Beverly Hills — Signage

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Beverly Hills regulates on-premise signs through its zoning code, with district- and use-specific rules that can add or limit what the citywide sign regulations allow. In several places, the zoning code explicitly points back to the city’s general sign regulations in “chapter 4 of this title” for definitions and baseline rules, then layers on district-specific standards. Applicants should read sign rules alongside the broader Beverly Hills Zoning, applicable development standards, any overlay districts, and—when applicable—design review.

How the code organizes sign rules

• The zoning code’s district articles can impose additional or different sign limits. For example, the C-5 zone adopts the citywide sign definitions and requirements in “chapter 4 of this title” and then sets tighter, place-specific standards for wall, projecting, freestanding, and identification signs (§ 10-3-2014) .
• Some uses in residential districts (e.g., multiple-family congregate housing) prohibit any exterior signage for on-site convenience retail components (§ 10-3-1289.C) .
• In designated specific plan areas (e.g., 9900 Wilshire, Beverly Hilton, One Beverly Hills), the specific plan governs instead of the usual zoning or citywide sign rules unless the plan says otherwise (§ 10-3-1571; § 10-3-1581) .

District-by-District Standards

C-5 Civic Center Commercial (C-5)

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: C-5 consists of defined sites along and near Civic Center Drive, Foothill Road, Third Street, Alden Drive, and Maple Drive (listed by corners and frontages in the code) (§ 10-3-2008 context; site list in the C-5 article) .
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key sign standards:
  • Citywide sign rules and definitions in “chapter 4 of this title” apply unless the C-5 article states otherwise (§ 10-3-2014) .
  • Dining signage on Maple Drive: No signage for dining facilities along the Maple Drive frontage of any C-5 building (§ 10-3-2015) .
  • Wall signs: Max height 25 ft above finished grade; max area 50 sq ft per wall sign (§ 10-3-2016) .
  • Projecting (blade) signs: Allowed only as business identification (not building identification); min 8 ft clearance above sidewalk; max 6 in thickness; max 30 in projection; no internal illumination or exposed-tube surface lighting (§ 10-3-2017) .
  • Freestanding (monument) signs: Prohibited unless the site has at least 250 linear ft of frontage on a single street; max height 5 ft; no pole signs; materials must be compatible with the building; letters carved or individual; lighting must be external or rear-letter only (§ 10-3-2018) .
  • Identification sign area:
    • Building identification signs: 1.0 sf of sign area per linear foot of building frontage; for retail uses on Civic Center Drive only, 0.5 sf/lf (§ 10-3-2019) .
    • Business identification signs: 1.0 sf of sign area per linear foot of occupied ground-floor frontage; for retail uses on Civic Center Drive only, 0.5 sf/lf (§ 10-3-2019) .

Multiple-Family Congregate Housing (Article 12.8; in multiple-family zones)

• Where it applies: To multiple-family congregate housing sites for the elderly or disabled where permitted by underlying zoning (R-4, R-4X, etc.; see Beverly Hills Land Use).
• Key sign standards: Any convenience retail or service uses inside such facilities “shall not have exterior signage” (§ 10-3-1289.C) .

Specific Plan Areas (9900 Wilshire, Beverly Hilton, One Beverly Hills Overlay)

• Where it applies: Parcels inside adopted specific plans.
• Key sign standards: Development (including signage) within these specific plan areas is governed by the specific plan; the usual zoning and Chapter 4 sign rules do not apply unless the specific plan says they do (§ 10-3-1571; § 10-3-1581) . Verify with the jurisdiction.

Other districts (e.g., R-1, R-2, C-3, C-2, CN)

• Not found in retrieved materials. The C-5 article confirms that the citywide sign code lives in “chapter 4 of this title,” but those general provisions and district-by-district sign allowances outside C-5 were not included in the retrieved files (§ 10-3-2014) . Verify with the jurisdiction.

C-5 Sign Standards — Quick Reference

Note: “lf” means linear feet of the referenced frontage.

Practical guidance for applicants

• Start with your base district and whether any overlay districts or specific plans apply; if you are in C-5, the standards above will control in addition to the citywide sign chapter (§ 10-3-2014) .
• In C-5, compute sign area based on the exact frontages that face the street; watch for the stricter 0.5 sf/lf limits on Civic Center Drive for retail uses (§ 10-3-2019) .
• Confirm if your site has the qualifying 250 lf of single-street frontage before planning any freestanding monument sign in C-5; otherwise, only wall/projecting signage strategies are viable (§ 10-3-2018) .
• Projecting signs are tightly controlled in C-5; the city prohibits internal illumination and exposed-tube lighting such as neon—plan for external lighting or none (§ 10-3-2017) .
• For multiple-family congregate housing projects, do not plan any exterior sign for on-site convenience retail or services (§ 10-3-1289.C) .
• Many sign proposals also intersect with design review; C-5 expressly references review by the director or the Architectural Commission for freestanding sign materials and detailing (§ 10-3-2018) .

Checklist

• Identify your base zoning district and whether you are in C-5 or a specific plan area (zoning; overlay districts).
• Confirm whether the citywide sign chapter (“chapter 4 of this title”) applies directly or is superseded (C-5 references it; specific plans can supersede) (§ 10-3-2014; § 10-3-1571; § 10-3-1581) .
• For C-5: choose sign types allowed for your site: wall, projecting, or—if you qualify—freestanding (§§ 10-3-2016 through 10-3-2018) .
• Calculate allowed sign area using the correct frontage measurement and the 1.0 sf/lf or 0.5 sf/lf Civic Center Drive rule (§ 10-3-2019) .
• Check frontage-specific bans such as Maple Drive dining signage in C-5 (§ 10-3-2015) .
• If proposing a freestanding sign in C-5, verify ≥250 lf continuous frontage and design material/lettering/lighting per code (§ 10-3-2018) .
• For multiple-family congregate housing: remove any exterior signage from plans for convenience retail/services (§ 10-3-1289.C) .
• Coordinate early on any Architectural Commission/design review steps for sign aesthetics and compatibility (§ 10-3-2018) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps

• Citywide sign regulations (the content of “chapter 4 of this title,” including definitions, permanent/temporary sign types, measurement rules, and any district tables outside C-5): Not found in retrieved materials.
• Detailed C-5 “purpose” statement and permitted use list: Not found in retrieved materials.
• District-by-district sign rules for other commercial and residential zones (e.g., R-1, R-2, C-2, C-3, CN): Not found in retrieved materials.
• Hotel/restaurant identification sign allowance in multiple-family or hotel contexts is visible in excerpted text but without a clear section number: Verify with the jurisdiction .

Plain-English Summary

If you are in Beverly Hills’ C-5 area near Civic Center Drive, your building can typically use wall and blade signs, with tight limits on size, height, lighting, and where they can face; freestanding monument signs are rare unless your site is long enough. Retail along Civic Center Drive gets less sign area than elsewhere in C-5, and dining signs are not allowed on the Maple Drive side. Some special residential facilities cannot have any exterior signs for their on-site convenience uses. Always confirm whether a specific plan or citywide sign chapter adds rules you must meet.

Source References

• Beverly Hills Municipal Code: C-5 Signage — § 10-3-2014 through § 10-3-2019 (general tie to Chapter 4; Maple Drive frontage; wall, projecting, freestanding, and identification sign standards)
• Beverly Hills Municipal Code: C-5 geography (site list/context within the C-5 article)
• Beverly Hills Municipal Code: Multiple-family congregate housing — no exterior signage for convenience retail uses (§ 10-3-1289.C)
• Beverly Hills Municipal Code: Specific Plan precedence (9900 Wilshire; Beverly Hilton; One Beverly Hills overlay) — sign rules governed by the plan (§ 10-3-1571; § 10-3-1581)
• Citywide sign code location referenced by C-5 article: “chapter 4 of this title” (definitions and general sign regulations) — text not included in retrieved materials (§ 10-3-2014)

Retrieved passages

• Beverly Hills Zoning Code (chapter 4) High relevance show source text
• Beverly Hills Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance show source text
• CEC § H103 (SECTION H103) Medium relevance show source text
• Beverly Hills Zoning Code (chapter shall) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § H101 (SECTION H101) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § H103 (SECTION H103) Medium relevance show source text
• CEC § H101 (chapter as) Medium relevance show source text
• Beverly Hills Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § H113 (SECTION H113) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 1138A.4 (Section 1138A.4) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Beverly Hills Municipal Code: C-5 Signage — § 10-3-2014 through § 10-3-2019 (general tie to Chapter 4; Maple Drive frontage; wall, projecting, freestanding, and identification sign standards) (§ 10-3-2014)
• Beverly Hills Municipal Code: C-5 geography (site list/context within the C-5 article)
• Beverly Hills Municipal Code: Multiple-family congregate housing — no exterior signage for convenience retail uses (§ 10-3-1289.C) (§ 10-3-1289.C)
• Beverly Hills Municipal Code: Specific Plan precedence (9900 Wilshire; Beverly Hilton; One Beverly Hills overlay) — sign rules governed by the plan (§ 10-3-1571; § 10-3-1581) (§ 10-3-1571)
• Citywide sign code location referenced by C-5 article: “chapter 4 of this title” (definitions and general sign regulations) — text not included in retrieved materials (§ 10-3-2014) (chapter 4)
• BeverlyHills_ZoningCode.md

• Official Beverly Hills code library