Project Overview

The City of Walnut Creek is excited to announce an update to the City's Sign Regulations and Sign Guidelines. This planning effort will allow the City to implement best practices to ensure aesthetically pleasing and cohesive sign design throughout the community while fostering a business-friendly environment. This update aims to:

• Develop a clear vision for how signage contributes to Walnut Creek’s character 

• Address changes to State law, reflect current trends, support local businesses, and enhance public spaces.

• Strike a balance between flexible rules, addressing current issues and needs, and maintaining Walnut Creek’s community aesthetic

The success of this effort will depend on input from both residents and business owners to fully identify the community’s vision, needs, and expectations. There will be many opportunities to participate in this project through online surveys, working groups, and public meetings. As this project progresses, this webpage will be your primary source for information related to the Sign Regulations and Sign Guidelines Update, including project documents, engagement activities, and upcoming public meetings.

Project Roadmap

Phase 1: Project Initiation

During this phase, the Project Team will lay the foundation for the Sign Regulations and Guidelines Update, including developing tools to be used throughout the update, meeting with planning staff, Planning Commission, and City Council, and establishing a robust engagement strategy to receive feedback from residents and business owners. 

Phase 2: Research and Reconnaissance

During Phase 2, the Project Team will gather community input through online surveys and working group meetings to understand the community’s expectations and preferences for sign design in Walnut Creek. The Project Team will also work with planning staff to identify pieces of the current sign regulations that need modernizing. The results of Phase 2 will provide direction on the updated Sign Regulation and Guidelines developed under Phase 3.

Phase 3: Sign Regulations and Guidelines 

Based on feedback received from City staff, Planning Commission, City Council, working group, and community members during Phase 1 and 2, the Project Team will draft the updated Sign Regulations and Guidelines. The goal is to create a user-friendly document that maximizes organization and readability, emphasizes the use of graphics and illustrations, and is responsive to the community’s vision. This Phase will include several meetings with the project’s Working Group, Planning Commission and City Council, and will provide the opportunity for public comment on the draft Regulations and Guidelines. 

Phase 4: Public Review and Adoption

During this Phase, the updated Sign Regulations and Guidelines will go to the Design Review Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council for public hearing and adoption. The City Council has the final authority to adopt the Sign Regulations and Guidelines. The community will have opportunities to provide comments to the Planning Commission and City Council during the final public hearings. During this Phase, the updated Sign Regulations and Guidelines will go through the environmental review process to ensure the update complies with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 

Get Involved

Community input is key to developing Sign Standards and Guidelines that meet the needs and expectations of the community. There are several ways to get involved in the process. . 

Stay Updated 

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled at this time. Learn more about to participate in public meetings

Virtual Engagement Opportunities 

Have thoughts on signage in Walnut Creek? Want to influence change to the City's sign regulations? We want to hear from you! Click the sign survey link to get started. Survey closes on Monday, June 30, 2025, at 11:59 pm.

Past Meetings

On January 30, 2025, the Planning Commission and Design Review Commission held a joint meeting to kick-off the project. The meeting included a brief presentation from the project team that provided an overview of the project, signage types, and sign regulation best practices. During this meeting, members of each Commission were selected to be part of the project Working Group. The Working Group will help shape the draft regulations and guidelines for review by the Planning Commission and City Council.

Resources

• Current Sign Regulations
• Master Sign Programs

Contact

For further information, please contact:
Erika Vandenbrande 
Community Development Director 
Call: 925-943-5899 x5836   
Email: vandenbrande@walnutcreekca.gov