What's in a Sign?

Beverly Hills City Limits

The Beverly Hills city shields were originally resurrected to differentiate the City of Beverly Hills from the City of Los Angeles, and the symbolic border signs signal to anyone driving or walking by, that they are entering a city within a city.

According to the Beverly Hills Historical Society, the original shield sign was designed in the 1930s by the Warner Bros. art department at the request of the studio president, Jack Warner, who was a Beverly Hills resident. Upon closer inspection, the original sign aesthetic is very reminiscent of the WB logo at that time.

Hollywood historian and owner of Bison Archives, Marc Wanamaker, commented that public records information and origins of the signs are slim, but there are images dating back to the 1930s. Additionally, in a Beverly Hills Courier article from November 1996, it was noted that the signs were constructed of durable steel by Econolite and finished with porcelain-enamel.

Cut to Modern Times

The eight shield signs dotted around the city's borders are not just viewed as a historic line of demarcation, but as one of the top spots in greater Los Angeles to take a selfie. The shield sign located at the Beverly Hills Visitor Center at 9400 South Santa Monica Boulevard at North Canon Drive in the heart of the Golden Triangle, the city's central business district, is the shortest and easiest to pose for a photograph. The sign is also illuminated at night, so no need to use a flash after sunset.

The Visitor Center provides complimentary concierge services to travelers, tourist information and official Beverly Hills branded merchandise. Be sure to shop our store when you stop by or visit us online.

The trademarked Beverly Hills shield logo has even shown up in films such as “Shrek 2’ and “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” to name a couple. So, whether you view the shield signs as an enduring historic symbol, a design marvel, genius marketing campaign, or a great selfie-spot, now you know a bit more about their origins and significance to the City of Beverly Hills.

Sign Locations

City limit signs are located at the following intersections below. Please take extreme care and vehicular traffic into consideration before snapping a selfie and abide by city laws and ordinances. And, if you do post any images on social media, be sure to tag @LoveBevHills or use #LoveBevHills. We would love to see them!

• Sunset Boulevard and Sierra Drive
• Sunset Boulevard and Ladera Drive
• Wilshire Boulevard and San Vicente Boulevard
• Wilshire Boulevard and Whittier Drive 
• North Santa Monica Boulevard and Doheny Drive
• South Santa Monica Boulevard and South Moreno Drive
• Olympic Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard
• West Olympic Boulevard and South Spaulding Drive (adjacent to Beverly Hills High School)

About the Author

Carole Dixon’s international career in film, television and publishing has spanned over several continents but holds a long history in Beverly Hills. Dixon worked for the late, legendary talk-show host Merv Griffin’s production company based in the city for over a decade when he owned The Beverly Hilton Hotel. Since then, her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Travel & Leisure, Robb Report, Modern Luxury, AFAR, PureWow, The Hollywood Reporter, Wallpaper and the Beverly Hills Courier, among many others. As a luxury lifestyle expert, she frequently reviews Michelin starred restaurants and chefs, 5-star resorts, wine country regions, spas, interior designers and architects. Favorite projects have included producing “Food for Thought” for Bloomberg in London with legendary A.A. Gill, co-launching “The Feast” for NBC LA and penning the Wallpaper City Guide Books for many years.