The Santa Barbara City Council has approved a new ordinance that will tighten regulations on the use of commercial signage in public right-of-way areas. The rules are aimed at bettering pedestrian safety and accessibility, and ensuring better adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements in the city’s public spaces and sidewalks.
Highlights
- On July 1, 2025, the city council of Santa Barbara adopted an ordinance prohibiting businesses from placing signs in public right-of-way areas.
- The city’s public works department will approve permits and establish design criteria for any allowed signage.
- The ordinance applies citywide to commercial businesses to ensure better mobility for all.
City Council Adopts New Set of Rules for Business Signs to Ease Pedestrian Access
The ordinance has been adopted to improve public accessibility. This was brought to the forefront by several advocates of accessibility and approved on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. As per the council agenda report, improperly placed signs can obstruct pedestrian traffic, create issues with visibility, in addition to posing safety hazards, particularly for those using mobility devices such as wheelchairs.
Under this ordinance, commercial signs will have to be limited to design guidelines, including a maximum height of 42 inches set in place by the Public Works Department. Businesses that fail to comply with the guidelines could be subject to citations or removal for up to 90 days.
On Tuesday, the council approved the ordinance in a 6–1 vote, with only Councilman Oscar Gutierrez voting against the bill. More about the ordinance can be found on the Council Agenda Report. Complete meeting minutes and additional documentation can be accessed through the city website.
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I like this move. The sings sitting around on sidewalks not only block folks trying to walk, but also make the downtown zone look cheap. Not a good look.
Gutierrez must have seen some discrimination in the idea of aesthetic and safe signage. Whew!
are there enough people strolling downtown these days for this to be a big issue?
You never go there, eh?