May I have a speed limit sign on my street?

In accordance with City Ordinances, unless posted otherwise, the speed limit in a residential or business district is 25 MPH with or without the presence of a speed limit sign. Although not required, 25 miles per hour speed limit signs may be posted at entrances to residential or business areas. Multiple postings of 25 MPH speed limit signs on residential streets not only detract from a neighborhood's curb appeal, but it often fails to achieve the desired result of reducing the speed of motorists.

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) published by the United States Department of Transportation and the Federal Administration Highway is the national set of standards for traffic engineering. The MUTCD recommends that the following five factors be evaluated to establish safe and reasonable speed zones:

  • Roadway characteristics such as shoulder condition, grade, alignment, and sight distances.
  • Speed characteristics such as the 85th percentile speed.
  • Roadside development and friction.
  • Roadway curves and hazardous locations on and along the roadway.
  • Parking and pedestrian activity.

Show All Answers

1. May I have a "children at play" sign on my street?
2. May I have a speed limit sign on my street?
3. How does a traffic signal know if a vehicle is present?