Council adopts changes to sign code to allow limited weekend parkway signs, citing Supreme Court precedent

The Santa Barbara City Council on July 1 voted 6‑1 to adopt amendments to chapter 22.70 of the municipal code that revise the city’s sign regulations to make temporary‑sign enforcement constitutionally defensible and to establish limited allowances for off‑premise temporary signs in parkway areas on weekend periods.

City staff presented the ordinance changes as a response to U.S. Supreme Court guidance on content‑based regulation of signs and years of complaints about signs placed in public rights‑of‑way. John Duemos, identified in the meeting as a city staff presenter, told council the goal was “to have a constitutionally sound ordinance that’s enforceable,” citing the need to avoid content‑based rules after the court decision referenced in staff’s presentation.

What the ordinance does: The amendments permit temporary off‑premise portable signs in parkway areas (not blocking sidewalks or vehicle lanes) for a limited weekend window — described in staff presentation as a 42‑hour period from 6 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday — with size and placement limits (staff said signs must be freestanding, limited to 42 inches above ground and within an area no greater than six square feet, and not attached to utility poles). The ordinance…