Understanding sign regulations in City of Inglewood, CA
Every outdoor sign in City of Inglewood is governed by the municipality’s sign ordinance, which sets how large a sign may be, how tall it may stand, how far it must sit from the property line, whether it may be illuminated, and which sign types are permitted in each zoning district. This page summarizes those requirements in plain language and links each value back to the section of the City of Inglewood code it came from.
Sign rules here are layered. The base zoning district — commercial, industrial, or residential — sets the default limits, and overlay districts such as historic or downtown districts can tighten them further. Because the most specific jurisdiction controls, a freestanding monument sign on a commercial parcel and a wall sign in a historic overlay can face very different limits even on the same street in City of Inglewood.
Use the figures below as a fast first check, then run a full address lookup to confirm the exact limits for a specific parcel in City of Inglewood, California. The full report also covers permit requirements, prohibited sign types, and illumination rules — each cited to the source ordinance so your permit application can reference it directly.
Before you order or install a sign in City of Inglewood, confirm three things: the maximum sign area and height allowed in the parcel’s zoning district, the minimum setback from the right-of-way, and whether the sign type you want — freestanding, monument, wall, projecting, or awning — is permitted there at all. Many permit denials come from missing a setback or an overlay-district restriction rather than from the size of the sign itself, so checking the governing section before applying saves a costly resubmittal.
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Max ground sign height
Monument: 6 ft; Pole sign: 25 ft
Awning Signs
Awning Projection Clearance
At least 8 ft vertical clearance above sidewalk or grade; awning projection distance is not specified.
Billboards
Prohibited Zones
Billboards and other off-site advertising are prohibited, except for listed exceptions, in all residential zones, R-M, P, P-1, C-1, C-R, CC, O-S, S-1, S-2, M-1L, and public, flood control, or railroad rights-of-way.
Billboard Special Use Permit
A Special Use Permit is required to install any new, relocated, or enlarged billboard sign or add a second face to an existing billboard sign.
3 sq ft per lineal foot of lot frontage in the commercial C-2/C-3 zones.
Building Sign Illumination
Wall signs may be externally illuminated only if the spotlight devices are minimally noticeable and do not shine directly on the public right-of-way or neighboring property; internally lit rules apply to pole and projecting signs, not wall signs.
Consent
Private Property Posting Consent
Posting or affixing a notice, placard, bill, card, poster, sticker, banner, sign, advertising, or similar attention-getting device on private premises requires written consent from the owner, agent, or occupant and compliance with Article 23.
Definitions
Pole Sign
A pole sign is a free-standing sign elevated above the ground by one or more poles or other supporting structure.
Monument Sign
A monument sign is a free-standing sign typically located upon or just above the ground.
Drive-through menu or product boards in the listed commercial/mixed-use zones may not exceed 6 feet high if freestanding, must be adjacent to the drive-through aisle, may not be within 20 feet of the street, and are limited to 2 per establishment.
Enforcement
Violations Prohibited
It is unlawful to erect, install, place, replace, move, or enlarge signs in violation of Article 23.
Exemptions
Public Notices
Public notices posted under law, governmental and public-utility signs, and legally required warning or information signs for public health and safety are permit-exempt.
Parking Directional No Trespassing
No trespassing, parking, and on-site directional signs that do not advertise merchandise or services are permit-exempt if they do not exceed 6 square feet.
Illuminated pole and projecting signs must be internally lighted only; monument signs, wall signs, and billboards may be externally illuminated only if spotlight devices are minimally noticeable and do not shine directly on public right-of-way or neighboring property.
Marquee
Marquee Letter Clearance
Marquee sign letters must be flat to the surface, no more than 2 feet high, not extend beyond the marquee, and have at least 8 feet vertical clearance above grade.
Measurement
Wall Sign Area
Wall sign area is the smallest area enclosed by no more than 8 connected straight lines around lettering, words, figures, lights, painted surfaces, borders, or fringes.
Freestanding Projecting Roof Area
Free-standing, projecting, and roof sign area is calculated using all surfaces of all sign faces.
Multi Tenant
Tenant Sign Allocation
For multi-tenant buildings, lots, parcels, or shopping centers, the property owner or authorized agent allocates sign area, and total tenant and other signs may not exceed the maximum sign area or sign types permitted for a single property in the applicable zone.
Murals
Mural Wall Signs
A mural wall sign may cover up to 75% of a building or fascia wall and only one exterior building wall or one side of a freestanding wall; mural signs cannot have exposed illumination.
Nonconforming
Abandoned Signs
A nonconforming sign may not remain more than 60 days after the related business discontinues site use, and a conforming sign advertising a prior tenant or use may not remain more than 60 days after a new tenant or use occupies the property.
Alteration Damage
Nonconforming signs may not be enlarged or altered except to conform; repairs are allowed, but restoration after damage is allowed only if the damage is estimated below 50% of the sign's before-damage condition.
Sign approval and permits from the Planning Division and the Building and Safety Division are required before erecting, installing, placing, replacing, moving, or enlarging any sign unless Article 23 specifies otherwise.
Separate Permit
A separate permit is required for each sign or set of signs to be installed or altered.
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Prohibited
Unlisted Signs
Any sign, sign structure, or advertising device not specifically permitted in Article 23 is prohibited.
Traffic Safety Hazards
Signs that resemble or conflict with traffic-control devices, obstruct pedestrian or vehicular views at intersections or driveways, or create glare or other hazardous distractions are prohibited.
Projecting signs, marquees, and awnings require at least 8 feet vertical clearance above sidewalk or grade; for projecting or pole signs only, public-right-of-way projection may increase one inch per added inch of clearance over 8 feet but may not exceed 2.5 feet.
Public Property
Public Places And Objects
Signs in public places and on public objects are regulated by Sec. 12-83; authorized advertising in public places and right-of-way banners are separately governed by Secs. 12-84 and 12-84.5.
Real Estate
Real Estate Signs
Real estate signs are regulated under Sec. 12-79; off-site directional signs are prohibited and roof signs are not permitted for real estate sign use.
Scope
Article Purpose
Article 23 establishes minimum standards for signs, sign structures, and exterior advertising devices to safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare by regulating design, materials, construction, size, height, illumination, location, and maintenance.
Supergraphics
Supergraphic Area Projection
Super graphic wall signs require a negotiated agreement; they may not cover more than 75% of a wall surface, must be parallel to a permanent exterior building wall, and may project no more than 18 inches.
Supergraphic Location
A super graphic wall sign must be on a major arterial street located within 1,000 feet of a freeway and may not be on a minor, collector, local, or other street.
Temporary promotional banners and bunting for openings or closures may be displayed up to 30 days or periods totaling no more than 60 days per calendar year; total temporary sign area may not exceed 50% of allowed permanent sign area and a temporary promotional advertising sign permit is required.
Sidewalk Items Location
Temporary freestanding sidewalk signs and similar advertising items may be placed on sidewalks directly outside C or M zone businesses with less than 18 inches between the building wall and sidewalk, but may not project more than 18 inches into the public right-of-way or reduce pedestrian clear space below 6 feet.
Yes. Temporary promotional banners/bunting are allowed with a permit; temporary sidewalk advertising items are also allowed in limited C/M-zone locations.
Temp Sign Rules
Banners/bunting: up to 30 days, or up to 60 days total per calendar year, with total temporary sign area capped at 50% of allowed permanent sign area and a permit required; temporary sidewalk items: only during business hours, max 5 ft high and 18 in by 6 ft, max 18 in projection into the right-of-way, and must leave 6 ft of clear pedestrian space.
Venue Freeway
Special Venue Freeway Signs
Special venue freeway signs are separately regulated under Sec. 12-81 and require a development agreement and compliance with the section's location, agreement, revenue, materials, safety, and indemnity requirements.
Wall Signs
Wall Sign Construction
Permitted wall signs must use individually cut, molded, or embossed lettering or be recessed into the facade, except neon wall signs; a business logo or symbol may be up to 4 square feet and project up to 9 inches.
Window Signs
Window Sign Allowable Area
20% of total street-facing window area, or 5% if wall signage is present.
Zone Ac M
Ac M Sign Area Height
In A-C, M-1, and M-2 zones, total sign area may not exceed 1.5 square feet per lineal foot of lot frontage, with a Manchester Boulevard exception to use C-2 standards; no sign or advertising structure may exceed 25 feet high unless attached as a wall sign.
Zone C1 Cc Hc Mu1 Rm
Sign Area
In C-1, CC, H-C, MU-1, and R-M zones, total sign surface area on a lot or parcel may not exceed 3 square feet per lineal foot of lot frontage.
Attached Signs Only
In C-1, CC, H-C, MU-1, and R-M zones, signs must be attached parallel to the building wall and project no more than 12 inches, subject to limited exceptions.
Within 200 feet of the public right-of-way in the C-R zone, total sign area may not exceed 0.5 square foot per lineal foot of frontage.
Cr Pole Monument Limits
In the C-R zone within 200 feet of public right-of-way, only one pole sign per frontage is allowed, with a maximum 25 feet height and 200 square feet per face; monument signs may not exceed 15 feet high; projecting signs are prohibited.
In the C-S zone, total sign area may not exceed 4 square feet per lineal foot of lot frontage, and no sign or advertising structure may exceed 40 feet high unless attached as a wall sign.
Cs Freestanding Window
In the C-S zone, no more than one pole sign or one projecting/monument sign is allowed per lot or parcel, with a 6-foot monument height limit; window signs follow the 20%/5% limits.
Zone Mu C2 C3
Sign Area And Height
In MU-1A, MU-2, MU-2A, MU-3, MU-4, MU-A, MU-C, C-N, C-2, and C-3 zones, total sign area may not exceed 3 square feet per lineal foot of frontage, and no sign or advertising structure may exceed 25 feet high unless attached as a wall sign.
Freestanding Limit
In MU-1A, MU-2, MU-2A, MU-3, MU-4, MU-A, MU-C, C-N, C-2, and C-3 zones, one pole sign or, instead, one projecting or monument sign is allowed per lot or parcel in addition to wall signs; qualifying corner lots with at least 200 feet of frontage per street may have one monument sign for each frontage.
In R-1, R-1 1/2, and R-2 zones, signs and advertising devices are generally prohibited except real estate signs, political signs, temporary construction signs, decorations, and permitted-business signs in existing commercial structures meeting R-M standards.
R3 R4 P P1 Nameplates
In R-3, R-4, P, and P-1 zones, nameplates may not exceed 2 square feet and building-name identification signs for multiple-unit dwellings and similar permitted uses may not exceed 20 square feet.
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