Local zoning · Signal Hill

Signal Hill — Signage

Q: Do I need a permit to install a new business sign in Signal Hill?

Yes. Except for the exempt signs listed in § 20.58.120 , most signs require a sign permit from the Community Development Department; illuminated signs also require an electrical/building permit (§ 20.58.020 ) .

Q: What types of signs are expressly prohibited in Signal Hill?

The code prohibits many types citywide, including aerial, animated, bench, billboard, flashing, pole, portable, rotating, vehicle (stationary advertising), roof signs , and any sign not expressly permitted (§ 20.58.130 ) .

Q: How big can a real estate sign be without a permit?

A real estate sign exempt from permit rules may be up to 6 square feet in area, 3 feet in height, and limited to 1 sign per street frontage ; check § 20.58.120 for the full list of exemptions and limits (§ 20.58.120 ) .

Q: What happens to an existing sign that is nonconforming?

Nonconforming signs are subject to the rules in Chapter 20.82 as referenced by § 20.58.140(E) ; the specific allowances for repair, replacement, or removal are governed there — verify Chapter 20.82 and consult staff for parcel‑specific guidance (§ 20.58.140(E) ) .

Signage under the Signal Hill local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Signal Hill Municipal Code says about signage (Chapter 20.58) and how that interacts with the city’s specific plans and commercial zoning. It focuses on permit triggers, numeric limits that matter to applicants, prohibited types, and the sign‑plan/design review process. All requirements below are grounded in the local ordinance and cite the controlling code sections.

Key citywide rules (Chapter 20.58)

A sign permit is required for painting, erecting, installing, relocating, replacing, or altering almost all signs; illuminated signs also require a building/electrical permit (§ 20.58.020) . See the city’s rules for design review for how sign plans are processed. Signal Hill Design Review
A sign plan or a comprehensive sign program follows the site plan / design review procedures of Chapter 20.52; plans must include scaled elevations, sign details, calculations, color/materials, lighting/electrical and mounting details (§ 20.58.030(D), § 20.58.030(A)) .
Approval of a sign plan or comprehensive sign program requires findings that signage is consistent with design review, compatible with architecture, appropriately scaled, non-conflicting with other signs, and constructed of durable materials (§ 20.58.040) .
Certain small, temporary, or limited signs are exempt from permits but must meet numeric limits; others are expressly prohibited citywide (§ 20.58.120, § 20.58.130) .
General maintenance and location rules: double‑faced signs count as one; signs must not create traffic sight obstructions; flush-mounted signs projecting into public right‑of‑way are limited to 6 inches and must be ≥12 feet above grade (§ 20.58.140(D–E)) .

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the Signal Hill districts / specific plans where the code gives district-specific signage guidance. Where a specific plan allows only a narrow sign type, the chapter usually cross‑references Chapter 20.58 (signs permitted without a permit) and otherwise prohibits other signs.

CG (Commercial General)

Purpose & where it applies: standard commercial zoning for general retail/services (see underlying zoning map and definitions in the code). Specific sign rules for large outdoor advertising are explicitly identified for CG.
Key signage rules:
- Outdoor advertising structures (billboard-type structures) may be permitted in CG only with a conditional use permit; they must not interfere with traffic controls, must not be located within 500 feet of residentially zoned property, and electronic message centers (EMCs) have spacing and dwell-time rules (§ 20.58.090(A–D)) .
- EMCs must not be within 1,000 feet of another EMC on the same freeway side and may not display messages for less than 4 seconds nor have message intervals less than 1 second (§ 20.58.090(C–D)) .
Practical note: if you plan a site with an EMC or billboard‑style sign in CG, expect a conditional use process and careful measurement of setback/spacing distances (§ 20.58.090) .

SP-11 — Crescent Heights Historic District (Specific Plan)

Purpose & where it applies: historic district specific plan (see Chapter 20.41 specific plan text).
Sign allowance: typically a single nameplate with the project address (no other signs allowed except those permitted by Chapter 20.58.120) (§ 20.41.140) .
Practical note: because this is a historic area, the city emphasizes compatibility with architectural vocabulary; special design review standards apply. See the Signal Hill Historic Preservation page for related procedures. Signal Hill Historic Preservation

SP-15 — Cityview Residential Specific Plan

Sign allowance: in SP-15 a single sign as shown on the approved plan is permitted; other signs are prohibited except those listed in § 20.58.120 (§ 20.38.130) .
Practical note: multi‑unit/residential developments typically get one project identification or address sign approved as part of the project plans; additional tenant/business signage will usually be prohibited.

SP-18 — PacificWalk Residential Specific Plan

Sign allowance: a single nameplate, low monument sign, or other sign as approved by the director, with the project address; all other signs except § 20.58.120 items are prohibited (§ 20.37.130 or § 20.37.130 depending on plan text) .
Practical note: the director has approval authority to permit the single, usually modest, identification sign.

SP‑7 / Pacific Coast Highway Specific Plan

Sign policies: signs in this corridor must "be consistent with Chapter 20.58" and be designed to match the building’s architectural vocabulary; new outdoor advertising structures are prohibited in the Pacific Coast Highway specific plan area — existing ones are nonconforming (§ 20.30.080, § 20.30.085) .
Practical note: if your property fronts Pacific Coast Highway, anticipate strict design review and a prohibition on new billboards/large outdoor advertising.

Other Specific Plans and residential areas (multiple SP chapters)

Recurrent rule: many specific plans (examples include SP-13, SP-15, SP-18, others) explicitly permit only a single nameplate, monument sign, or project identification feature shown on approved plans; all other signage is barred except the exempt items in § 20.58.120 (see §§ 20.33.140, 20.34.130, 20.27.130, 20.28.170, etc.) .
Practical note: submittal and approval of project plans early is critical; specific plans frequently limit signs to one modest identification device.

Decision‑critical numeric standards (table)

Topic	Decision‑relevant standard	Code Reference
Permit requirement	Sign permit required for most signs; illuminated signs need building/electrical permit	§ 20.58.020
Real estate sign (exempt)	Max 1 per street frontage; 6 sq ft max area; 3 ft max height; property owner authorization required	§ 20.58.120
Projection into ROW	Flush-mounted signs may project 6 inches into ROW if ≥12 ft above ground	§ 20.58.140(D)
Prohibited sign types (citywide)	Includes aerial, animated, bench, billboard, flashing, pole, portable, rotating, vehicle (stationary advertising), roof signs, etc.	§ 20.58.130
Outdoor advertising (CG only)	Not within 500 ft of residential; EMCs not within 1,000 ft of another EMC same freeway side; EMC message dwell ≥4 sec	§ 20.58.090(B–D)
Sign plan contents	Scaled site plan, elevations, sign details, area calcs, colors/materials, lighting/electrical, structural details	§ 20.58.030(D)
Sign plan findings	Compatibility with design review; scale/proportion; non‑conflict with other signage; durable materials	§ 20.58.040(A–E)

Checklist

An applicant must generally:

Obtain a sign permit from Community Development for non‑exempt signs (§ 20.58.020) .
Submit a sign plan or comprehensive sign program consistent with Chapter 20.52 (design review) including all required scaled drawings, calculations, lighting/electrical plans, and structural details (§ 20.58.030(D)) . See the city’s Design Review guidance. Signal Hill Design Review
For illuminated signs, obtain the required electrical/building permit consistent with the California Building Standards Code and local inspection requirements (§ 20.58.020(B)) California Building Standards Code
Ensure sign content/type is not one of the prohibited types (e.g., billboard, flashing, pole, animated) (§ 20.58.130) .
Verify any outdoor advertising/EMC meets the CG outdoor advertising rules and conditional use permit standards (§ 20.58.090) .
Coordinate placement with off‑street parking and site circulation so signs do not obstruct sight lines or create traffic hazards (§ 20.58.140(B)) . Signal Hill Parking
Pay applicable fees established by city resolution and follow notice/hearing rules when design review/conditional use is required (§ 20.58.030(E), § 20.58.030(B)) .
If your site is within an overlay or specific plan, confirm the project’s approved plans include the sign(s) allowed under that plan (many allow a single nameplate only) (§ 20.33.140, 20.37.130, 20.38.130, etc.) . See Overlay Districts and plan chapters. Signal Hill Overlay Districts

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Applicability of billboard/EMC rules to an atypical site	Outdoor advertising is generally prohibited except in CG with a CUP; measuring the 500 ft / 1,000 ft buffers can be complex	Confirm zoning of the parcel (is it CG?), measure buffer distances per § 20.58.090(B–C) and verify CUP criteria with Planning
Whether a proposed sign is “animated” vs. permitted EMC	EMCs have special allowances but many animated/flashing signs are banned (§ 20.58.130)	Provide lighting/animation specs on the sign plan and cite § 20.58.090 and § 20.58.130; consult Community Development for interpretation
Nonconforming existing signs	Nonconforming signs are subject to Chapter 20.82, but the extent of allowed repair/replacement may vary	Review Chapter 20.82 (not fully reproduced here) and confirm allowed maintenance/reconstruction limits; verify with staff (§ 20.58.140(E))
Project‑level sign allowances in specific plans	Specific plans frequently allow a single identification sign but differ in size/placement language	Check the specific plan section that applies to the parcel (e.g., §§ 20.33.140, 20.37.130, 20.38.130) and obtain approved project plans
ROW projections and public right‑of‑way rules	Flush signs can project 6 inches, but any other encroachment is prohibited and enforceable (§ 20.58.110, § 20.58.140(D))	Confirm proposed projection, elevation (≥12 ft), and whether any encroachment or street closure/encroachment permit is needed (§ 20.58.110, § 20.58.140)
Electrical/structural compliance vs. municipal sign policy	Even if the planning department approves a sign plan, electrical/building code and structural requirements still apply	Coordinate plan submittal with Building Division for electrical/structural permit per § 20.58.020(B) and the California Building Standards Code California Building Standards Code

Plain‑English summary

Most signs in Signal Hill need a sign permit and design review; specific plans and residential areas typically allow only a single project nameplate or monument sign. Citywide, small real‑estate and construction signs are exempt within limits, many flashy/temporary/billboard types are banned, and outdoor advertising is tightly restricted to certain commercial zones with a conditional use permit (§ 20.58.020, § 20.58.120, § 20.58.130, § 20.58.090) .

Source References

Signal Hill Municipal Code, Chapter 20.58 (Signs): §§ 20.58.010–20.58.150 (purpose, permits, sign plan procedures, findings, definitions, prohibited signs, general conditions, enforcement) — see § 20.58.010, § 20.58.020, § 20.58.030, § 20.58.040, § 20.58.050, § 20.58.120, § 20.58.130, § 20.58.140.
Outdoor advertising / EMC specifics: § 20.58.090 (outdoor advertising structures; spacing, buffers, dwell times)
Real estate sign numeric limits and exempt sign list: § 20.58.120 (exempt signs)
General conditions (double‑faced sign, maintenance, flush projection): § 20.58.140
Design review / sign plan linkage and required plan contents: § 20.58.030(D) and § 20.58.040 (findings)
Specific plan sign rules (examples): SP-11 § 20.41.140 (single nameplate permitted) ; SP-15 § 20.38.130 (single sign) ; SP-18 § 20.37.130 (single nameplate/low monument) ; Pacific Coast Highway Specific Plan § 20.30.080 and § 20.30.085 (consistency with Chapter 20.58; outdoor advertising prohibited) .
Cross‑references: Nonconforming signs referenced to Chapter 20.82 (§ 20.58.140(E)) — text of Chapter 20.82: Not reproduced in full here; verify with the jurisdiction.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Signal Hill Zoning Code (§ 5) High relevance
Signal Hill Zoning Code (Chapter 20.58) High relevance
Signal Hill Zoning Code (§ 5) High relevance
Signal Hill Zoning Code (§ 5) High relevance
Signal Hill Zoning Code (§ 5) Medium relevance
Signal Hill Zoning Code (Chapter 20.58.) Medium relevance
Signal Hill Zoning Code (Chapter 13.10.) Medium relevance
Signal Hill Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Signal Hill code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to install a new business sign in Signal Hill?

Yes. Except for the exempt signs listed in § 20.58.120, most signs require a sign permit from the Community Development Department; illuminated signs also require an electrical/building permit (§ 20.58.020) .

What types of signs are expressly prohibited in Signal Hill?

The code prohibits many types citywide, including aerial, animated, bench, billboard, flashing, pole, portable, rotating, vehicle (stationary advertising), roof signs, and any sign not expressly permitted (§ 20.58.130) .

How big can a real estate sign be without a permit?

A real estate sign exempt from permit rules may be up to 6 square feet in area, 3 feet in height, and limited to 1 sign per street frontage; check § 20.58.120 for the full list of exemptions and limits (§ 20.58.120) .

Can I put an electronic message center (digital sign) on my commercial property?

Electronic message centers are regulated: outdoor advertising structures with EMCs are limited to the CG district with a conditional use permit and must meet spacing (1,000 ft) and dwell‑time (≥4 seconds) rules (§ 20.58.090(C–D)). EMCs are otherwise tightly controlled and may be disallowed depending on zoning and location (§ 20.58.090) .

Are billboards allowed in Signal Hill?

New billboards/outdoor advertising structures are generally prohibited except that in the CG district they may be allowed only with a conditional use permit and subject to strict placement and lighting rules; several specific plan areas (e.g., Pacific Coast Highway area) ban new outdoor advertising entirely (§ 20.58.090, § 20.30.085) .

Can a sign project over the public sidewalk or street?

Only limited flush-mounted business signs may project into the public right‑of‑way up to 6 inches and must be at least 12 feet above the ground; otherwise no portion of a sign may project into or be placed in the public right‑of‑way (§ 20.58.110, § 20.58.140(D)) .

My development is in a Specific Plan — what signs are allowed?

Many specific plans limit signage to a single modest identification device (nameplate, low monument, entry pillars, or project address) shown on the approved project plans; all other signage is prohibited except exempt signs in § 20.58.120 (see examples: §§ 20.33.140, 20.37.130, 20.38.130, 20.41.140) .

What does the sign plan submittal need to include?

A sign plan or comprehensive sign program must include a fully dimensioned scaled site plan showing sign locations, building elevations with sign locations, scaled sign details, area calculations, colors/materials, copy, letter height, lighting/electrical plans, structural details, and mounting details (§ 20.58.030(D)) .

Are noncommercial signs treated differently than commercial signs?

Yes — the code states that in any instance in which a sign is permitted, a noncommercial sign of the same physical dimensions and characteristics is permitted in lieu of that sign (§ 20.58.140(F)) .

What happens to an existing sign that is nonconforming?

Nonconforming signs are subject to the rules in Chapter 20.82 as referenced by § 20.58.140(E); the specific allowances for repair, replacement, or removal are governed there — verify Chapter 20.82 and consult staff for parcel‑specific guidance (§ 20.58.140(E)) .

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