); 21.76.080(b)). | 1 pylon sign per street frontage for an individual business, when parcel meets minimum frontage and area requirements. | On-site, 1 per street frontage for qualifying parcels. | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-4, Pylon – Individual business); Notes 3,6,7,10; 21.76.080(b)-(c). |
| Pylon Sign (Integrated development) | 15 feet | 64 square feet | — | Min street frontage 150 ft (Note 6); also 21.76.080(b) safe sight-distance and clear-vision triangle rules apply. | 1 pylon sign per street frontage for an integrated development, subject to frontage and area requirements. | On-site, 1 per street frontage for qualifying integrated developments. | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-4, Pylon – Integrated development); Notes 3,6,7,10; 21.76.080(b)-(c). |

### C-F

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building-attached Sign (Individual business) | — | Variable: 2.0 sq ft per linear foot of primary building frontage; must also be ≤35% of wall area (Note 5). | — | — | 1 building-attached sign per primary building frontage for each individual business. | On primary building frontage, defined as the building frontage facing street or, where multiple, the longest street frontage; where no street frontage, frontage with primary business entrance (21.76.020(9)); must face street, parking lot, or mall and cannot be above roofline (21.76.080(a)(1)). | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-F, Building-attached (Individual business)); Notes 1,5; 21.76.020(9); 21.76.070(b); 21.76.080(a)-(d). |
| Building-attached Sign (Integrated development) | — | Variable: 2.0 sq ft per linear foot of tenant’s primary building frontage; also ≤35% of wall area (Note 5). | — | — | 1 building-attached sign per business frontage per tenant suite, with possibility of additional ancillary signs for large tenants per Note 12. | On tenant frontages facing street, parking lot, or mall; not above roofline. | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-F, Building-attached (Integrated development)); Notes 1,5,7,12; 21.76.070(b); 21.76.080(a)-(d). |
| Monument Sign (Individual business) | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — | Minimum parcel freeway frontage 200 ft (21.76.080(d)(1)); also subject to clear-vision triangle and safe sight-distance; minimum parcel frontage 200 ft for any sign (Note 8). | 1 monument sign per street frontage for an individual business, provided frontage/area and CF conditions are met. | On-site, 1 per street frontage for qualifying parcels with minimum parcel freeway frontage 200 linear feet (21.76.080(d)(1)); may be in planter medians abutting a driveway or within project driveway, subject to safe sight-distance (21.76.080(b)). | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-F, Monument – Individual business); Notes 3,7,8,10; 21.76.080(b)-(d). |
| Monument Sign (Integrated development) | 8 feet | 100 square feet | — | Minimum 200 ft parcel frontage; subject to clear-vision triangle and safe sight-distance (21.76.050(4); 21.76.080(b)). | 1 monument sign per street frontage for an integrated development. | On-site, 1 per street frontage for qualifying integrated developments. | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-F, Monument – Integrated development); Notes 3,7,8,10; 21.76.080(b)-(d). |
| Pylon Sign (Individual business) | 30 feet | 50 square feet | — | Minimum parcel frontage 200 ft; minimum land area 6 acres for pylon; must observe clear-vision triangle and safe sight-distance. Pylon placement otherwise governed by standard building/setback rules and 21.76.080(b). | 1 pylon sign per street frontage for an individual business, where parcel meets 200-ft frontage, 6-acre minimum, and other CF conditions. | On-site, 1 per street frontage for qualifying parcels that meet CF and pylon requirements. | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-F, Pylon – Individual business); Notes 3,6,7,8,9,10; 21.76.080(b)-(d). |
| Pylon Sign (Integrated development) | 30 feet | 100 square feet | — | As above: minimum 200-ft parcel frontage, 6-acre minimum area, clear-vision triangle, safe sight-distance. | 1 pylon sign per street frontage for an integrated development, subject to CF frontage/area and sign-program requirements. | On-site, 1 per street frontage for qualifying integrated developments. | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-F, Pylon – Integrated development); Notes 3,6,7,8,9,10; 21.76.080(b)-(d). |
| Electronic Billboard | 50 feet (measured from finished grade at base to highest projection) | 700 square feet per sign face (e.g., 14 ft x 48 ft), up to 2 faces | — | Minimum 25 ft from any property line and any building; no portion may project beyond property line onto/over neighboring property, street, highway, or public right-of-way; minimum distance 1,000 ft to other electronic billboards on same property or same side of freeway; minimum 500 ft to existing non-electronic billboards; minimum clearance 16 ft from ground to bottom of sign; minimum property size 3 acres (21.76.140(7)(B)-(G), (K)). | No more than two double-sided electronic billboards per property (single parcel or contiguous parcels under common ownership) in the C-F district. | Only allowed in Freeway Commercial (C-F) Zoning District adjacent to the freeway (21.76.140(4)); prohibited on roofs, walls, attached/suspended from buildings, or within/over public right-of-way; must not be located where it would violate federal or state law (21.76.140(5)). | — | Table 21.76.070 (C-F, Electronic billboard); 21.76.130(c); 21.76.140(1)-(9). |

### M-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building-attached Sign (Individual business) | — | Variable: 1.0 sq ft per linear foot of primary building frontage; also limited to ≤35% of wall area (Note 5). | — | — | 1 building-attached sign per primary building frontage for an individual business, with potential for additional signs on very large buildings per Note 11 (area cap still applies). | On primary building frontage (longest street frontage; or frontage with primary entrance if no street frontage), facing street, parking lot, or mall; not above roofline (21.76.020(9); 21.76.080(a)(1)). | — | Table 21.76.070 (M-2, Building-attached (Individual business)); Notes 1,5,11; 21.76.020(9); 21.76.070(b); 21.76.080(a)-(c); 21.76.050(13). |
| Building-attached Sign (Integrated development) | — | Variable: 1.0 sq ft per linear foot of each tenant’s primary building frontage; also ≤35% of wall area (Note 5). | — | — | 1 building-attached sign per business frontage per tenant, plus potential ancillary signs for large tenants per Note 12; multiple signs may be allowed on very large buildings per Note 11 subject to area cap. | On tenant frontages facing street, parking lot, or mall; not above roofline. | — | Table 21.76.070 (M-2, Building-attached (Integrated development)); Notes 1,5,7,11,12; 21.76.070(b); 21.76.080(a)-(c). |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — | Minimum street frontage 135 ft for monument (Note 6); minimum parcel frontage 200 ft for any sign (Note 8); must maintain clear-vision triangle and safe sight-distance. | 1 monument sign per street frontage. | On-site, 1 per street frontage for qualifying parcels; may be located in planter medians abutting driveway or within project driveway, subject to safe sight-distance (21.76.080(b)). | — | Table 21.76.070 (M-2, Monument); Notes 3,6,7,8,10; 21.76.080(b)-(c). |
| Pylon Sign | 15 feet | 50 square feet | — | Minimum street frontage 150 ft; minimum parcel frontage 200 ft; minimum land area 6 acres; must respect clear-vision triangle and safe sight-distance. | 1 pylon sign per street frontage where frontage and area conditions are met. | On-site, 1 per street frontage for qualifying parcels. | — | Table 21.76.070 (M-2, Pylon); Notes 3,6,7,8,9,10; 21.76.080(b)-(c). |

## Prohibited signs in La Mirada

- Construction, installation, or modification of any non-exempt sign without a required building permit and zoning clearance (other than simple sign face copy change) is prohibited.
- Non-exempt signs without necessary and/or valid permits or approvals are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Any sign located within a required clear-vision triangle is prohibited.
- Off-site identification signs are prohibited, except government, civic, and real estate signs as provided in the chapter.
- Off-site advertising signs are prohibited, except electronic billboards permitted within the Freeway Commercial (C-F) zoning district under Section 21.76.140.
- Pole signs are prohibited (subject to any specific allowance noted in zoning tables and standards).
- Portable signs, including hand-held temporary signs, are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs erected without the permission of the owner or the owner’s agent of the property on which the sign is located are prohibited.
- Signs within or projecting over the public right-of-way are prohibited, except governmental or city-sponsored civic signs.
- Signs that imitate or resemble official traffic warning devices or signs, or that by color, location, or lighting may confuse or disorient vehicular or pedestrian traffic (excluding authorized on-site directional signs) are prohibited.
- Signs painted directly on an exterior wall, fence, fascia, or parapet are prohibited.
- Signs with exposed neon tubing or neon tubing enclosed in a sign cabinet with a clear sign face are prohibited, except exempt window signs.
- Neon signs, including signs with neon tubing enclosed in a sign cabinet with a clear sign face, are prohibited, except exempt window signs.
- Vehicle signs where the primary purpose or use of the vehicle is the display of advertising matter are prohibited; only incidental advertising on vehicles used for transportation purposes is allowed.
- Signs located within or over a public right-of-way, over the roofline of any building, or within any required clear-vision triangle are prohibited for non-commercial signs on private property.
- Temporary hand-held signs bearing a commercial message are prohibited at all locations in the city at all times.
- Any sign, advertising device, or handbill affixed on public property contrary to the chapter is subject to removal by the city and cost recovery from the responsible party.
- Electronic billboards may not be installed on a roof, projecting over a roof, on a wall, attached/integrated/suspended from a building, or within/encroaching over the public right-of-way, and may not be installed in any location that would violate applicable federal or state law.
- No new electronic billboard may be constructed or installed using relocation credits for billboards from landscaped freeway segments.
- Electronic billboards are prohibited outside the Freeway Commercial (C-F) zoning district and where not adjacent to the freeway.
- No billboard may display words or images prohibited by California Business and Professions Code Section 5402.
- No billboard may display flashing, shimmering, glittering, intermittent, or moving lights, except limited time/temperature/smog displays with a minimum 4-second interval.
- No billboard may include illumination or message changes that are in motion or that change or expose a message for less than four seconds; continuous motion or full motion video is prohibited.
- No billboard may emit audible sound, odor, or particulate matter.
- No billboard may simulate or imitate any directional, warning, danger, or information sign likely to be mistaken for a permitted traffic sign (e.g., using words such as “stop” or “slow down”).
- No electronic billboard may use red or blinking/intermittent light likely to be mistaken for warning or danger signals or impair the vision of travelers on adjacent roadways.
- No electronic billboard may be operated or maintained as an improper display as described in Business and Professions Code Section 5403.
- No electronic billboard may utilize technology that allows interaction with drivers, vehicles, or in-vehicle devices (e.g., RFID, GPS, etc.).
- No electronic billboard may display messaging for on-site uses for more than 20 percent of the time in any given hour.
- Electronic billboards are prohibited unless a development agreement has been approved and a site plan review application has been approved.
- Off-site signs are generally prohibited, except for nonconforming off-site signs legally established prior to April 7, 2022, and electronic billboards in the C-F district meeting Section 21.76.140.

## Signs exempt from permit in La Mirada

- Building/wall-mounted barber poles in non-residential zones are exempt from sign permit requirements of this chapter.
- City-sponsored civic signs for community entrance, identification, direction, and information, located off-premises on private property or in the public right-of-way with an encroachment permit, are exempt (up to 150 square feet and 15 feet high, non- or externally illuminated).
- One on-site temporary construction sign per site identifying individuals/firms connected with construction is exempt, within size/height and setback limits, and must be removed before issuance of an occupancy permit.
- On-site directional signs that do not promote or advertise a business, property, or product, limited to one per drive/entrance and within size/height limits, are exempt.
- Directory signs internal to an integrated development, within size and height limits, are exempt.
- Display board signs attached to a wall near the entrance to a non-residential use, within size limits, are exempt.
- Flags representing a country, state, or other civic entity, and decorative flags with no commercial message, are exempt.
- Governmental signs (temporary or permanent) for traffic direction, city entrance, or designation/direction to schools, hospitals, historical sites, or public service properties/facilities are exempt (non- or externally illuminated).
- One on-site garage/yard sale sign per sale, within size/height limits, displayed only during the sale and only with an approved garage sale permit, is exempt.
- Holiday decorations with no commercial message, removed within seven days after the holiday or event, are exempt.
- House numbers identifying the address of a residence or building, including curb numbers, within size limits, are exempt.
- Incidental signs without any commercial message (as defined in Section 21.76.020) are exempt.
- Interior signs within a building, mall, court, stadium, or enclosed lobby intended for interior viewing only are exempt.
- Memorial wall signs, historic markers, and building markers within size and illumination limits are exempt.
- Menu/order board signs for drive-in or drive-through businesses (up to two per business, with specified size/height and location adjacent to the drive) are exempt.
- Non-commercial signs on private property, meeting number, combined area, height limits, and location restrictions (not in/over ROW, not over roofline, not in clear-vision triangle), are exempt.
- Political event/demonstration signs displayed during the course of and at the site of a political event or demonstration are exempt.
- Political campaign signs pertaining to an election or ballot measure erected within 60 days before an election and removed within 10 days after are exempt.
- Real estate signs for sale or lease of property on private property, meeting setback, size, number, and illumination limits (including weekend open house signs under stated conditions), are exempt.
- Sign repair and maintenance that does not alter the type, size, or location of the sign is exempt.
- One residential nameplate per dwelling unit, within size limits, is exempt.
- On-site service station fuel pricing signs complying with California Business and Professions Code Section 20880 et seq. are exempt.
- Sign copy changes that simply replace the sign face without any structural alteration are exempt.
- Signs on bus benches and shelters are exempt.
- Temporary community activity signs approved by the community development director for up to 30 days are exempt.
- Time and temperature signs in non-residential zones within specified size limits are exempt.
- Vehicle signs that are attached to and integral to a vehicle or bicycle used directly for transportation purposes of a particular business (and not used primarily as a sign base) are exempt.
- Window signs that in total do not cover more than 25 percent of the total window area for each window (subject to any discretionary permit regulations) are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The community development director may require a comprehensive sign program for commercial and industrial development projects that establish leasable or saleable building space for more than one tenant.
- Monument and pylon signs for an integrated development may only be considered when included as part of an approved comprehensive sign program agreed upon by all affected property owners (Table 21.76.070, Note 7).
- Where more than one building-attached sign is permitted, the maximum allowable sign area includes the combined area of all non-exempt signs, which must be accounted for in any overall sign program or plan.
- Tenant suites/spaces within an integrated development that exceed 24,999 square feet of gross floor area may have one primary sign and up to four ancillary signs; if this conflicts with an approved Sign Program, the deviation is allowed without amending the Sign Program, with written authorization from the property owner or management company.
- Any sign that does not comply with the requirements of the chapter may not be permitted unless a variance is granted under Chapter 21.108.
- Any proposed sign that exceeds the numerical or square footage standards for exempt signs requires approval of a variance pursuant to Chapter 21.108.
- Electronic billboards require a development agreement approved by the city under Government Code Section 65864 et seq. before issuance of a building permit, and each billboard also requires a separate site plan review application.
- Applications for signs utilizing non-Roman alphabet must include a certification (under penalty of perjury) providing an English translation of all non-Roman characters; the sign/zoning permit application is not complete without this certification.

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

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