The City of Oakland is considering amending the existing Advertising Signs Ordinance to permit new or relocated Advertising Signs in limited areas adjacent to Interstates 80, 580, and 880
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) regulates Advertising Signs that are visible from highways and freeways in accordance with the Federal Highway Beautification Act and the California Outdoor Advertising Act (ODA).
The Outdoor Advertising Act and Regulations require:
Caltrans requires that applicants obtain a license to operate an outdoor advertising display and a permit for a specific location(s) of proposed advertising signs. Click here for Caltrans website with more information.
Oakland is considering amending certain parts of Titles 5, 14 and 17 of the Oakland Municipal Code (OMC) to:
1) Establish procedures and criteria related to the solicitation for and selection of proposals for new or relocated Advertising Signs on City-owned or leased property, including City-owned Rights-of-Way via a Request for Proposals process in Title 5
2) Establish requirements for the location, design, construction, and operation of Advertising Signs in Title 14
3) Add Real Estate Agreement to the Planning Code (Title 17) as a type of legislatively approved agreement for City Council consideration for new or relocated Advertising Signs on City-owned property, private property leased by the City, and City-owned Rights-of-Way.
Below are links to specific Chapters in Titles 14 and 17 of the OMC as they currently relate to Advertising Signs.
| Maximum Height | Minimum Clearance | Brightness Levels (Digital Only) |
|---|---|---|
No more than 75' in height inclusive of supporting structures, measured from finished grade of the freeway travel lane closest to the sign to its uppermost point |
Projecting over a freeway: Minimum 40' between the lowest point of the sign and the finished grade of the freeway |
No more than 0.3 foot candles above ambient light, as measured using a foot candle meter at a pre-set distance |
Projecting over pedestrian path: Minimum 20' between the lowest point of the sign and the path of travel grade |
Measure Distance criteria:
|
On December 15, 2020, the City Council passed Resolution No. 88463 directing the Planning Commission under Planning Code Section 17.144.030(b) to: (a) initiate a process to consider amendments to Section 17.104.060 of the Planning Code (Oakland Advertising Signs Ordinance) and Section 14.04.270 of the Municipal Code (Oakland Sign Code) to amend the mechanisms by which the City may approve the installation and operation of new Advertising Signs via Development Agreements in very limited geographic areas in the City, to the extent legally permissible, and (b) upon the conclusion of such process, recommend specific text amendments to the Planning and Municipal Codes for the City Administrator to incorporate into a future ordinance. City Council meeting agenda and staff reports are available online as well as the Planning Commission and its committees.
In response to staff's recommended proposed amendments presented to Planning Commission on October 19, 2022, the Oakland Planning Commission received and entered into the public record an alternative proposal to amend parts of Titles 5, 14, and 17. The Billboard Economic Development Coalition, a consortium of neighborhood-serving nonprofits and organizations, ethnic chambers of commerce, and small, local businesses and property owners, submitted its alternative proposal prior to the public hearing. The Planning Commission's recommended amendments are only to OMC 17.104.060 and can be viewed here.
The City of Oakland's Planning Code currently restricts new Advertising Signs on private property; however, staff is considering amendments to Titles 5, 14, and 17 of the Oakland Municipal Code (OMC) that would allow for Advertising Signs in areas zoned Industrial or Commercial.
For specific questions, please email dfindley@oaklandca.gov.