L.A. Approves Restraints on Size, Number of Signs

The Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance Friday restricting the location, number and size of new signs throughout the city until permanent sign controls can become law.

The 12-0 vote was taken without discussion. A representative of the billboard industry has hired former Eastside Councilman Arthur K. Snyder to lobby for a less restrictive measure.

The ordinance represents a compromise between the billboard industry and environmental and homeowner groups that sought an end to “visual pollution.” The billboard industry is a heavy contributor to City Council campaigns and in previous years has succeeded in stopping efforts to ban billboards.

‘Significant Impact’

Councilman Marvin Braude, a leading proponent of sign controls, said the ordinance will have “a significant impact on the clutter and confusion and ugliness that billboards and signs can create in our city.”

“I’m just delighted and thrilled with it,” he said.

Chairman Howard Finn, whose Planning and Environment Committee drafted the law, said the billboard industry supported the ordinance because it feared a ban on new billboards. “They saw the handwriting on the wall,” he said.

The ordinance, which still needs Mayor Tom Bradley’s approval, will be in effect for six months while the council works on permanent sign controls.

It permits new billboards but restricts their size and location. They may be no closer than 500 feet from each other and 200 feet from property zoned for homes.

It also limits the number and size of on-site pole signs, projecting signs, roof signs and wall signs for businesses, depending on their street frontage.

There are no citywide restrictions on signs now.

Pilar Perry, assistant Southern California regional manager for Foster & Kleiser, said the billboard company will seek to ease the restrictions. She said the ordinance “will definitely cut down the number of locations we’ll be able to develop. It’s very restrictive.”

Formula for Signs

Under the ordinance, businesses could have wall signs no more than four square feet per foot of street frontage for the first 25 feet of frontage, plus three square feet per foot for the next 25 feet of frontage, plus two square feet for each additional foot of frontage. The ordinance also requires businesses to pay the city a fee, yet to be specified, for permits for new signs.

It also permits the council to impose tougher sign control standards for specific communities. For example, a ban on new billboards exists in Warner Center in Woodland Hills and is proposed for Encino.