How El Monte Handles Sign Regulations: A Practical Guide
El Monte maintains 146 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with sign regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where El Monte falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Political Signs
El Monte treats political signs as noncommercial temporary signs under EMMC 17.80.030(J). They are exempt from permitting and size caps entirely during the 60 days before and 15 days after any election; outside that window they're capped at 6 sq. ft. and 4 ft. tall in residential zones, 12 sq. ft. and 5 ft. in nonresidential zones.
Key details: Election-window exemption: Unlimited 60 days before to 15 days after election. Outside election window, residential cap: 6 sq. ft. combined, 4 ft. tall. Outside election window, nonresidential cap: 12 sq. ft. combined, 5 ft. tall. Permit required: None, exempt under 17.80.030. Illumination: Must be non-illuminated to qualify as exempt.
Because political signs are content-neutral "noncommercial temporary signs," enforcement runs through EMMC 17.80's general code enforcement provisions rather than a special political-sign penalty. A sign posted outside the 60-day pre-election/15-day post-election window that exceeds the 6 sq. ft./4 ft. (residential) or 12 sq. ft./5 ft. (nonresidential) caps in 17.80.030(J)(1) is treated as a code violation subject to the city's standard sign enforcement and abatement process administered by the Community Development Department's Planning Division.
El Monte is more permissive than most cities when it comes to political signs. That said, there are still limits.
Window Signs
El Monte caps window signs on commercial buildings at 50% of any individual window and 25% of the combined window area per building façade under EMMC 17.80.070(F). Small informational window signs (address, hours, open/closed) up to 4 sq. ft. are exempt from permitting under 17.80.030(K).
Key details: Single-window cap: 50% of that window's area. Combined façade cap: 25% of all windows on the façade. Illumination: Prohibited, internal or external. Small informational signs: Exempt up to 4 sq. ft. (address, hours, open/closed). Counts toward: Overall façade sign allowance, Table 17.80-1.
Window signs exceeding the 50% single-window or 25% combined-façade coverage caps in 17.80.070(F), or displaying internal/external illumination, are code violations enforced through the city's standard sign enforcement process administered by the Community Development Department's Planning Division; unpermitted non-exempt window signs are additionally subject to the Sign Permit and Building Permit requirements of 17.80.050(B).
Garage Sale Signs
El Monte caps garage sale advertising at two signs per sale, each no larger than six square feet per side, and only on residentially zoned property under Section 5.44.080. Signs may go up just one day before the sale starts and must come down when the sale legally ends, and posting one in the public right-of-way draws a separate five-dollar fine.
Key details: Sign limit: 2 signs per garage sale. Size limit: 6 sq ft of area per side. Zoning limit: Residentially zoned property only. Posting window: Up to 1 day before sale starts. Removal deadline: By close of last lawful sale day.
Section 5.44.080(B) charges a five-dollar ($5.00) fee for each unlawful sign, and the city will not issue a permit for a subsequent garage sale until all such fees have been paid in full. Section 5.44.040 independently prohibits any garage sale sign from the public right-of-way or from being attached to public utilities or improvements located there, exposing a violator to removal and general code enforcement on top of the per-sign fee.
Freeway-Facing Signs
El Monte allows one extra freestanding, freeway-oriented sign for auto dealerships in the city's Auto District, capped at one square foot of area per linear foot of street frontage and 100 feet in height above the nearest freeway travel lane.
Key details: Applies to: Auto dealerships in the Auto District only. Max sign area: 1 sq ft per linear ft of street frontage. Max height: 100 ft above nearest freeway travel lane. Changeable/electronic copy: Up to 70% of sign face. Extra requirement: Master Sign Program required.
Signs installed, displayed or maintained in violation of Chapter 17.80, including an oversized or unauthorized freeway sign, are a misdemeanor under Section 17.80.130.C, punishable per Chapter 1.24 (General Penalty), with each day of violation a separate offense. The city may instead issue administrative citations under Chapters 1.18 and 1.19, and unauthorized signs in the public right-of-way or posing a safety hazard may be summarily removed without prior notice under Section 17.80.130.E.
Digital Billboards
Digital billboards in El Monte's Billboard Overlay Zone must display each message for at least four seconds, tie into the National Emergency Network for alerts, and automatically freeze or shut down on malfunction, on top of a citywide development agreement requirement.
Key details: Minimum message hold time: 4 seconds per static message. Required connection: National Emergency Network, including Amber Alerts. Malfunction behavior: Must freeze, blank, or shut off. Prohibited content: Obscene messages; simulated traffic warnings. Prerequisite: City development agreement under Sec. 17.82.030.
Section 17.82.070 subjects any violation of the Billboard Overlay Zone chapter, including these digital operating rules, to all civil, criminal, and administrative remedies available to the city. As part of Title 17, Chapter 17.82 also falls under the zoning title's general enforcement section, 17.10.160.C, which makes a violation a misdemeanor punishable under Chapter 1.24, with abatement and injunctive relief available under subsections D and E.
The Bottom Line
El Monte's sign regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming El Monte is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that El Monte can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.