Pleasanton Council Proposes Looser Wireless Rules

Pleasanton’s City Council is weighing a rewrite of its wireless rules that would make it easier for carriers to add towers and small-cell sites across the city. (pleasantonweekly.com) The vote was set for a Tuesday council meeting after the Planning Commission unanimously recommended the package on March 11, 2026. Pleasanton’s regular council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at City Hall on Old Bernal Avenue. (pleasantonweekly.com) (cityofpleasantonca.gov) The proposal would cover both traditional wireless facilities on private property and small wireless facilities in the public right-of-way, replacing older rules that city staff said were restrictive and outdated. Pleasanton already has a separate small-wireless policy adopted in March 2019. (pleasantonweekly.com) (cityofpleasantonca.gov) City staff told commissioners the rewrite is aimed at closing service gaps and keeping up with demand from residents, businesses and emergency communications. The draft would also set new design and siting standards intended to reduce visual clutter as more equipment is installed. (pleasantonweekly.com) Small cells are the shoebox-sized antennas often mounted on utility poles or streetlights, while larger macro sites are the taller installations that cover wider areas. Pleasanton’s draft would give carriers more paths to build or modify both types of facilities. (pleasantonweekly.com) Supporters told city officials that stronger wireless service would help people working from home, businesses that rely on mobile connections and callers who hit dead zones. Staff said the city has received complaints about dropped calls and weak coverage in parts of Pleasanton. (pleasantonweekly.com) Opponents focused on appearance, saying additional poles, antennas and equipment boxes could change the look of residential streets and commercial corridors. The city’s existing 2019 policy says Pleasanton is trying to balance advanced wireless service with neighborhood character and aesthetics. (pleasantonweekly.com) (cityofpleasantonca.gov) The council’s decision would set the rules for where future wireless equipment can go, what approvals carriers need and how much discretion the city keeps over design. If the ordinance advances, Pleasanton would move from debating coverage gaps to applying a new permit system site by site. (pleasantonweekly.com)