Are LED Signs Allowed in City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California? A Guide to Permits, Sizes, and Zoning

The great news is that LED/EMC signs are allowed in the City of Los Angeles when placed as on-site signs and designed within the City’s sign standards. Your total sign area depends on your site’s assigned Sign Package (1 or 2) and your Use District. Digital displays (EMCs) are permitted in Sign Package 1 but prohibited in Sign Package 2. Brightness must be controlled, freeway-adjacent sites face extra limits, and off-site (billboard-type) digital displays are largely prohibited. Below you’ll find the key rules in plain English and the exact code references—so you can plan confidently and permit smoothly.

Sign Regulations Overview

Category	Residential / Agricultural / Open Space	Commercial / Industrial / Institutional
Total Sign Area	Up to 30 sq. ft. total per lot	4 sq. ft. per foot of street frontage under Sign Package 1 (auto-oriented areas); or 4 sq. ft. per foot of building frontage under Sign Package 2 (pedestrian areas).
Wall Signs	✅ Allowed – up to 20 sq. ft. each; non-illuminated or soft-lit only.	✅ Allowed – total up to 2 sq. ft. per ft. of street frontage + 1 sq. ft. per ft. of building frontage (SP1); individual signs may reach 80 sq. ft. (SP2).
Monument Signs	✅ Allowed – up to 9 sq. ft. per face, 6 ft height, 1 per lot.	✅ Allowed – up to 75 sq. ft. per face (SP1) or 32 sq. ft. per face (SP2); 8 ft height; spacing & setback apply.
Pole Signs	⚠️ Limited – only in Sign Package 1, max 9 sq. ft., 6 ft high.	✅ Allowed – in SP1 only; up to 400 sq. ft. per face, 25–42 ft high (based on frontage); 1 per 200 ft frontage; none in SP2.
Projecting Signs	🚫 Rarely permitted	✅ Allowed – up to 300 sq. ft. per face (SP1) or 48 sq. ft. (SP2); 8 ft min clearance; spacing rules apply.
Roof Signs	🚫 Not allowed	✅ Allowed (SP1 only) – up to 300 sq. ft., 2 ft below roof peak; open-panel roof signs (SP2 only) up to 80 sq. ft.
Window Signs	🚫 Not allowed	✅ Allowed – up to 10% of window area per pane or group of panes.
Yard Signs	✅ Allowed (small, ground-mounted)	✅ Allowed; often used for on-site promotions.
Digital / LED (EMC) Signs	🚫 Not allowed	✅ Allowed only in Sign Package 1 (auto corridors). Prohibited in SP2. Must comply with illumination and motion limits.
Brightness / Illumination	Max 3.0 footcandles above ambient at property line; no flashing/strobe.	Same standard: ≤3.0 footcandles above ambient; brightness must adjust to light conditions; no flashing or strobe permitted.
Freeway Proximity	N/A	Signs within 2,000 ft of freeway need Building & Safety + LADOT clearance proving they’re not viewed primarily from the freeway.
Temporary Signs	✅ Allowed (most need permit); 30 days/install, 90 days/year. Political/ideological signs exempt.	✅ Allowed; same time limits apply; business promo banners often permitted with building permit.
Off-Site / Billboard Signs	🚫 Prohibited	🚫 Prohibited citywide, except when authorized by a Sign District, Specific Plan, or Relocation Agreement.
Prohibited Features	No flashing, inflatable, sound, odor, or vehicle-mounted signs.	Same; plus supergraphics, off-site digital billboards, or motion displays unless in approved Sign District.
Maintenance / Abandonment	Must be kept clean and safe; remove within 90 days of business closure.	Same; applies to all sign types citywide.

General Sign Rules

The Los Angeles sign code (Ordinance 188,418) regulates both traditional and digital signage to maintain traffic safety and neighborhood character.

Intent of the law:

Prevent distraction and ensure public safety.
Balance visibility and legibility for businesses.
Preserve the visual environment through size, placement, and illumination limits.

Applicability:
All exterior and illuminated signs — including LED, monument, pole, and wall-mounted signs — require a building permit and, if illuminated, an electrical permit.

LED / EMC Sign Brightness Rules

All illuminated and digital signs must comply with Los Angeles’ strict light intensity standards:

Lighting Standard	Rule
Maximum Brightness	May not exceed 3.0 footcandles above ambient light measured at the property line.
Automatic Dimming	Must include brightness sensors to adjust to ambient conditions (day/night).
Motion / Flashing	Flashing, strobe, scrolling, or animated effects are prohibited.
Freeway Exposure	Digital signs within 2,000 ft of a freeway must prove they are not visible primarily from freeway travel lanes.
Nighttime Adjustment	Must remain static for a minimum of 6 seconds per message and not exceed 250 nits (recommended standard).

Allowed Sign Types by Zone

Zone Category	What’s Allowed	Typical Use
Residential / Agricultural	Non-illuminated wall or monument signs only (max 9 sq. ft. per face, 6 ft height).	Schools, churches, residential complexes.
Commercial / Industrial (SP1 zones)	EMC / LED monument and pole signs allowed. Max 75–400 sq. ft. depending on frontage and sign type.	Shopping centers, auto dealerships, gas stations.
Pedestrian / Mixed-Use (SP2 zones)	LED and digital displays prohibited. Only static illuminated wall or canopy signs allowed.	Urban storefronts, walkable corridors.

Permit Requirements

All permanent or illuminated signs require:

Building Permit (Department of Building and Safety)
Electrical Permit (if sign is illuminated)
Zoning Clearance verifying compliance with sign package (SP1 or SP2)
DOT Review if near a freeway or intersection (visibility evaluation)

Digital displays cannot be installed on residential-zoned lots or within 2,000 ft of freeways unless LADBS and LADOT confirm they are not freeway-facing.

Temporary & Noncommercial Signs

Temporary banners, streamers, or posters require a building permit unless they contain political or noncommercial messages.

May be displayed up to 30 days at a time, and no more than 90 days per year.
Must not exceed the area limits per district and cannot obstruct visibility.

Prohibited Signs

Off-site billboards or advertising displays
Flashing, animated, strobe, or video-based displays
Inflatable or vehicle-mounted signs
Signs with sound, odor, or moving human/animal figures
Any sign in a visibility triangle or within 2 ft of the roadway edge

External Reference Links

🗺️ Los Angeles Zoning & Parcel View
📘 Los Angeles Zoning Sign Code
📝 Permit Application Portal

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