Beaumont Planning Commission Delays Consideration Of Digital Billboards

BEAUMONT, CA — The Beaumont Planning Commission deferred a decision on recommending if the city should adopt regulations that would lift its longtime ban on most digital billboards to their meeting on Sept. 9.

On Wednesday, the Beaumont Planning Commission was scheduled to review a staff report before considering whether the city should adopted a proposed ordinance that would ease restrictions on the electric signs in designated areas.

The planning commission's next scheduled meeting is Aug. 26, but staff recommended the item be revisited on Sept. 9, including a public hearing.

The draft ordinance includes strict operational controls, sign-spacing requirements, height limits, lighting regulations, and options for development agreements or revenue sharing. It also incorporates "takedown ratios," requiring the removal of three static billboard faces for every new digital face installed.

Though the planning commission delayed consideration of the ordinance, it unanimously voted in favor a separate agenda item, recommending an existing static billboard be relocated and converted to a digital billboard. Commissioner Steve Cooley was absent from the meeting.

The original authorization of the billboard was approved by the city council on Dec. 17, 2024.

City staff said the entitlements had one year from approval to pull permits for construction, but due to unforeseen delays, the entitlements expired, prompting the reauthorization of the City of Beaumont's electronic billboard.

The city council approved a relocation agreement on July 21. The existing static billboard is located at 501 Highland Springs Avenue and is relocating to a parcel located in a commercial zone at 1691 E. Sixth Street.

Last year, the city council directed staff to explore if digital billboards should come to Beaumont. The city conducted a survey from Dec. 29, 2025, to Feb. 18, 2026, to gather public feedback. The city received 177 survey responses, with many expressing opposition to the idea of allowing digital billboard in Beaumont, citing concerns over driver distraction and nighttime light pollution.

The city also held a public workshop on April 22 where feedback was shared, participants reviewed digital billboard technology, and potential regulatory options were presented. Following the workshop, the planning commission directed city staff to draft an ordinance permitting digital billboards along regional corridors, specifically Interstate 10 and state Route 60.

"If approved, the proposed ordinance would provide a predictable regulatory framework, reduce visual clutter, maintain safety, and preserve scenic vistas while supporting economic development opportunities," city staff wrote in meeting documents.

The next planning commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 550 E. Sixth Street.

Patch Local Editor Toni McAllister contributed to this report.