Purpose.
Long Beach Municipal Code § 21.44.010
in effect21.44.010 - Purpose.
This chapter provides standards for on-premises signs to safeguard life, health, property, safety, and public welfare, including aesthetics and the visual environment, while encouraging creativity, variety, compatible design, and enhancement of the City's image. The City recognizes that the location, number, size and design of signs significantly influences the City's visual environment and the perception of the City's economic condition. The specific purposes of this chapter are to:
A. Provide each sign user an opportunity for effective identification by regulating the time, place, and manner under which signs may be displayed;
B. Maintain a content-neutral approach to sign regulation so as not to inhibit protected forms of freedom of expression;
C. Regulate the number and size of signs according to standards consistent with the purpose of the City's various zoning districts and the intent of the Zoning Regulations;
D. Protect all zoning districts from the adverse impacts of excessive numbers or sizes of signs, and signs of poor quality design;
E. Encourage creative, well-designed signs that contribute in a positive way to the City's visual environment, and help maintain an image of quality for the City;
F. Ensure that signs are responsive to the aesthetics and character of their particular location (adjacent buildings and surrounding neighborhood), and that signs are compatible and integrated with their building's architectural character and design (including historic elements), and with other signs on the site; and
G. Ensure the quality of the City's visual environment and appearance by avoiding sign clutter, signs of excessive size, and signs of poor quality design, and by subjecting certain signs to the necessary discretionary processes.
(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)
Source: City of Long Beach, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/long_beach/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT21ZO_CH21.44EMSI_21.44.010PUFetched: 10/28/2026