Posts the maximum legal speed for the roadway, establishing the enforceable speed limit drivers must not exceed.
MUTCD-style sign reference illustration. Always verify against the official CA MUTCD and Caltrans sign charts.
| Sign code | R2-1 |
|---|---|
| Federal code | R2-1 |
| Name | Speed Limit |
| Category | Regulatory Signs |
| Shape | Rectangle (Vertical) |
| Color | White background, black legend |
| California status | Used in California per CA MUTCD |
| Typical CA minimum size | 24" × 30" |
Download this sign or open the official MUTCD reference.
Official source: FHWA Standard Highway Signs, 2024 (11th Edition) — Regulatory signs.
Source: FHWA Standard Highway Signs — Public Domain. California: CA MUTCD 2026 (effective Jan 18, 2026).
Files linked from FHWA are official government publications in the public domain. CA MUTCD and Caltrans links open official government websites. Always verify against the current edition.
Posts the maximum legal speed for the roadway, establishing the enforceable speed limit drivers must not exceed.
Posts the maximum legal speed for the roadway, establishing the enforceable speed limit drivers must not exceed. In the field, R2-1 Speed Limit is typically positioned at the point of regulation within the activity area. Common deployments include posting reduced work-zone speed limits; established under the proper speed-setting authority; used with work-zone warning signing. Always confirm its size, retroreflective sheeting, spacing, and placement against the CA MUTCD 2026 and the reviewing agency before finalizing the traffic control plan.
Used in California where a reduced work-zone speed limit is established through the proper authority, posted to set the temporary limit through the area.
Common field deployments
Agency review note
StreetsLA, LA County DPW, and Caltrans District 7 may require larger sizes or additional devices. Verify with the reviewing agency before finalizing the TCP.
Typical minimum: 24" × 30".
Sizes are CA MUTCD minimums and vary by roadway classification and speed. Verify against the CA MUTCD 2026 (CA MUTCD Part 2B (Regulatory Signs)), Caltrans sign specifications, and the reviewing agency.
Where it sits: Point of regulation within the activity area.
CA MUTCD reference: CA MUTCD Part 2B (Regulatory Signs).
In Los Angeles, temporary regulatory changes (speed, one-way, turn or entry restrictions) generally involve LADOT review, and on state highways Caltrans District 7. Regulatory authority cannot be created by signing alone — confirm the change is authorized by the agency with jurisdiction over the roadway.
Confirm any reduced limit is properly authorized and posted; speed cannot be lowered by signing alone. Public Ready reviews work-zone speed documentation.
These signs are typically deployed alongside R2-1 on a California TCP.
Posting a work-zone speed limit? Public Ready can supply SPEED LIMIT (R2-1) signs with the correct legend.
Free official resource — opens official government website
Free official resource — opens official government website
Free official resource — opens official government website
Free official resource — opens official government website
Educational reference only. This is not an official Caltrans, FHWA, or local agency publication and is not legal or engineering advice. Always verify sign selection, size, placement, spacing, and application against the current CA MUTCD 2026, Caltrans sign specifications, Standard Plans, project documents, and the reviewing agency’s requirements.
To understand the bigger picture around permits, agency review, lane closures, and pedestrian access for work zones using R2-1 Speed Limit, visit WorkZoneCompliance.com.
Public Ready can help with R2-1 Speed Limit — including sign rental or purchase, California-compliant signs and traffic control plan support, and agency-review support for Caltrans District 7, the City of Los Angeles, and LA County.
