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Council withdraws proposed sign‑code changes affecting rights‑of‑way after public concern
Summary
The council withdrew a motion to adopt an ordinance that would have allowed many noncommercial signs in city rights‑of‑way, after public testimony from realtors and neighbors and questions about definitions and enforcement. Staff said the draft was intended to align practice with code but that current code prohibits most signs in rights‑of‑way.
The Spokane Valley City Council on March 18 withdrew consideration of an ordinance that would have amended the municipal sign code to allow certain noncommercial signs in city rights‑of‑way.
City Attorney (presenting the draft) explained the current municipal code prohibits non‑government signs within rights‑of‑way, and the draft before council would have authorized two categories of new signs — limited noncommercial signs and nonprofit event directional signs — subject to time, place and manner restrictions. The draft set maximum dimensions (4 feet by 5 feet), limited display to unimproved green space next to the right‑of‑way, prohibited placement that would impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic or interfere with traffic control devices, and included time limits (maximum 240 days; event signs removed within 14 days after an event and not re‑posted for 120 consecutive days).
The city attorney emphasized a legal constraint: laws regulating noncommercial signs must be content neutral, and if the city allows noncommercial signs it must allow all noncommercial speech subject to reasonable restrictions.
Public comment included realtors who said the proposed rules were unusually strict and difficult to enforce and residents who warned about restrictions on political signage. Several council members asked for clarity on what the city legally defined as right‑of‑way versus other public property.
After additional public comment and a recommendation from staff to continue refining the proposal with stakeholders, a council member moved to withdraw the motion to adopt the ordinance. The motion to withdraw passed without objection and the ordinance was removed from consideration; staff will work further with stakeholders and return at a later date.
What the draft would have done: the draft sought to allow limited, temporary noncommercial signage in certain green‑space portions of rights‑of‑way, with size limits, specific setback and safety restrictions, and owner identification on the sign to assist enforcement. The council did not adopt the changes and did not set a new date for reconsideration.
