Canfield amends temporary-sign rules to require notice, three-day removal period

The Canfield City Council adopted an amendment to the city’s sign regulations that requires inspectors to leave a door-hanger notice at properties with temporary-sign violations and gives owners three business days to remove the sign before citation.

The ordinance, described at a public hearing and adopted by the council during the meeting, changes the city’s prior enforcement practice of immediately removing noncompliant temporary signs. Under the amendment, an inspector will place a bright yellow door hanger at the property informing the owner of the specific violation; if the sign is not removed within three business days the property owner may be cited and fined.

City attorney Fortunato explained the new process during the public hearing, saying the revision modifies the previous practice and adds the door-hanger requirement and a three-business-day cure period. He and staff emphasized that the city will use the hanger to notify owners and will not remove signs from private property as an initial enforcement step. Council members and staff said that after the three-day period the city would issue a citation rather than enter private property to remove a sign.

During public comment, resident John Morbrey asked whether that change was the only amendment; council and staff confirmed it was the principal change to the sign code discussed at the hearing. Other residents asked whether a mailed notice might be more appropriate; staff replied that the door hanger was intentionally visible and faster than postal notice. A resident noted the hanger is a “very bright yellow,” and staff said that was deliberate so it would be noticed from the driveway.

Council members moved to dispense with multiple readings of the ordinance and adopted the amendment on the same night. The ordinance text included the three-business-day cure period and the citation/fine procedure; the ordinance number was not specified on the record.

Council and staff explained related procedures: the city will place the hanger on the door; if the owner removes the sign after citation and staff verifies removal, the city manager or prosecutor may recommend dismissal of the mayor’s-court case. Council and staff also said the fine schedule is reflected in the ordinance as read during the hearing.

The change takes effect according to the ordinance language adopted by the council; the meeting record did not include an ordinance number or a specific effective date beyond adoption at the meeting.