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Plano council directs staff to draft sign ordinance changes, sets 42-inch maximum height for political signs
Summary
Council discussion on political signs at city facilities focused on whether to permit stacking, safety near driveways and enforceability. Council asked staff to draft an amendment setting a 42-inch maximum sign height and removing the unenforced five-sign limitation; staff flagged First Amendment concerns about candidate agreements.
Plano City Councilors discussed potential updates to the city’s political sign rules, including whether to allow stacking of yard signs, a maximum sign height and enforcement around polling locations and driveway sightlines. The council directed staff to draft ordinance language that would set a 42-inch maximum height for political signs and remove a section limiting candidates to five signs that the city had stopped enforcing.
Cecil Amata of Building Inspections opened the item with an overview of the current ordinance provisions for political signs on private property, including existing limits and dimensions: 36 square feet maximum for private property, 4 square feet typical yard signs, an 8-foot setback from property lines and timing rules for placement and removal. Amata presented visuals and examples of common yard sign sizes and "stacking"—placing one corrugated sign directly behind another on the same wire stake.
Council members raised two recurring concerns: equity among candidates and public-safety sightline obstruction. One council member urged limits on stacking to prevent a single candidate from "taking over the entire field" by occupying prime space early in the campaign season. Another council member said visibility at driveways and parking-lot entries was the primary safety concern: "If a person is coming out of that driveway, their vision is going to be impaired," the member said, arguing for limits near driveways and entrances.
City staff confirmed recent enforcement actions against oversized signs and said the department had stopped enforcing the five-sign-per-candidate limit in early February. A staff attorney identified only as Michelle recommended caution about asking candidates to sign agreements that would waive constitutional rights, saying, "I think we'd have a problem with First Amendment concerns." She said the city could provide optional acknowledgement forms that explain the city's preferences and request voluntary compliance.
Council members debated a practical measurement approach rather than overly detailed stacking rules. Several suggested simple numerical limits to reduce disputes: proposals included a 40-inch or 42-inch maximum overall height so that whether a sign is one piece or stacked the total height is clear and enforceable. Council members also discussed allowing up to two standard yard signs stacked together but emphasized that safety-related visibility zones should remain off-limits for signage.
By consensus the council directed staff to return with draft ordinance language reflecting a lowered maximum sign height (42 inches) and to strike the unenforced section on a five-sign limit, and asked staff to include recommended visibility triangle setbacks similar to those used in the fence-permit process so polling‑place driveways and library entrances are kept clear. Staff said they will draft the amendment for future council consideration; there was no formal vote at the meeting.
