Council discusses modernizing sign permits and enforcement rules

Waterproof city staff proposed revisions to the city’s sign-permit system, including a new fee structure, limits on temporary signs and clearer enforcement steps to reduce unpermitted signage.

City Administrator Gil Morris and staff presented a suggested fee structure that would move to a base fee plus a per-square-foot calculation for permanent signs and retain a scaled approach for temporary permits; staff said the current code contains a mix of measures and had not been harmonized with enforcement practices. "I thought 1 is probably the best measure of a $100 plus $1 per square foot," a staff presenter said when describing one option.

Why it matters: council members said temporary banners and yard signs create a recurring workload for code enforcement and that penalties and warning periods need clarity. Under the proposed rules, temporary signs would be allowed 10 days per placement with a limit of six placements per year and a 30-day gap between placements — a pattern staff described as common in comparable cities.

Council discussion focused on enforcement timing and penalties. One council member said 14 days was too long for removing unpermitted signs and advocated for a shorter window to prevent prolonged unauthorized advertising. Staff clarified the typical enforcement approach: a notice of violation, a 14-day cure period for many infractions, then escalated penalties if the issue remains.

Staff also proposed charging businesses for public-notice signs that the city installs and removes; staff estimated the material cost at roughly $16–$18 per sign plus public works labor for installation. No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; staff will return with more precise language and examples of neighboring-city approaches.