Carson regulates garage sale (yard sale) signs through its zoning sign provisions in Article IX, Chapter 1 of the Municipal Code (ecode360.com/47274121). The consistent rule across LA County contract cities is that garage sale signs may be displayed on the property holding the sale during sale hours but may NOT be posted in the public right-of-way — that includes parkway strips, utility poles, traffic signs, street light standards, street trees, and median islands. Off-site signs are prohibited and subject to immediate removal by Public Works. Signs on private property other than the sale site require the property owner's consent and may not exceed the zoning code's temporary-sign size limits.
Under California Streets and Highways Code §731 and Vehicle Code §21465 (prohibiting unofficial signs in the public right-of-way that resemble traffic-control devices), attaching anything to a traffic signal, sign post, or street furniture is a violation independent of any city ordinance. Carson Municipal Code reinforces this by prohibiting signs in the public right-of-way as part of its zoning sign chapter. Practical compliance: post one sign on your own front yard or garage during the sale, take it down at the end of each sale day, and avoid using staples, tape, or wire on utility poles (which is also a violation of Public Utilities Code §17511.5 for affixing materials to utility poles). Carson, like most LA County cities, will pull down off-site garage sale signs found in the right-of-way without notice and can issue an administrative citation if the sign identifies the responsible party (address, phone number).
First offense for an off-site garage sale sign in the public right-of-way: summary removal plus typical administrative citation of $100 (LA County contract-city schedule); $200 second offense; $500 third within 12 months. Signs stapled to utility poles can trigger separate citation under Public Utilities Code §17511.5. Conducting more than the customary 2-3 garage sales per year from the same residence can also trigger a finding of an unpermitted home business under Carson zoning, which carries its own penalties.
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