# Sign Regulations in West Hollywood, California

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Hollywood, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/west-hollywood
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43907401#43907401)

## At a glance

West Hollywood, California regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Wall or Monument Signs in the Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4) zoning district are capped at Below edge of roof; 42 in. monument tall and 25 sq. ft. maximum per sign (Sec. Table 3-11, Sign Standards for Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4)). Most commercial signs in West Hollywood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4) | 8 | Below edge of roof; 42 in. monument | 25 sq. ft. maximum per sign | — |
| Non-Residential Zoning Districts (CN1, CN2, CC1, CC2, CA, CR, SSP, PF) | 12 | 48 in. | 50 sq. ft. total, but shall not exceed 25% of any window area if located in window. | — |
| Sunset Specific Planning Zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| CR zone | 1 | — | No larger than 500 square feet in size | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | The lowest point of a blade or bracket signs shall be at least eight feet above finished grade. | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Monument Sign | Below edge of roof; 42 in. monument | 25 sq. ft. maximum per sign | — | — | 1 for each street frontage | Affixed to wall, or placed within a landscaped area near building entrance | — | Table 3-11, Sign Standards for Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4) |
| Wall or Elevated Monument Sign | Below edge of roof; 36 in. freestanding | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 for each street frontage | Affixed to wall, or placed within a landscaped area near building entrance | — | Table 3-11, Sign Standards for Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4) |
| Wall or Elevated Monument Sign | Below edge of roof; 36 in. freestanding | 1 sq. ft. for each lineal ft. of building frontage; 25 sq. ft. maximum | — | — | 1 for each tenant space | Affixed to wall, or placed within a landscaped area near tenant entrance | — | Table 3-11, Sign Standards for Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4) |
| Wall or Elevated Monument Sign | Below edge of roof; 36 in. freestanding | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 for each tenant space | Affixed to wall, or placed within a landscaped area near building entrance | — | Table 3-11, Sign Standards for Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4) |
| Wall or Elevated Monument Sign; Changeable Copy Sign | Below edge of roof; 36 in. freestanding | 4 sq. ft. maximum per sign | — | — | 1 for each street frontage | Affixed to wall, or placed within a landscaped area near building entrance | — | Table 3-11, Sign Standards for Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4) |
| Wall or Free-standing Bracket Sign; Changeable Copy Sign | Below edge of roof; 36 in. freestanding | Identification sign: 0.5 sq. ft. for each linear ft. of primary building frontage, 25 sq. ft. maximum per sign. Changeable copy sign: 15 sq. ft. maximum. | — | — | 2 identification signs per use, 1 changeable copy sign per façade | Affixed to wall, or placed within a landscaped area near building entrance | — | Table 3-11, Sign Standards for Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4) |
| Wall and/or Window, Awning/Canopy Blade/Bracket, Free-standing Bracket or Monument | Below edge of roof; 36 in. freestanding | 1 sq. ft. for each lineal ft. of tenant frontage; 25 sq. ft. maximum | — | — | 2 for each tenant space | Affixed to wall, or placed within a landscaped area near tenant entrance. Allowed only on ground floor frontage. | — | Table 3-11, Sign Standards for Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4) |
| Wall and/or Window, Blade/Bracket, Free-standing Bracket or Monument | 10 feet above grade. 6 ft. for freestanding signs | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Near vehicular and/or pedestrian access to the building | — | Table 3-11, Sign Standards for Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4) |

### Non-Residential Zoning Districts (CN1, CN2, CC1, CC2, CA, CR, SSP, PF)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall and/or Window, Awning/Canopy Blade/Bracket, Free-standing Bracket or Monument | Below edge of roof. 6 ft. for free-standing signs. | 1 sq. ft. for each linear ft. of primary business frontage. Corner parcels: 1 additional sq. ft. for each linear ft. of side street frontage, 25 sq. ft. maximum for signs on side elevation. | — | — | 3 per primary business frontage.1 per side street frontage | Near main entrance. Shall not cover doors, windows, or architectural details. | — | Table 3-12, Sign Standards for Non-Residential Zoning Districts (CN1, CN2, CC1, CC2, CA, CR, SSP, PF) |
| Wall and/or Window, Awning/Canopy, Blade/Bracket | 8 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per secondary business frontage | Near secondary entrance | — | Table 3-12, Sign Standards for Non-Residential Zoning Districts (CN1, CN2, CC1, CC2, CA, CR, SSP, PF) |
| Wall and/or Window, Awning/Canopy, Blade/Bracket | Below edge of roof. 6 ft. for freestanding signs. | 1 sq. ft. for each linear ft. of primary business frontage. | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Near main entrance | — | Table 3-12, Sign Standards for Non-Residential Zoning Districts (CN1, CN2, CC1, CC2, CA, CR, SSP, PF) |
| Wall or Monument | Below edge of roof. 6 ft. for monument. | 1 sq. ft. for each linear ft. of building façade. 25 sq. ft. maximum per sign. | — | — | 1 sign for each street frontage | Near main entrance to building or project | — | Table 3-12, Sign Standards for Non-Residential Zoning Districts (CN1, CN2, CC1, CC2, CA, CR, SSP, PF) |
| Wall | 6 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Near main entrances | — | Table 3-12, Sign Standards for Non-Residential Zoning Districts (CN1, CN2, CC1, CC2, CA, CR, SSP, PF) |
| Wall or Canopy | Below edge of roof | 10 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | 1 per building frontage and 1 per canopy facing a street. 2 signs maximum per street frontage. | On building façade or canopy | — | Table 3-12, Sign Standards for Non-Residential Zoning Districts (CN1, CN2, CC1, CC2, CA, CR, SSP, PF) |
| Monument | 48 in. | 30 sq. ft. per face. 2 faces maximum . | — | — | 1 per use | Shall not create hazard at driveways or corners. | — | Table 3-12, Sign Standards for Non-Residential Zoning Districts (CN1, CN2, CC1, CC2, CA, CR, SSP, PF) |
| Wall | Below edge of roof unless on architectural element that extends above roof edge. See additional requirements. | 2 sq. ft. of sign area per linear ft. of building frontage. 200 sq. ft. maximum total sign area. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | None | — | Table 3-12, Sign Standards for Non-Residential Zoning Districts (CN1, CN2, CC1, CC2, CA, CR, SSP, PF) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Blade or Bracket Sign | The lowest point of a blade or bracket signs shall be at least eight feet above finished grade. | — | — | — | — | Placed only on a ground floor façade, near the main entrance of the business, except for businesses located above the ground level with direct exterior pedestrian access. | — | § 19.34.050(B), Blade/Bracket Signs |
| Wall Sign | Shall not project above the edge of the roof of a structure | — | — | — | — | Shall not be placed to obstruct any portion of a window, doorway, transom, or other architectural detail. | — | § 19.34.050(H), Wall Signs |

## Prohibited signs in West Hollywood

- No sign shall encroach into a public right-of-way, except that a blade or bracket sign or awning attached to a building façade may project a maximum of three feet over a public sidewalk, if the lowest part of the sign is at least eight feet above the sidewalk surface, with the approval of the City Engineer.
- Signs shall not have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights, or other illuminating devices that have a changing light intensity, brightness, or color, except for large screen video signs approved in compliance with Section 19.34.080(H), and creative signs approved in compliance with Section 19.34.060.
- Signs shall not use colored lights or other design elements that may be confused with or mistaken for traffic-control devices.
- Reflective type bulbs and incandescent lamps that exceed 15 watts shall not be used on the exterior surface of signs so that the face of the bulb or lamp is visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property.
- Permanent signs that advertise continuous sales or special prices shall not be allowed.
- Signs erected in a manner that a portion of their surface or supports will interfere with the free use of a fire escape, exit or standpipe, or obstruct a required ventilator, door, stairway, or window above the first story, or create other hazards.
- Signs using words, colors, symbols, or characters in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses pedestrian or vehicular traffic and safety.
- Vehicle signs attached to or painted on motor vehicles that are parked on or adjacent to property for more than 24 consecutive hours, the principal purpose of which is to attract attention to a product sold or business located on the property.
- Inflated signs, balloons, and figures.
- Mobile billboards.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Hollywood

- On-site business identification signs and on-site business window signs or interior advertising displays on or inside any premises where tobacco products are legally sold.
- Signs or advertising displays on commercial vehicles used for transporting tobacco products.
- Signs or advertising displays on any public bus or taxicab.
- Signs or advertising displays which educate the public about tobacco products and do not propose a commercial transaction.
- Advertising display or promotion that is worn as clothing by an individual.
- Flags of the United States of America and other nations, states, counties, or municipalities, and flags of incorporated nonprofit organizations or service clubs.
- Official and legal notices required by a court or governmental agency.
- Any sign erected by the city.
- A sign erected by a federal or state agency to the extent that the city is precluded from regulation by the doctrine of preemption.
- A sign on a historic structure or the adjacent right-of-way in compliance with a city program.
- Off-site signs that are part of and accessory to bus shelters, transit shelters, pay phones, trash receptacles, and other similar street furniture located in the public right-of-way and installed by the city or in compliance with an agreement with the city.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign program shall be required whenever two or more separate tenant spaces are to be created on the same parcel.
- A comprehensive sign program shall be required for a new project with five or more non-exempt signs.
- A comprehensive sign program shall be required when two or more new signs are proposed during any 12-month period at an existing business with five or more non-exempt signs.
- The Community Development Director may determine that a comprehensive sign program is needed because of special project characteristics.

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

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