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Lacey planning commission votes to forward political-sign code change to city council
Summary
The Lacey Planning Commission recommended the City Council consider an amendment to allow political signs in portions of the public right of way adjacent to private property, while retaining size, duration and safety limits and continuing to prohibit signs adjacent to public property under state law.
The Lacey Planning Commission on June 11 voted to forward a proposed amendment to the city sign code that would allow political signs in portions of the public right of way adjacent to private property.
The amendment would remove the existing blanket ban on political signs in the right of way and instead permit them only within the portion of right of way between curb and sidewalk that is adjacent to private property. The change would not alter size, duration, or basic safety standards spelled out elsewhere in the code.
City staff presented the draft change and said it was prompted by concerns that the current location-based prohibition could violate Washington and U.S. constitutional protections for political speech. "These proposed amendments were prompted by concerns raised by community members," said Dave Snyder, a staff member who presented the proposal. Snyder told the commission the revision aims to align Lacey Municipal Code Title 16.75.100(e) with constitutional law and to give clearer guidance to the public and enforcement staff.
Snyder told commissioners the proposal would not allow signs in right-of-way adjacent to public property because of RCW 42.17A.555, which prevents use of public facilities for promotion or opposition of a candidate or ballot measure. He also cited existing safety provisions in the code that continue to prohibit any sign that obstructs traffic signals, control devices, or sight distance at intersections.
Staff noted related code elements already allow two temporary sign types in some right-of-way locations: sandwich-board signs (9 square feet) and feather flags (authorized up to 13 feet tall). The proposed political-sign allowance would retain the current 10-square-foot size standard used elsewhere in the code and confine placement to the curb-to-sidewalk strip.
There was no public testimony at the hearing. After questions and brief discussion by commissioners about safety and enforceability, a commissioner moved to forward the draft amendment to the City Council with a recommendation of approval; the motion carried with commissioners present voting in favor.
The commission emphasized that the amendment would not change standards on sign safety, obstruction, or duration and that enforcement would continue to rely on existing sight-distance and public-safety provisions in Title 16.75. The amendment is a referral to the City Council for final consideration and possible adoption.
Next steps: the City Council will receive the Planning Commission recommendation and may hold its own public hearing and take final action under the municipal code.
