The Los Angeles Department of Transportation annually installs and maintains nearly 4,000 directional guide signs. Fabricated through the agency's own sign shop and city vendors. LADOT provides guide signs where:
		A major site of interest is hidden or inaccessible from arterial streets Surface streets connect with freeways Multiple streets intersect Complex intersections exist

Los Angeles Department of Transportation employees post directional guide signs either alongside the road or above it. Overhead signs with larger letters are used at locations where motorists need to determine which traffic lane they should enter. Most guide signs have white text on a green background. LADOT produces a few signs with blue backgrounds, such as those signifying hospitals or police stations. In all cases, signs are standardized in their use of upper and lower case letters, arrows and symbols.

State and federal law from the manual of traffic control device (MUTCD) require standard sign features. Clear, concise messages using standard formats have proven to be the most effective for motorists. Standardized signs minimize sudden motorist turns and lane changes. Alternate sign formats are generally not allowed. Exceptions are made for community and neighborhood signs.