Compton Signage Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Compton's home occupation standards require that residential properties operating home-based businesses maintain a purely residential appearance from the exterior. The signage prohibition is absolute: no form of business identification, advertising, or commercial display may be visible from the street, sidewalk, or neighboring properties. This includes permanent signs mounted on the building or in the yard, temporary signs placed on lawns or fences, window signs or displays visible from outside, banners or flags with business logos, and even business cards or flyers placed in outdoor receptacles.

The restriction also addresses the common practice of using commercial vehicles as indirect signage. Vehicles that display prominent business names, logos, phone numbers, or advertising graphics may not be routinely parked in the driveway or on the street in front of a home occupation in a manner that effectively advertises the business. While Compton does not prohibit residents from owning commercial vehicles, using them as stationary advertisements in residential areas is treated as a sign code violation. Delivery vehicles and work vans making brief stops are generally not cited, but vehicles that remain parked for extended periods serve as de facto commercial signage and are subject to enforcement.

Compton's sign ordinance, which works in conjunction with the home occupation standards, establishes comprehensive rules for all signage within the city. Residential zones are restricted to non-commercial signage such as address numbers, real estate signs, and political signs during election periods. Any business sign placed in a residential zone — whether for a home occupation or otherwise — violates both the sign ordinance and the home occupation standards. The Code Enforcement Division actively cites visible home business signage during routine neighborhood sweeps.

Home business operators in Compton must rely on non-physical advertising methods such as websites, social media, online directories, print advertising in publications, and word-of-mouth referrals. Business cards and printed materials used off-site are not restricted. The key principle is that nothing visible from the exterior of the property should indicate that a commercial enterprise operates within. Contact the Community Development Department at (310) 605-5532 with questions about sign regulations.