REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Action on an Ordinance of the City of Santa Clara, California, Authorizing the Installation of Supergraphic Signs on Building Surfaces in the Vicinity of Levi's Stadium During a Limited Time Period Surrounding FIFA World Cup 2026 Special Events
Report
BACKGROUND
On December 9, 2025, the City Council approved a Special Event Zone Ordinance (Ordinance) intended to support public health, safety, and general welfare, including mobility management, and operational logistics for Special Events, including the 2026 Super Bowl LX and FIFA World Cup events at Levi’s® Stadium (Staff report and Ordinance provided as Attachment 1). This Ordinance included an approved Special Event Zone boundary map that focused on the streets, public access routes, and outdoor gathering areas surrounding the Stadium and the adjacent entertainment and transit corridors (Attachment 2).
During the Super Bowl LX event, there was interest in authorizing the temporary installation of Supergraphics, however at the time the Ordinance did not allow for such use. In planning for the upcoming FIFA Special Events, the City is now proposing to allow temporary Supergraphic signs within the Special Event Zone boundary. To allow such signs, an amendment to the Sign Ordinance (Title 18, Chapter 18.42) is required, as such signs are prohibited under the current code. Therefore, the City is proposing an ordinance (Attachment 3) authorizing the installation of Supergraphic signs (Supergraphic Ordinance) on building surfaces in the vicinity of Levi's Stadium during a limited time period surrounding FIFA World Cup 2026 special events.
DISCUSSION
Supergraphic signs are large static signs on a flexible material (generally vinyl-based) attached to a building with adhesive or anchor bolts. The City’s sign ordinance currently prohibits establishment of any new commercial billboards anywhere in the City except in the immediate vicinity of the Related Santa Clara project, or when old billboards are replaced at a 3:1 ratio. Outside of those circumstances, new advertising signs are limited to on-site or non-commercial advertising. The proposed ordinance would create a separate, one-time exception for supergraphics installed in the designated Special Event Zone. An example would be the “Uber” sign that was displayed on the Hilton Santa Clara hotel building at 4949 Great America Parkway during Superbowl LX in February 2026, see Attachment 4, Supergraphic Sign Example.
The proposed Supergraphic Ordinance was prepared to be applicable during FIFA World Cup 2026 special events at the Stadium, and is designed to advance two core objectives: (1) orderly operations around the Stadium and related sites; and (2) aesthetics, creating a visually vibrant Event Zone.
To achieve these objectives, the proposed Supergraphic Ordinance regulations have been narrowly tailored. First, they only apply during designated event activation periods for the event (generally, just before, during, and just after the events themselves), and second, the Ordinance includes a sunset date of July 31, after which the sign code would revert to its prior form. The regulations also only apply within the specified geographic area as previously approved by the City Council with the adoption of the Special Event Zone Ordinance. The geographic area is the area expected to be impacted by event activities and is shown on the attached Special Event Zone boundary map (Attachment 2).
The Supergraphic Ordinance will allow Supergraphic Signs on buildings within the Special Event Zone subject to regulations including, but not limited to:
• The Building shall have no residential uses;
• The Building height must be three (3) or more stories above grade;
• Each Supergraphic sign may wrap around a building (around multiple facades);
• A Supergraphic Sign may consist of non-contiguous segments;
• No Supergraphic Sign may extend above a building parapet;
• No Supergraphic Sign shall be displayed at a height less than forty (40) feet above grade; and
• No Supergraphic Sign shall be externally illuminated.
Allowance of a Supergraphic sign will require the approval of a Sign Permit issued by the City pursuant to Santa Clara City Code Section 18.42.060 - Application and Review of Sign Permits.
Proposed Planning Commission Actions
The project is presented to the Planning Commission for consideration and action. The following specific actions are required:
1. CEQA: Determine the project to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1 - Existing Facilities); and
2. Zoning Code Amendment: Recommend that the City Council approve the Ordinance of the City of Santa Clara, California, Authorizing the Installation of Supergraphic Signs on Building Surfaces in the Vicinity of Levi's Stadium During a Limited Time Period Surrounding FIFA World Cup 2026 Special Events.
The proposed action is a legislative decision (as opposed to a quasi-judicial decision); as such, no specific findings are required to make (or decline to make) the recommendation. The Planning Commission may also provide an alternate recommendation to the City Council different from adopting the Supergraphic Ordinance as proposed or recommend modifying any of its additional provisions. The proposed Supergraphic Ordinance is included as Attachment 3, with code changes presented in strikethrough and underline.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1 - Existing Facilities), in that the project consists of the temporary allowance of flat building mounted signs that would involve negligible or no expansion of an existing use.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City for processing the zoning code amendment other than administrative time.
COORDINATION
This report and Ordinance have been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and the City Manager’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Planning Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
Newspaper notice of this item was published in The Weekly, a newspaper of general circulation, on March 18, 2026. At the time of this staff report, no comments have been received by the Planning Division in support or opposition to the project.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Determine the project to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) formal pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1 - Existing Facilities); and
2. Recommend that the City Council approve an Ordinance in substantially the form presented Authorizing the Installation of Supergraphic Signs on Building Surfaces in the Vicinity of Levi's Stadium During a Limited Time Period Surrounding FIFA World Cup 2026 Special Events.
Staff
Prepared by: Lesley Xavier, Planning Manager
Reviewed by: Alexander Abbe, Assistant City Attorney
Approved by: Afshan Hamid, Director of Community Development
ATTACHMENTS
1. Special Event Zone Ordinance Staff Report and Ordinance
2. Special Event Zone Boundary Map
3. Supergraphic Ordinance
4. Supergraphic Sign Example
5. Planning Commission Resolution