Inver Grove Heights Council Considers Revised Ordinance for Yard and Campaign Signs

The City of Inver Grove Heights held a work session on September 2, 2025, to discuss a proposed ordinance regarding residential yard signs and campaign signs. The meeting aimed to address inconsistencies in the current zoning code and to ensure compliance with First Amendment rights.

The discussion began with an overview of the existing regulations, which were found to contain content-specific rules that could potentially violate constitutional protections. The proposed ordinance seeks to eliminate these regulations and instead establish a clear definition of temporary signs, which would include various types of yard signs, such as campaign signs, graduation announcements, and contractor advertisements.

Key points of the proposed ordinance include:

1. **Public Hearing Requirement**: The ordinance will first be reviewed by the planning commission, followed by a public hearing before returning to the city council for formal approval.

2. **Sign Regulations**: The draft ordinance suggests that temporary signs must be set back at least 10 feet from the curb or the edge of the road surface. This change aims to simplify enforcement and reduce confusion regarding right-of-way boundaries.

3. **Size and Number Limitations**: Outside of election season, the ordinance proposes a maximum size of 18 by 24 inches for signs and limits the number of signs per parcel to four. This is intended to address community concerns about visual clutter and maintain neighborhood aesthetics.

4. **Election Season Provisions**: During election periods, state law allows for unlimited sign size and number, but local regulations regarding placement will still apply. The city will not enforce sign regulations in state or county right-of-ways.

5. **Community Education**: City officials emphasized the need for clear communication with residents about the new regulations, suggesting potential outreach efforts such as newsletters and door hangers to inform property owners about compliance.

Council members expressed support for the proposed changes, particularly the 10-foot setback requirement. However, they acknowledged the need for further discussion on the number of allowable signs. The council agreed to seek input from the planning commission before finalizing the ordinance.

Overall, the work session highlighted the city's commitment to updating its sign regulations to reflect current legal standards while addressing community concerns about aesthetics and enforcement. The next steps will involve public input and further refinement of the proposed ordinance.