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Council allows regulated A-frame signs in downtown with strict size and sidewalk rules
Summary
The Placerville City Council approved a zoning code amendment to permit regulated A-frame (sandwich board) signs in the central business district with a 2 ft by 3 ft maximum size, one sign per frontage, annual $50 permit, and a 48-inch clear pedestrian path to protect ADA access.
The Placerville City Council voted May 10 to allow limited A-frame signs on public sidewalks in the central business district while requiring a 48-inch clear pedestrian path and a $50 annual permit.
Carol Kendrick, the city’s Development Services director, told the council the amendment (COA25-03) is intended to “enhance economic opportunities for our central business district merchants,” while balancing historic character and public safety. Kendrick said the change follows a council direction from February 2024 to explore revisions after unauthorized signs proliferated on Main Street.
Key provisions approved by the council include a one-sign-per-building limit (with limited exceptions for multi-tenant façades), a six-square-foot area cap paired with a maximum width of 24 inches and a height cap of 36 inches (effectively a 2 ft by 3 ft limit), nonplastic materials (wood or metal), no illumination or digital elements, and display only during business hours. Placement must be within 12 inches of the building façade and preserve a 48‑inch accessible route per ADA/PROWAG standards. The ordinance includes a 90‑day compliance period following adoption.
During public comment, resident Sue Rodman and Kathy Lisman urged stricter enforcement and warned that a complaint-driven enforcement model will not manage recurring noncompliance. Rodman emphasized the pedestrian-access requirement: “if you can't have the 48‑inch walkway, then no signs would be permitted,” she said.
Councilmembers discussed liability and enforcement; one member proposed adding an explicit height limit to avoid narrow, tall signs that meet area limits but not visual uniformity. The council accepted that amendment and then approved the ordinance as amended on a unanimous roll-call vote.
The ordinance is intended to be enforced by the city’s code enforcement program; staff said property owners would be contacted when issues arise and owners would be primarily responsible for compliance and any resulting damages. The city will publish permit application instructions and enforcement expectations following final adoption.
