Most signage guides talk about what is recommended. This one is different. It focuses on what is legally required for apartment buildings in the City of Los Angeles, tied to the exact code behind each requirement. Some of these apply to every building. Some apply only if you have a pool. And some are printed notices rather than metal signs.

Knowing the difference matters. A missing metal sign is usually a fast, low cost fix. A missing tenant notice is a compliance gap with real financial exposure. This guide separates what you are required to post from what is simply good practice, so you can prioritize correctly.

Tenant Notice Postings (Paper, Not Metal Signage)

Two postings are legally required in the common area of every Los Angeles rental building. They are printed notices rather than something a sign shop produces, but they belong in any honest list of what you must post.

The Notice of Renters’ Protections must be posted in an accessible common area of every residential rental property in the City of Los Angeles under Ordinance 187737 (LAMC 165.05), and provided to tenants who begin or renew a tenancy. Failure to post it is a misdemeanor.

The Notice of Right to Counsel became a posting requirement in 2025. It must be posted in a conspicuous common area, provided to tenants at the start of a tenancy, and attached to any eviction notice.

Both are available as printable notices from the LA Housing Department at housing.lacity.gov. We flag them here because conversations about required signage often skip past paper postings, and a missing one is just as much a compliance gap as a missing metal sign.

Trash, Recycling, and Organics Signage

If your building has 5 or more units, state law (SB 1383) and the City of Los Angeles Organics Ordinance 187711 (LAMC Article 6) require you to provide separate, correctly labeled containers for trash, recyclables, and organic waste. The containers themselves must meet the specifications in LAMC 66.02, which call for durable, watertight, and correctly labeled or color coded bins.

This is not optional. Unlabeled or contaminated bins are an active enforcement target, and the City can issue notices of violation and fines.

In practice this means clear labeling at every collection point. Not just a sticker on the bin, but signage visible to tenants at the point of use. The ordinance also requires annual tenant education on proper sorting.

Pool Signage (If Your Property Has One)

California treats apartment and condo pools as public pools under the California Building Code (Title 24, Chapter 31B). That triggers a specific set of required signs, not just recommended ones:

• NO DIVING, required at any pool with a maximum water depth of 6 feet or less
• WARNING: NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY, required where no lifeguard is provided, along with the supervision line the code now requires
• KEEP GATE CLOSED, required on the exterior side of every pool and spa entrance gate
• Artificial respiration and CPR procedures, posted as an illustrated diagram
• Emergency services sign, with 911 in numbers at least 4 inches high, plus the nearest emergency services and the facility name and street address
• Pool user capacity sign, stating the maximum number of users allowed

These signs are specific about wording and letter height. A common inspection finding is an outdated no lifeguard sign. The old ‘children under 14’ language was struck down in court and replaced, so a current sign should state that children should not use the pool without a parent or adult guardian in attendance. Additional health notices, such as the required diarrhea advisory, may also apply.

Our Fire and Safety signage covers related emergency signage if you need to pair pool notices with nearby fire lane or evacuation signs.

No Smoking Signage

California Civil Code 1947.5 lets landlords of multiunit housing prohibit smoking anywhere on the property. It is not a posting mandate by itself. The prohibition has to be written into the lease, and it must specify where smoking is banned. Once a building adopts a no smoking policy, which is increasingly standard for LA apartments, posted signage is what makes the policy clear and enforceable against tenants and guests who claim they did not know.

See our guide to property control signs for how conduct signs work together, and browse the No Smoking category for building wide and designated area options.

Fire Lane Signage

If your property has a marked fire lane, California Vehicle Code 22500.1 requires it to be designated before a vehicle can be cited or towed for blocking it. The designation can be a posted sign with letters at least 1 inch high stating that the area is a fire lane, or a red curb or red paint marked with the words FIRE LANE. This is one of the more common findings during LAFD inspections of apartment properties with on site parking.

We break the requirements down in our fire lane sign guide, and you can shop Fire Lane No Parking signs directly.

Tow Away Signage

If you tow unauthorized vehicles from tenant parking, California Vehicle Code 22658 requires compliant signage before a tow is legal, and Los Angeles adds stricter requirements under LAMC 80.71.4. Under CVC 22658(e), towing without compliant signage can make you liable for double the towing and storage charges.

We cover every requirement in our complete CVC 22658 guide for LA property owners, and you can shop Tow Away signs directly.

No Trespassing Signage

Posted No Trespassing signage supports enforcement of California’s trespass law (Penal Code 602) by putting people on notice that entry is not permitted. For buildings with shared entrances, courtyards, or parking structures, this is effectively required if you want trespassing to be enforceable rather than only a lease clause. Keep in mind that on many urban properties enforcement also depends on a person being asked to leave, so clear signage and a clear request work together.

See our property control signs guide, and browse the No Trespassing category.

What to Do Next

Walk your property and confirm:

• Notice of Renters’ Protections is posted in an accessible common area
• Notice of Right to Counsel is posted in a conspicuous common area
• Trash, recycling, and organics containers are correctly labeled per LAMC 66.02
• If you have a pool: No Diving, No Lifeguard, Keep Gate Closed, CPR, Emergency 911, and capacity signs are all posted with current, correct wording
• No Smoking signage is posted in every common area your policy covers, if you have adopted one
• Fire lanes are marked with current CVC 22500.1 language
• Tow away signage meets both CVC 22658 and LAMC 80.71.4 if you tow unauthorized vehicles
• No Trespassing signage is posted at every entry point that is not obviously private

Signs Built for LA Apartment Buildings

SignifyLA manufactures property and parking signs for apartment buildings across Los Angeles, printed on Maxmetal® aluminum composite and UV resistant for California conditions. Not sure what your building needs? Our Parking Sign Wizard builds a checklist in a couple of minutes. Most orders ship within 2 to 3 business days from our Los Angeles location.

Try the Parking Sign Wizard Browse All Property Signs Get a Quote

Related Articles

• What Is California Vehicle Code 22658? A Complete Guide for LA Property Owners
• No Parking Fire Lane Signs in Los Angeles: What California Law Requires
• Property Control Signs for Los Angeles: What Every Building Manager Needs

==Legal Disclaimer
==This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It reflects general California and Los Angeles legal codes as of the date of publication and does not account for the specific facts of your property or local jurisdiction. Some requirements described here, such as tenant notice postings, involve printed notices rather than manufactured signage. Please consult a licensed attorney or the City of Los Angeles Housing Department before making compliance decisions.