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Sign Code Summary

City of Lakewood, CA

Local sign ordinance requirements — free, cited to the source section.

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Understanding sign regulations in City of Lakewood, CA

Every outdoor sign in City of Lakewood 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 Lakewood 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 Lakewood.

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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, 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: not specified; Pylon: 25 ft
Ground sign setback
Monument: not specified; Pylon: No sign shall be located within 50 feet of any land zoned for residential use

Awning Signs

Awning Sign Sf Calc
Under-canopy signs shall not exceed 4 square feet in area per face.
Awning Projection Clearance
Minimum clearance above grade of 8 feet over walkways and 12 feet over driveways for under-canopy signs.

Building Signs

Building Sign Formula
Area is calculated as the entire area within a single continuous perimeter composed of squares or rectangles that enclose the extreme limits of writing, representation, logo, or any figure of similar character, together with any frame, background area, structural trim, or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate such sign from the background against which it is placed
Building Sign Illumination
No sign over 4 square feet in area shall be wholly or partially illuminated by unshielded lighting of any type

Definitions

Under Canopy Sign Definition
Any sign that is suspended below a canopy perpendicular to the nearest elevation
Unshielded Lighting Definition
Illumination whose source is exposed to view and is not arranged so that the direct rays of light are only shining on the sign face
Allowable Sign Area Definition
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Allowed Sign Definition
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Changeable Copy Sign Definition
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Church Sign Definition
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Conditional Use Permit Required Definition
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Construction Sign Definition
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Directional Sign Definition
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Drive Through Sign Definition
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Electronic Message Board Definition
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Existing Sign Definition
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High Free Standing Sign Definition
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Incidental Sign Area Definition
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Light Pole Banners Installed On City Property Definition
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Off Premise Sign Definition
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Off Premises Sign Or Outdoor Advertising Definition
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On Premises Sign Definition
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Permanent Sign Definition
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Political Sign Definition
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Projecting Sign Definition
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Real Estate Sign Definition
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Sign Definition
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Wall Sign Definition
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Window Sign Definition
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23 more definitions rules in the full report →

General Info

Jurisdiction Name
City of Lakewood, CA

General Standards

Nonconforming Sign Abandonment
A nonconforming sign may be abandoned if the site is vacant or unoccupied, not offered for sale or lease, and there is no active use of the property for one year or more
Nonconforming Sign Replacement
Any sign which pertains to any occupant or business unrelated to the premises' present occupant or business, or a sign which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies shall be either removed or replaced with a blank panel within 10 days following the business closing or following the referenced time, date, event, or other purpose
Sign Maintenance
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Triangular Safety Area Dimensions
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Triangular Safety Area Third Side
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Limitations On Permanent Sign Requirement
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Real Estate Sign Requirement
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Roof Line Requirement
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6 more general standards rules in the full report →

Ground Signs

Ground Sign Type
Monument and pylon/pole
Ground Sign Formula
Monument: not specified; Pylon: not specified
Ground Sign Max Height
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Ground Sign Setback
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Ground Sign Max Height
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Ground Sign Setback From Residential
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Light Pole Banner Rules
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5 more ground signs rules in the full report →

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Illumination

Sign Lighting Prohibited
permanent signs: No sign shall use mirrors reflecting a direct light source, or utilize flashing, blinking, or "running" lights, except as authorized in changeable message signs

Permit Process

Triangulation Requirements
Each side of the triangle forming the corner angle shall be 15 feet in length; The third side of said triangle shall be a straight line connecting the two mentioned points
Temporary Sign Approval Duration
temporary signs: Temporary sign approval shall specify a duration with a final date for the sign to be removed
Temporary Sign Removal Deadline
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Sign Review Required Permit Requirement
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Window Sign Permit Requirement
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3 more permit process rules in the full report →

Prohibited Signs

Political Signs Rules
political signs: Unlighted political signs shall be allowed without permit prior to an election and up to ten (10) days after the same election, provided that no sign is located within the vision clearance triangle specified in Section 9503

Temporary Signs

Temp Signs Allowed
Yes, permit required
Temp Sign Rules
Max area: not specified; Max height: not specified; Max duration: specified with final removal date; Permit: required
Other Temporary Sign Review Requirement
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Staff Review Of Sign Requirement
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2 more temporary signs rules in the full report →

Variance Appeals

Development Review Board Review Of Sign Review Requirement
Development Review Board Review of Signs: All permanent sign applications and any applications for appeal of staff decisions for temporary signs shall be reviewed by the Development Review Board in accordance with Part 18, of Chapter 3, of Article IX of this Code.

Window Signs

Window Sign Allowable Area
Graphics allowing a view of the outside from the building interior are allowed and not subject to percentage restrictions

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