Council approves ordinances tightening political sign timing and restricting overnight commercial parking

On Dec. 2 the Sugar Land City Council approved two code amendments: Ordinance 2397, which defines two categories of political signage and sets time limits for candidate/measure signs, and Ordinance 2396, which updates parking rules to limit overnight commercial vehicle parking on private property and to regulate use of EV charging station spaces.

Nicole Guevara, assistant director of neighborhood services, said Ordinance 2397 defines a type‑2 political sign as messaging for a specific candidate or measure and allows those signs on private property beginning 90 days before an election and requiring removal within five days after the election; runoff extension provisions are included. For parking, the ordinance treats commercial motor vehicles and establishes an overnight prohibition from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., with defined exemptions for businesses providing sleeping accommodations.

Guevara said enforcement will be by code citations processed through municipal court and the ordinance includes a defense for property owners actively enforcing parking restrictions via posted signage. The EV‑charging provision empowers airport staff to manage violations at airport charging locations and makes non‑charging occupancy of those marked spaces a code violation.

Councilmembers asked about enforcement mechanics, towing, and whether property owners or the city would enforce the rules; staff said towing was not included and would remain a property owner responsibility to arrange. Both ordinances passed 7–0.