Regulatory Signs

Signs that set legal requirements — stop, yield, speed limit, do not enter, wrong way, and one-way movement — as applied in California traffic control.

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Signs in Regulatory

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Reference

Verify Current Standards

Regulatory signs tell road users what they must or must not do, and disobeying them is a violation of the law. In a California work zone, regulatory signs are used to establish temporary control — closing a roadway or ramp, setting a reduced speed limit, defining a one-way movement, or preventing wrong-way entry into a closed segment.

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Sign Code

Related Resources

California Notes

View state-specific considerations and adoptions for Regulatory Signs.

Explore California Notes

Work Zone Compliance

Ensure your signs meet MUTCD and Caltrans requirements.

Visit WorkZoneCompliance.com

Download Guide

Learn about file formats, uses, and best practices for sign downloads.

View Download Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a contractor lower the speed limit in a work zone with a sign?

No. Posting a SPEED LIMIT (R2-1) sign does not by itself establish an enforceable limit. The reduced limit must be authorized by the agency with jurisdiction over the roadway. Confirm the authorization before showing a reduced limit on the TCP.

When are DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY used together?

DO NOT ENTER (R5-1) faces traffic that could wrongly enter a closed lane, ramp, or one-way segment, while WRONG WAY (R5-1a) is placed further in to alert a driver who has already entered against traffic. They are commonly paired to protect one-way operations and closed ramps.

What size should a temporary STOP sign be?

Use the R1-1 row and notes in CA MUTCD Table 2B-1 and the applicable roadway provisions. The permitted size depends on the facility and application; a dimension listed on a drawing is not a universal minimum.

Are regulatory signs orange in work zones?

No. Regulatory signs keep their standard regulatory colors even within a TTC zone — for example, STOP stays red and white. Only warning and most guide signs use the fluorescent orange work-zone background.

Need regulatory signs for a California project?

Public Ready can help you source the regulatory signs used in California work zones and coordinate them with your traffic control plan.

Contact Public Ready or call (323) 900-9824