West Covina Signage Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

West Covina's Zoning Ordinance establishes a strict prohibition on all forms of exterior business signage at residential properties operating home occupations. The fundamental requirement for any home occupation in West Covina is that the business must produce no exterior evidence of its existence — the residence must continue to look, sound, and function as a residence from the perspective of neighbors, passersby, and the surrounding community. This standard effectively eliminates any form of on-site commercial advertising, making West Covina's signage rules for home businesses among the most restrictive in the San Gabriel Valley.

The signage prohibition encompasses every conceivable form of exterior advertising. Wall-mounted signs, window decals or lettering, yard signs, freestanding monument or pole signs, temporary banners, A-frame or sandwich board signs placed on the sidewalk or driveway, flags with business names or logos, illuminated or neon signs, and electronic message displays are all prohibited. The restriction is not limited to the front of the home — business signage is prohibited on all exterior surfaces of the dwelling, accessory structures, fences, gates, and mailboxes. Even a small nameplate or plaque identifying the business by name is not permitted if it is visible from the exterior of the property.

Commercial vehicles represent a frequently enforced area of the signage restriction. A vehicle prominently displaying a business name, logo, phone number, or advertising — such as a wrapped van or truck with large commercial graphics — that is regularly parked at a residential address may be viewed as de facto business signage and a violation of the home occupation standards. West Covina's residential parking regulations generally restrict commercial vehicles parked on residential properties to those not exceeding one ton in rated capacity. Larger commercial vehicles with prominent business branding that are regularly parked at a home occupation address are subject to citation. Home-based business owners who use commercial vehicles are advised to park them in an enclosed garage or at an off-site commercial location.

Home-based business owners in West Covina are not prevented from advertising their businesses through off-site channels. Digital marketing, social media, business cards distributed at networking events, and listings in online directories are all permissible methods of advertising that do not involve physical signage at the residential address. However, placing business flyers on neighboring properties, public utility poles, mailboxes, or other public infrastructure is a separate municipal code violation and should be avoided.