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Liberty Lake staff issues political-sign guidance, schedules sign-code town hall
Summary
Planning staff reviewed sign rules ahead of the election season: political signs are allowed on private property but prohibited on public rights-of-way; signs on public property will be removed and held for pickup; the city plans a sign-code town hall May 15 and planning-commission hearings in the fall.
City planning staff briefed the City Council on political-sign rules and enforcement on May 6, urging candidates and supporters to place campaign signs only on private property and to avoid public rights-of-way, medians and parks.
"Political signs are allowed on private property," a planning staff member said, adding there is "no number, size or material restrictions on political signs" placed on private property with the property owner's permission. The staff presentation said political signs are prohibited on public property, public easements and public rights-of-way, including medians, roundabouts and roadside swales; staff noted these placements create operational problems for maintenance crews.
Staff also outlined enforcement protocols: signs placed on public property will be removed; removed signs will be available for pickup at City Hall for a limited period and then disposed of if unclaimed. Candidates or supporters should not expect the city to reimburse for damage to signs removed from public property, staff said.
The presentation noted the city is actively updating its sign code and expects to hold a planning-commission hearing in September; staff will host an online sign-code town hall and visual-preference survey beginning May 15 to solicit public feedback before drafting the updated code.
Councilmembers asked for circulation of the guidance to campaigns and requested a short candidate-focused memo; staff agreed to distribute the rules and said they would provide the material to candidates and campaigns.
The item was informational; no new ordinance or code was enacted at the meeting.
