Gardena, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Municipal Code § 18.58.030(C)(1) treats noncommercial message signs, expressly including political and religious messages, as signs residential properties may display in lieu of all or part of the real estate signage otherwise allowed under § 18.58.030(B), and none of these signs require a permit under § 18.58.070. The section allows wall, window, projecting, freestanding and banner types with no numeric cap on how many signs a property can post. The cumulative maximum area tracks whatever real estate sign area the property would otherwise qualify for under § 18.58.030(B) (for example, six square feet on a single-family lot), but that area is temporarily enlarged by four square feet during the window beginning 45 days before a general or special election and running through three days after the election, giving households more room for yard signs during campaign season.

Any freestanding sign under this provision is capped at five feet in height and must sit at least five feet back from the property line. Because these signs fall under the no-permit category in § 18.58.030, they are exempt from the sign permit application, fee and review process that applies to nonresidential and commercial signage elsewhere in Chapter 18.58, though they still cannot be illuminated per the chapter's general no-permit sign rule.