Sacramento County Code Changes to Take Effect 9/24/26

I wanted to share a recent Sacramento County zoning code update that may be of interest to Sign Contractors who work in the Sacramento area.

Sacramento County recently approved changes to its Design Review process that are expected to take effect on September 24, 2026. One of the more significant changes for the sign industry is the elimination of the Incidental-Level Design Review process.

Under the current process, freestanding signs, including monument signs, are generally subject to Incidental Design Review. With the new code update, the Incidental Design Review level is being eliminated altogether, and monument signs are specifically being added to the list of projects exempt from Design Review.

This should help streamline the permitting process for standard monument signs in unincorporated Sacramento County by removing the separate Design Review requirement. Monument signs will still need to comply with the applicable zoning and sign code requirements, and any site-specific requirements such as Special Planning Areas, conditions of approval, or other applicable entitlements would still need to be considered.

From a contractor’s perspective, I think this is a positive change. Design Review can add additional time, cost, and uncertainty to otherwise straightforward monument sign permits, particularly when the proposed sign already complies with the County’s established sign standards.

While this change is specific to Sacramento County, it raises the question of whether there are similar opportunities throughout California to streamline local sign permitting by eliminating duplicative or unnecessary discretionary review for signs that already comply with established zoning and sign code requirements. Sacramento County’s approach may be a useful example to look at as we consider permitting and regulatory issues affecting sign contractors statewide.

Sarah Bergh, Ainor Signs
CSA Government Affairs Committee Member