Lockport council reviews election sign size limit and creates two classes of tobacco licenses, effective Jan. 1, 2025

Council heard a staff proposal to amend the temporary sign ordinance to limit election signs in residential neighborhoods to a maximum of 2-by-3 feet. Staff said the change responds to a pattern during the last primary where residents posted 4-by-4 signs and then cut them to skirt the existing 2-by-4 rule or stacked signs to create oversized displays; the amendment is intended to preserve the scale and spirit of yard signs.

Unidentified Speaker 9, presenting the change, said the amendment targets election signs only and will not affect birthday or other celebratory yard signs. The staff proposal would prevent stacked signs or oversized placards in residential areas and clarify enforcement expectations.

On tobacco licensing, staff (Unidentified Speaker 10) presented a proposed amendment to chapter 134 of the city code to create two classes of tobacco licenses. Class T1 would apply to retailers with 20% or less of gross revenue from tobacco products and would prohibit display or sale of paraphernalia such as bongs or glass pipes. Class T2 would apply to businesses where tobacco represents a higher share of revenue; T2 licensees would be limited to admitting patrons 21 and older, and cigarette/paraphernalia displays would be kept out of storefront sightlines with a 50% cap on storefront advertising for general retailers. Smoke‑shop businesses (identified in the transcript as Blue Label and The Torch) were discussed as potential exemptions to the 50% storefront limitation because of their business model.

Council members asked about grandfathering, enforcement timelines and the effective date; staff responded the tobacco amendment would take effect Jan. 1, 2025. Members asked staff to bring refined enforcement language and to consider outreach to affected businesses before the effective date.