Los Angeles, CA Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LAMC § 28.04(a), (c)
- 1st violation fine
- Up to $100
- 2nd violation fine
- Up to $250
- 3rd violation fine
- $500
- 4th+ violation
- Charged as a misdemeanor
- Presumed responsible party
- Property owner or lessee
Summary
Los Angeles bans posting hand-bills or signs, including garage-sale signs, on sidewalks, curbs, street lamp posts, hydrants, trees and other public property under LAMC § 28.04. The property owner or lessee holding the sale is presumed responsible for any garage-sale sign found illegally posted, and the City can fine that person up to $500 per year before charging a misdemeanor.
SEC. 28.04. HAND-BILLS, SIGNS – PUBLIC PLACES AND OBJECTS. (a) No person shall paint, mark or write on, or post or otherwise affix, any hand-bill or sign to or upon any sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, curbstone, street lamp post, hydrant, tree, shrub, tree stake or guard... or upon any lighting system, public bridge, drinking fountain, life buoy, life preserver, life boat, or other life saving equipment, street sign or traffic sign. ... (c)(1) The first violation of Subsection (a) in a calendar year is subject to an administrative monetary penalty not to exceed $100.00. Subsequent violations in the same calendar year will result in a second penalty not to exceed $250.00. The penalty for the third administrative violation in a calendar year is $500.00. More than three administrative fines in one calendar year shall result in the violation being charged as a misdemeanor... (c)(2)(iii) the owner, or lessee if the property is leased, of property used for a yard or garage sale is the person responsible for posting a hand-bill or sign advertising a yard or garage sale.
Full Breakdown
04(a) prohibits painting, marking, posting or affixing any hand-bill or sign to a sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, curbstone, street lamp post, hydrant, tree, shrub, tree stake or guard, utility pole, public bridge, drinking fountain, street sign or traffic sign, the physical objects a garage-sale flyer is normally taped or zip-tied to. ' That presumption can be rebutted only by a sworn declaration, under penalty of perjury, that the person did not cause, authorize, allow or permit the posting. Once a sign is found on public or utility property, the Police Department, the Bureau of Street Services, or the utility itself may remove it, and the Bureau bills the responsible person for both the administrative penalty and the City's actual removal cost, labor, material, equipment and overhead, under a cost schedule the Board of Public Works adopts each fiscal year.
Persons billed may appeal the charges to the Board of Public Works, and all penalty revenue funds enforcement by the Bureau's Investigation and Enforcement Division.
Violations & Fines
A first violation in a calendar year draws an administrative penalty up to $100; a second draws up to $250; a third draws $500. A fourth or later violation in the same calendar year is charged as a misdemeanor in Superior Court, carrying full criminal penalties rather than an administrative fine, plus the City's removal costs in every case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tape a garage-sale sign to a stop sign or utility pole?
Who gets fined if a garage-sale sign is found on a corner?
How much can the fine grow for repeat garage-sale sign postings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
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Garage Sale Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle garage sale signs.