Council adopts temporary TUP and temporary‑sign rules to help businesses recover; ordinance limited, sunset set for May 31, 2026

Malibu’s City Council adopted an urgency ordinance (5‑26‑U) and companion ordinance (5‑26) on July 14 to allow limited temporary events and temporary signage intended to help local businesses recover from the Palisades fire and prolonged Pacific Coast Highway closures. Under the new, temporary rules staff brought forward and the council approved: - Events with fewer than 100 people at any 1 time (excluding staff) require a planning clearance and are not appealable; an application is required at least 2 business days before the event. These are intended for small, public promotions. - Events with 100–250 people at any 1 time require a temporary use permit (TUP); the city reduced the application lead time from 35 days under the normal code to 7 days for these temporary, recovery‑oriented events. - To limit cumulative impacts, the council adopted a per‑month cap on such events: shopping centers may apply for up to four one‑day mid‑sized events per month, while businesses not in a shopping center are limited to two one‑day events per month. Larger events (251+ attendees) remain subject to the existing TUP rules (including the existing six‑per‑year cap) and appeals process. - Event permits must be applied for by the shopping‑center owner when multiple tenants will use the same center on the same day; aggregated attendance across a center determines the permit tier rather than counting separate tenant events in isolation. - Events authorized under this temporary program must be open to the general public; a fee may be charged for admission but private, invitation‑only events are not eligible under the temporary rules. - Temporary signage for recovery events was authorized with limits: signs must be temporary, non‑illuminated (except by special compliance with the city’s dark‑sky code), limited in size, and must not be placed in public rights of way without authorization. Signs used to direct visitors to events must be on the subject parcel and may not mimic official traffic or regulatory signage. - The temporary package is limited in time: the temporary rules take effect immediately (urgency ordinance) and will expire May 31, 2026; staff will report to the council in January 2026 on how the program is working and whether changes are warranted. Council members said the package is a compromise: several members emphasized protecting Malibu’s scenic character and preventing the city from becoming a site for frequent commercialized events. Staff stressed enforcement plans – including increased weekend code‑enforcement presence – and said the limits were intended to ensure predictability for neighborhoods. The council approved the urgency ordinance in a 5‑0 roll call: Council Members Earing, Conrad, Stewart, Mayor Riggins and Mayor Pro Tem Silverstein voting yes. The ordinance language allows the community development director to attach conditions to permits intended to reduce noise, lighting and parking impacts, and permits can be denied or revoked for violations. Staff will refine application forms and post clear notice procedures for residents; the program begins immediately under the urgency ordinance and will be revisited during the January update.