How many signs you can use, city by city
Popular advice says 10 to 15 signs "or as many as local regulations allow" (HomeLight). Around LA, local rules usually allow far fewer, and in several cities none off the listing at all.
| City | On sidewalks & parkways | On other private property | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glendale | Yes: up to 6 stake signs, Sat & Sun 8 a.m.–7 p.m., 18 x 24 in, 3 ft tall | Not allowed (our reading) | GMC 30.33.110(D) |
| Burbank | Yes, with annual permit + $1M insurance + decals: up to 4, Sat/Sun/holidays 8 a.m.–6 p.m. or dusk, Thu 8 a.m.–2 p.m. | Not addressed | BMC 5-3-402.2 |
| West Hollywood | No | Yes: Sat, Sun, Tue 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; 1 per corner, 4 per intersection | WHMC Table 3-13 |
| Malibu | No (and never on PCH) | Yes: daylight, 3 sq ft, 5 ft back; no cap on number | MMC 17.52.050(D)(2)(d) |
| Calabasas | No | Yes: up to 2, 3 sq ft, same day | CMC 17.30.030(G) |
| Los Angeles | No | Gray area: zoning bans off-site signs; Civ. Code 713 protects consented signs | LAMC 12.21 A.7(l); 28.04 |
| Santa Monica | No | Not allowed (off-premises signs prohibited) | SMMC 9.61.180(A)(6) |
| Pasadena | No | Not allowed | PMC 17.48.120 D.1 |
| Beverly Hills | No | No (open house signs illegal) | City of Beverly Hills |
Full details, code sections and contacts are on each city's page in our sign rules guide.
Where signs work best (legally)
- Start at the listing. Every city allows a for-sale sign there, and most allow an "Open House" rider or sign. Make it the best-looking sign on the street.
- Cover the decision points. Where the rules allow off-site signs, put them at the last turns a buyer has to make: the nearest through street, then each turn after that.
- Keep sight lines and sidewalks clear. Burbank, for example, requires 18 inches from the curb face and 5 feet from driveways, signals and bus stops, and no narrowing of the sidewalk below ADA width (BMC 5-3-402.2). Those are good habits anywhere.
- Get consent in writing. On private property, consent is required by state law before a sign goes up (Penal Code 556.1). A quick text from the owner is better than nothing; a signed note is best.
- Never on PCH or freeway ramps. State highway right-of-way is off-limits to real estate signs (Bus. & Prof. Code 5403(a); Caltrans).
When to put them out and take them down
- Glendale: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays only (GMC 30.33.110(D)).
- West Hollywood: on-site no earlier than 8 a.m. on the day and down right after; off-site Sat, Sun and Tue, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (WHMC Table 3-13).
- Burbank: only during the open house; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. until dusk or 6 p.m., Thursdays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (BMC 5-3-402.2).
- Malibu: daylight hours, and the on-site sign only while an agent is there (MMC 17.52.050(D)(2)(d)).
- Calabasas: up and down the same day; the on-site sign only while you're present (CMC 17.30.030(G)).
What to put on the sign
- Under California advertising rules, signs that show your name must also show your DRE license number and your broker's identity (C.A.R. Quick Guide).
- West Hollywood limits off-site signs to "open house," an arrow, the address and the brokerage or agent name. Calabasas limits them to the address and the agent's name.
- Never use wording or shapes that imitate traffic signs, such as "Stop" or "Slow" (Bus. & Prof. Code 5403(b)).
Do open house signs still work?
In NAR's 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 48% of buyers used open houses and 32% used yard signs as an information source in their search, and sellers' agents posted a yard sign for 67% of sellers (NAR 2025 Profile). In NAR's 2025 Generational Trends report, 4% of buyers found the home they bought through a yard sign or open house sign (NAR 2025 Generational Trends). Signs aren't the main way buyers find homes, but they're how neighbors and drive-by buyers know you're open.
Questions
How many open house signs can I put out in LA?
It depends on the city. Glendale allows up to 6 in the right-of-way on weekends; Burbank up to 4 with a permit; West Hollywood 1 per corner and 4 per intersection on private property; Calabasas 2 off-site. The City of LA, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Pasadena have no off-site allowance.
Can I put open house signs out the night before?
Not in the cities with hour limits: Glendale signs go up at 8 a.m., West Hollywood on-site signs no earlier than 8 a.m. and off-site at 11 a.m., Burbank only during the open house, and Malibu and Calabasas same-day/daylight only.
