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ZOA No. 2025-02 to Amend Portions of Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code <br />Relating to A-Frame Signs <br />August 19, 2025 <br />Page 3 <br />5 <br />2 <br />2 <br />8 <br />Item Existing Zoning <br />Code Regulations <br />Proposed Zoning Code Amendment <br />Time of Placement None.An A-frame sign shall only be displayed during <br />operating hours of the business and must be removed <br />and stored when business is closed (Sec. 41-869(e)). <br />The Public Works Agency has drafted A-Frame Guidelines (Exhibit 3) that outline the <br />rules and requirements for placing A-frame signs to maintain pedestrian, cyclist, and <br />motorist safety. The guidelines are based on sections of the SAMC and are intended to <br />ensure that A-frames do not obstruct pathways or public infrastructure in the right-of-way. <br />Background <br />A-Frame signs, also known as sandwich board signs or sidewalk signs, are portable, self- <br />supporting signs shaped like the letter “A,” typically consisting of two panels joined at the <br />top and designed to stand freely on the ground. These signs are widely used by businesses <br />such as restaurants, retail stores, and service providers to display information such as daily <br />specials, promotions, or directional information. These signs are highly visible and easy to <br />update. <br />The City has prohibited A-frame signs in the past due to concerns about blocking pedestrian <br />pathways, damaging landscaping, and visual clutter in the streetscape. However, many <br />municipalities now allow such signage subject to objective standards because they boost <br />business visibility, contribute toward increasing foot traffic, and offer an affordable, flexible <br />display solution that can be easily modified, moved, or removed as needed. <br />Analysis <br />By implementing clear guidelines on size, placement, and materials, the proposed A-frame <br />ordinance ensures signs enhance, rather than detract from, the local urban environment. <br />Provisions for minimum setbacks from curbs, adequate pedestrian clear zones, and <br />prohibited display areas prevent obstructions and maintain accessibility. The ordinance also <br />has requirements for durable, high-quality materials and regular maintenance that <br />collectively work to prevent visual clutter and ensure aesthetic cohesion with and integration <br />into Santa Ana's streetscape. The City’s team of Planning and Building and Public Works <br />agencies staff worked together to define the permissible size, design standards, and <br />materials to ensure visual harmony with the city's streetscape, address potential <br />obstructions, promote safe pedestrian flow, and protect city infrastructure from damage. <br />The A-frame sign ordinance is consistent with the Supreme Court's ruling in Reed v. Town <br />of Gilbert. Rather than imposing restrictions based on the message displayed, which <br />Reed declared unconstitutional, this ordinance focuses on content-neutral regulations. <br />Specifically, it establishes clear guidelines for size, materials, portability, and placement, <br />ensuring that the rules apply to all A-frame signs, regardless of whether they advertise a <br />daily special, promote a local event, or convey a specific message. This approach allows <br />the City to manage visual clutter, maintain pedestrian safety, and protect the aesthetic <br />integrity of the public realm.