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Planning Commission recommends clearer rules for off‑premises and election signs
Summary
The commission approved a municipal code amendment to clarify noncommercial off-premises sign standards, including reduced post-election removal period and stronger removal authority for signs in the public right of way.
The Temecula Planning Commission on Thursday voted to recommend amendments to Chapter 17 of the Temecula Municipal Code to clarify standards for off-premises signs, including election signs, and to strengthen removal authority for signs placed in the public right of way.
Brandon (staff) summarized the proposal, saying the update is intended to simplify legalese in the code and to provide clearer, practical rules for residents, candidates and staff. “We're not looking to, remove the ability of anybody to, post election signs. It's really to clarify the municipal code,” he said.
Key proposed changes include limiting maximum sign area and height consistent with existing code (12 square feet and 6 feet tall), clarifying that signs may not be placed on public property or within the public right of way without permission, adding a minimum separation rule to prevent continuous sign displays that mimic billboards, and shortening the post‑election removal period from 14 days to 10 days to align with surrounding jurisdictions. The amendment also would allow the city to remove and destroy any sign located in the public right of way without first storing it, while preserving the standard abatement process for signs on private property.
Staff said public-right-of-way sign removal has become a recurring enforcement burden and that clarifying removal authority would make enforcement more efficient and safer. The amendment also explicitly prohibits defacing, stapling to or otherwise damaging public signs. Staff recommended the Commission find the ordinance exempt from CEQA under Guideline 15061(b)(3).
Commissioners who served on subcommittees said they had reviewed draft language through the municipal code maintenance process and with the City Council general-plan ad hoc subcommittee; both subcommittees were reported as supportive. Commissioner Bob Hagel, who served on the municipal-code subcommittee, supported the change and said it should make enforcement cleaner for staff. No members of the public offered comment on this item.
Commissioner Hagel moved to recommend the ordinance (LR25-0123) to the City Council; Commissioner Fernando seconded. The motion passed with the chair calling “Aye.” The commission forwarded the recommended municipal code changes and the CEQA exemption to the City Council for consideration.
