LA City Council Members Push Crackdown on Illegal Ads

Proposed ordinance aims to enhance enforcement, close loopholes, and protect public right-of-way.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Two Los Angeles City Council members, Katy Yaroslavsky and Bob Blumenfield, have introduced a motion to crack down on illegal street-facing advertisements in the city. The proposed ordinance would require outdoor advertising operators to register with the city, establish steep daily fines for illegal digital signage, hold property owners and parent companies accountable, and declare illegal ads a public nuisance to allow for faster removal.

Why it matters

Illegal ads have become a widespread issue in Los Angeles, with entire buildings being wrapped in unpermitted ads and vacant lots being used more for advertising than development. The council members argue that without stronger enforcement, the problem will only worsen as the city prepares to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The details

The proposed ordinance would require outdoor advertising operators to submit a sworn inventory of all street-facing ads, establish fines of up to $50,000 per day for illegal digital signage, hold property owners and parent companies accountable for violations by shell entities, and declare illegal ads a public nuisance to allow for faster removal and cost recovery. The motion also aims to amend the city's temporary construction wall sign rules, which have been exploited to allow advertising on vacant properties with little or no real development activity.

  • The motion will first be heard by the Planning and Land Use Management Committee before being considered by the City Council.

The players

Katy Yaroslavsky

A Los Angeles City Council member who introduced the motion to crack down on illegal ads.

Bob Blumenfield

A Los Angeles City Council member who co-introduced the motion to crack down on illegal ads.

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What they’re saying

“In the absence of a real, funded enforcement system, rogue advertising companies have done whatever they think they can get away with.”

— Katy Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles City Council member (dailybreeze.com)

“Our public right-of-way is being treated like free commercial ad space and a landfill. If companies want to advertise to Angelenos, the city and our neighborhoods should benefit.”

— Katy Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles City Council member (dailybreeze.com)

What’s next

The motion will first be heard by the Planning and Land Use Management Committee before being considered by the full City Council.

The takeaway

This proposed crackdown on illegal ads in Los Angeles highlights the growing problem of unpermitted outdoor advertising and the city's efforts to regain control of public spaces and ensure that any commercial activity benefits the community, not just advertising companies.