Beverly Hills Will Lower Street Speed Limits

Beginning October 1, 2026, the city will reduce default speeds in business areas to 20 MPH to improve safety.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in City Hall

Isometric editorial illustration of a raised crosswalk on a palm-lined street, representing urban traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures. — The city of Beverly Hills will implement a 20 MPH speed limit in business districts starting October 1, 2026, to increase pedestrian safety. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support lowering speed limits in your community to improve street safety?

Starting October 1, 2026, Beverly Hills will implement reduced speed limits on select streets within its business districts. The change lowers the default limit from 25 MPH to 20 MPH to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

Why it matters

The city aims to reduce vehicle and pedestrian crashes, citing research that indicates a 17 percent reduction in fatal accidents for every 1 MPH decrease in speed. This initiative focuses on protecting all road users by addressing high-risk traffic areas.

This policy change is a government action that lowers Business Activity District speed limits from 25 MPH to 20 MPH, following the 2022 enactment of Assembly Bill 43. It remains to be determined exactly which streets in the city will receive the new signs.

The players

Beverly Hills

This city is the local authority responsible for implementing the new speed limit ordinance.

The details

Beverly Hills utilized an assessment by a consulting firm that analyzed Engineering and Traffic Survey data to determine the new limits. The city is currently preparing to post new signs across the affected areas to ensure the ordinance is fully enforceable.

Assembly Bill 43 was enacted in 2022.
The new ordinance implementation begins on October 1, 2026.
New speed limit signs will be posted over the next several weeks.

Political Context

This move follows the framework provided by Assembly Bill 43, which empowers local jurisdictions to prioritize crash history and land use over traditional traffic flow metrics. While aimed at safety, such policies often face pushback from commuters concerned about longer travel times and the potential for increased traffic congestion.

Residents and commuters should prepare for lower speed limits on select streets starting October 1, 2026. Drivers must monitor the new signage as it is posted in the coming weeks to avoid potential traffic citations and ensure compliance with the updated city ordinance.

The takeaway

Slower driving speeds in urban business districts are increasingly utilized to decrease the severity of pedestrian and vehicle collisions. Drivers should adjust their habits accordingly as municipalities adopt these safety-focused traffic regulations.