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Middleburg council adopts stricter penalties for sidewalk/sign violations, sets storage and disposal rules
Summary
The council adopted amendments to town code governing sandwich-board and right-of-way signs, including a written-warning requirement and fines of $100 per day for first offense and $250 per day for subsequent violations; removed signs will be stored seven days before disposal.
The Town Council unanimously adopted changes to the town code governing sidewalk and right-of-way signage and penalties, adding a written-warning requirement and escalating daily fines for repeat violations.
Town staff presented proposed amendments that require staff to issue written notice and warning for a first offense. After that, the code imposes a $100 per day charge for the first conviction and $250 per day for subsequent convictions. The ordinance would also allow the town to remove and store signs for up to seven days; if an owner does not retrieve a removed sign within seven days the town may dispose of it. The town may remove and dispose of signage with no notice if an item is a repeated violation that creates a safety hazard.
Council members discussed how to apply the “repeat offender” provision and asked staff to adopt an operational policy that may set thresholds (for example, returning a sign multiple times before escalation) rather than immediately applying the higher penalty on the second occurrence. Town staff agreed to establish administrative procedures to ensure consistent enforcement and to return draft signage designs for wayfinding in the coming weeks.
The ordinance amendment was adopted by roll call with all recorded votes in favor.
