Standard sizes
- For-sale panels: 18 x 24 inches is the standard. 24 x 36 inches is used for busy roads and deep setbacks and needs a heavier post or frame (4over4).
- Riders: 6 x 24 inches is the default; 6 x 18 fits 18-inch panels; 4 x 24 for a second stacked rider. Riders usually hang from two S-hooks under the panel (4over4 rider guide).
- Open house A-frames: most hold an 18 x 24 panel; larger 24 x 36 versions exist.
- Square footage: an 18 x 24 panel is 432 sq in, or exactly 3 sq ft. A 6 x 24 rider is 144 sq in, or 1 sq ft.
What fits in each LA-area city
Cities cap the size of for-sale signs, and several count riders toward the cap.
| City | Max for-sale sign | Does an 18 x 24 panel fit? | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 12 sq ft total (all sale signs, R zones) | Yes | LAMC 12.21 A.7(f) |
| Beverly Hills (single-family) | 150 sq in including riders | No, too big (432 sq in) | BHMC 10-4-402 |
| Beverly Hills (multi-family) | 500 sq in including riders | Panel only; riders must fit in the remaining 68 sq in | BHMC 10-4-502 |
| Santa Monica | Two 8 sq ft or one 16 sq ft temporary signs | Yes | SMMC 9.61.160 |
| West Hollywood (homes) | 432 sq in + two 76 sq in riders; 42 in tall | Yes, exactly, but a standard 5–6 ft arm post is too tall | WHMC Table 3-13 |
| West Hollywood (condos) | 150 sq in per unit + two 30 sq in riders | No, too big | WHMC Table 3-13 |
| Malibu | 6 sq ft, 6 ft tall | Yes | MMC 17.52.050(D)(2)(c) |
| Pasadena | 3 sq ft + two 1 sq ft riders; 4 ft tall | Yes, exactly, but a standard 5–6 ft arm post is too tall | PMC Table 4-22 |
| Burbank | 7 sq ft including riders | Yes | BMC 10-1-1011(C) |
| Glendale | 6 sq ft including riders; 6 ft tall | Yes | GMC 30.33.200(B)(1) |
| Calabasas | 6 sq ft (single-family); 6 ft pole | Yes | CMC 17.30.030(K) |
| Unincorporated LA County | 6 sq ft per face on typical lots; 8 ft tall | Yes | LACC 22.114.170 |
Details and sources are in our sign rules guide.
Common riders
Coming Soon, Open House, In Escrow or Pending, Sold, Price Reduced, a team or agent name, a phone number, or a QR code. In Beverly Hills a Sold, Leased or Rented rider can stay up 30 days at most (BHMC 10-4-104); in Pasadena, "open house" belongs on a rider rather than a separate sign (PMC 17.48.170).
Post types
- Vinyl or PVC arm post: the familiar white post with a hanging arm. One common model is 6 ft with a 36-inch arm that holds signs up to 24 inches wide (example product); another stands 60 inches installed with a 32-inch arm (1-800-The-Sign).
- Two-leg or "luxury" posts and metal frames: sturdier and common on higher-end listings.
- Stake-mounted frames and A-frames: no digging; used for open house and directional signs.
Watch the height limits. West Hollywood caps signs on existing homes at 42 inches (WHMC Table 3-13) and Pasadena at 4 feet (PMC Table 4-22), shorter than a standard 5–6 ft arm post. Use a shorter post or frame there.
How deep does a post go?
There's no official standard. One manufacturer's instructions say to drive its arm post at least 24 inches deep (1-800-The-Sign).
Call 811 before you drive a post. California's dig law defines excavation as moving earth with tools, including "digging," "augering" and "driving," with no minimum depth (Gov. Code 4216(g)), and requires notifying DigAlert at least two working days before you start (Gov. Code 4216.2). Irrigation, gas and electric lines often run right where a sign post wants to go.
Questions
What size is a standard real estate sign?
18 x 24 inches is the standard for-sale panel; 24 x 36 is used on busy roads and deep setbacks. Riders are usually 6 x 24 inches.
Is an 18 x 24 sign allowed in Beverly Hills?
Not on a single-family home. Beverly Hills caps single-family real estate signs at 150 square inches including riders (BHMC 10-4-402); an 18 x 24 panel is 432 square inches.
