Long Beach, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Section 21.44.420 is a single sentence: political campaign signs are not regulated as a separate class of signs. Long Beach therefore has no campaign season window, no candidate-specific permit and no special size cap. A campaign sign is measured against the same on-premises sign standards in Chapter 21.44 as any other sign, and the stated purpose in § 21.44.010(B) is a content-neutral approach so that protected forms of expression are not inhibited.

The Table 44-4 class that covers noncommercial messages is item 17, noncommercial promotional activity signs. Each sign is capped at 16 square feet, and all such signs together on one lot or parcel cannot exceed 80 square feet, whether the lot is zoned commercial, residential or industrial. The number of signs is not limited as long as the 80 square foot total holds, so five 16 square foot signs fill a parcel exactly. Sign area is measured under the definition of sign area in § 21.15.2530, which § 21.44.050(B) cross-references.

Item 17 sits in § 21.44.500, the permit exempt signs section, so these signs are exempt from the application, permit and fee requirements for on-premises signs. The exemption stops at the sign permit. The same section keeps the rest of the Municipal Code in force, including provisions that require building or electrical permits. Item 17 signs must not interfere with a traffic control signal or sign, must not be designed so they are confused with one, and must not obstruct the vision of traffic. They cannot be placed on any public property or right of way or posted on any utility pole or device. Each sign must be removed from the premises no later than 5 days after the activity or event it promotes concludes.

Section 21.44.900(A) separately bars everyone except a public officer or employee performing a public duty from placing any sign on, above, along or within public property. The code itself names parkways and the median islands of divided highways as public property. The prohibited sign list in § 21.44.600 also continues to apply to a campaign sign, including bans on flashing, moving, inflatable and projected light signs, and on flag signs such as sails, feathers and bow banners.