Title
Railyards Special Planning District (SPD) - Subdistrict 2 - Static Digital Signs for Large Entertainment Venues (M25-009)
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FileID
File ID: 2026-01484
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Location
Location: Sacramento Railyards Special Planning District - Subdistrict 2, District 4
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Recommendation
Recommendation: 1) Review an ordinance amending subsection 15.148.193.F of the Sacramento City Code, relating to signs in the Railyards; and 2) pass a Motion forwarding the ordinance to City Council for consideration.
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Contact
Contact: Matthew Sites, Senior Architect, AIA, LEED AP, (916) 808-7646, msites@cityofsacramento.org; Bruce Monighan, Urban Design Manager, (916) 808-5260, bmonighan@cityofsacramento.org; Community Development Department
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Presenter
Presenter: Matthew Sites, Senior Architect, AIA, LEED AP, (916) 808-7646, msites@cityofsacramento.org, Community Development Department
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Ordinance (Redline of 10/14/2025 ordinance)
3-Ordinance (Redline)
4-Ordinance (Clean)
5-Staff Presentation
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: On December 2, 2025, the City Council, recognizing the strategic and economic importance of establishing a Railyards special sign district to address gaps in the urban fabric and complement adjacent special planning districts, adopted the Railyards special sign district ordinance (City Code section 15.148.193). Staff is bringing forward an amendment to the Railyards special sign district to address the Sacramento Shops Historic District, which embodies the history, structure and namesake of the Railyards. The rehabilitation and repurposing of these existing historic structures into new activated uses requires a fresh yet thoughtful approach to signage.
The proposed ordinance amends City Code section 15.148.193.F., to allow the use of static digital displays that are intended to support the adaptive reuse of historic buildings (such as the Paintshop Building) within subdistrict 2 of the Railyards special sign district (the Sacramento Shops Historic District). The proposed amendment would allow limited special signage for large entertainment venues, defined as permanent buildings or structures primarily used for entertainment and capable of accommodating more than 2,000 people. While digital signs are currently prohibited within historic districts, the proposed amendment would allow a digital format limited to static display only, meaning content would not update every few seconds (as with typical digital signs), but varied in measurements of minutes based on operational periods.
On October 14, 2025, the Law and Legislation Committee reviewed and passed a motion forwarding to City Council for its consideration an ordinance that was substantially similar to the ordinance that is being presented for consideration today (a redline draft that reflects the changes that have been made to the previous ordinance is attached as Attachment 2). After the October 2025 L&L meeting, City staff entered additional discussions with the property owner and operator about the content of the ordinance that led staff to pause further actions before the ordinance was presented to the City Council for consideration. The discussions provided additional information regarding operational needs that were not presented to staff prior to the project entering the construction phase. As a result of this information, under the proposed ordinance, rather than being limited to a single static image every 24 hours, static images may change every 15 minutes, except that during a specified period on event days, images may change every 5 minutes Furthermore, the hours of operation have changed from dawn to midnight seven days a week to dawn to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and dawn to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. This approach offers flexibility in time, place, and manner of signage while ensuring compatibility with the historic character of the district and maintaining reversibility.
The proposed amendment language is consistent with existing City Code section 15.148.920 (“Signs for Large Entertainment Venues”), but applies exclusively to historic structures within the Sacramento Shops Historic District of the Railyards Special Planning District - subdistrict 2. Illumination levels are also addressed in the proposed amendment to complement the character of the historic district. Staff is requesting the Law and Legislation Committee accept and forward the proposed amendments to City Council for adoption.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: The proposed amendment to signage within the Railyards Special Sign District, subdistrict 2, Sacramento Shops Historic District would allow limited digital signage within the district while preventing uncontrolled proliferation of digital signs and respectfully promoting new technology to increase economic vitality for businesses, consistent with the following 2040 General Plan goals and policies.
Goal LU 2.4. City of Distinctive and Memorable Places. Promote community design that produces a distinctive, high-quality built environment whose forms and character reflect Sacramento’s unique historic, environmental, and architectural context, and create memorable places that enrich community life.
Policy LU 2.4.1. Unique Sense of Place. The City shall promote quality site, architectural, and landscape design that incorporates those qualities and characteristics that make Sacramento desirable and memorable including: walkable blocks, distinctive parks and open spaces, tree-lined streets, and varied architectural styles.
The Railyards is one of the last large downtown infill sites on the west coast, which makes it unique and an opportunity to apply distinct solutions for City integration. The utilization of limited digital signage in a static format selectively within the Sacramento Shops Historic District for large entertainment venues could benefit a building like the Paintshop as it is converted into one of these venues.
GOAL HCR 2.1 Identification and Preservation of Historic and Cultural Resources. Identify and preserve the city’s historic and cultural resources to enrich our sense of place and our understanding of the City’s prehistory and history.
HCR 2.1.14 Adaptive Reuse. The City shall encourage adaptive reuse of historic resources when the original use of the resource is no longer feasible.
HCR 2.1.11 Compatibility with Historic Context. The City shall review proposed new development, alterations, and rehabilitation/remodels for compatibility with the surrounding historic context. The City shall pay special attention to the scale, massing, and relationship of proposed new development to surrounding historic resources.
The Sacramento Shops Historic District epitomizes the Railyards identity and serves as a reminder of the past while offering the opportunity to adaptively reuse the existing structures. New uses of these historic spaces require signage commensurate with the use, such as a music venue marquee sign while still being true to the historic form and structure details.
Goal HR-1: Provide for the public use and enjoyment of historic resources within the Plan Area.
Policy HR-1.1: Allow a mixture of public oriented, cultural, and commercial-recreational uses that reinforce the Sacramento Shops Historic District as a regional destination and that promote viable reuse of the historic district.
Policy HR-1.4: Preserve and rehabilitate the Southern Pacific Depot complex in a manner that will enhance its civic significance in the downtown and Railyards area and in conformance with the City of Sacramento’s SITF site plan.
The Sacramento Shops Historic District reflects the character and legacy of the Railyards while offering opportunities for adaptive reuse of its historic structures. As these spaces are repurposed for new functions-such as music and entertainment venues-some uses will require signage that is appropriate to their scale and visibility needs yet still respects the architectural integrity and historic character of the buildings. The proposed ordinance aims to strike a thoughtful balance between modern functional requirements and historic preservation. It allows for limited, static digital signage that complements the historic setting while supporting public access, engagement, and the long-term viability of these landmark structures.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: The Community Development Department, Environmental Planning Services Section has determined, pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) that the proposed ordinance is exempt from CEQA. The ordinance to allow for limited digital signage within the historic district while continuing to protect the historic integrity of the district and its contributing resources is covered by the common-sense exemption (§15061(b)(3)). With the review protections described in the ordinance and the ability for modifying and removing the signage, the ordinance would not result in a significant effect on the environment and as such is exempt from CEQA. The Railyards Specific Plan Update, KP Medical Center, MLS Stadium, and Stormwater Outfall Subsequent EIR which was certified by the City Council on November 11, 2016 (Resolution No. 2016-0379) included discussion of allowing for provision of tenant signage on walls in addition to the prior allowed signs within the Central Shops District.
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Sustainability
Sustainability: No sustainability considerations apply to the request.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: On June 18, 2025, the Preservation Commission passed a motion forwarding a recommendation to City Council to adopt an ordinance amending section 15.148.193 of the Sacramento City Code (Railyards Special Planning District) to allow static digital signage for large entertainment venues within the Sacramento Shops Historic District (Subdistrict 2). On October 14, 2025, the Law and Legislative Committee reviewed and passed a motion forwarding the ordinance to City Council for consideration.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: This amendment would allow for limited static digital signage within the Sacramento Shops Historic District while continuing to protect the historic integrity of the historic district and its contributing resources.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: None.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): No goods or services are being purchased under this report.
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Background
Background: In 2022, the Paintshop Building was approved for an adaptive reuse as a 5,000-seat live entertainment venue, which requires signage to advertise performances and events. This presents a unique challenge when such uses are located within historic buildings. Traditionally, entertainment venues used static marquee signs with interchangeable letters to promote upcoming acts. However, the buildings within the Sacramento Shops Historic District were originally industrial and not designed for entertainment purposes, meaning they lack precedent for such signage.
Staff has taken into consideration the following U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (Rehabilitation Treatment) and National Park Services Preservation Brief while developing this sign code:
1. Standard 2 - Historic Character
"The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided."
• Implication: Static digital signs would not obscure, damage, or detract from character-defining features of the building or site.
2. Standard 9 - New Additions
"New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property."
• Implication: Static digital signs would be reversible and should not require major alterations to historic materials (e.g., drilling into masonry).
3. Standard 10 - Reversibility
"New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a manner that, if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired."
• Implication: Static digital signs would be installed in ways that allow for full removal without permanent damage.
National Park Service (NPS) Guidance on Signage:
In its Preservation Brief 25: The Preservation of Historic Signs, the NPS provides additional guidance:
• New signs should be compatible with the historic character of the building.
• Internally illuminated signs (including digital) are often inappropriate for historic buildings, particularly if they are overly bright or clash with the aesthetic.
• Flashing, blinking, or excessively animated digital signs are generally discouraged.
Overall, digital signs may be allowed under the Standards if they:
• Are reversible and do not damage historic materials.
• Do not detract from or obscure character-defining features.
• Are compatible in design, scale, and illumination with the historic property.
• Are subtle in animation and lighting, avoiding modern visual clutter.
To support adaptive reuse, a modern interpretation of the marquee-specifically, static digital signage-can offer a practical and historically sensitive solution. While traditional signage often relies on illuminated individual letters to attract attention, it lacks the flexibility to accommodate the constantly changing needs of entertainment programming. A static digital sign serves as a contemporary equivalent to the marquee, offering several benefits: it can be updated instantly without the need for ladders or physical tools, it allows for custom graphics (such as artist images or event logos), and it supports the operational needs of a dynamic venue while maintaining compatibility with historic surroundings. Many historic theatres have adopted this type of signage while rehabilitating the building or existing marquees. Most importantly, the brightness of static digital signs will be consistent with standard signage (meeting City standards for digital illumination) and will match hours of operation for entertainment driven use, ensuring visual stability and historic appropriateness.
For clarity, any proposed static digital signage will be subject to review by the Preservation Director. As part of this review, the Director and staff will reference the existing Sacramento Shops Historic District Signage Guidelines, with the most relevant provisions outlined below.
PRINCIPLE: Signage in the Central Shops District (now renamed the Sacramento Shops Historic District) shall be designed to reflect the historical character of this area while creating a lively, vibrant entertainment district.
3) Design signs such that materials, illumination, and size complement the character of the historic resources, yet be of their own time.
7) Provide district identity markers that are pedestrian-scaled and related by design, materials, and location with the character-defining features of the historic district.
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