Winnsboro council considers limited exemption for temporary event signs

Winnsboro City Council members discussed amending the city sign ordinance to allow a limited exemption for temporary signs that advertise or identify events and activities held within Winnsboro.

The change under consideration would create a narrow exception to the city's existing ban on off-premise signs, council meeting participants said. "The sign was not allowed because it was off premise. The ordinance specifically prohibits all off premise signs in all districts," said Speaker 1, a staff member. The staff member added, "The ordinance amendment that is before you will alleviate the issues that we've had with all off premise signs that are advertising events in the city of Winnsboro. That's correct."

During discussion, Speaker 2, a councilmember, moved to approve an amendment to the sign ordinance, saying, "I make a motion to approve amending ordinance 10-48-2021, Section 14-08-002, Code of Ordinances allowing for a limited exemption for permitted temporary signs that advertise or identify events or activities held within the city." The transcript does not record a second or any subsequent vote on the motion.

The remarks in the meeting distinguished between the current code's prohibition on off-premise signage and the narrower exemption under consideration, which speakers framed as meant to address advertising for events held inside the city. No specific implementation details, enforcement mechanisms, or effective dates for the amendment were discussed in the transcript excerpt.

A motion was made to amend the ordinance; the transcript provides no record of a second or of the council's vote, so the outcome is not recorded in the available text.