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Council moves to remove timing restrictions on political signs after legal review
Summary
Staff told the council state and court precedent limits time-based restrictions on political speech; council agreed to remove the city’s campaign-sign timing limits while retaining placement and size rules and prohibitions on utility easement and pole placement.
City planners recommended eliminating local timing limits on political or campaign signs because state law and court rulings mean time-based restrictions on political speech are difficult to defend. Housing and Community Development Director Meera Boda and City Planner Betsy Jackson explained that the city's current rules — such as a 90‑day pre-election placement rule and a seven‑day post‑election removal rule — could be unconstitutional when applied solely to political speech.
Betsy Jackson said that other sign rules would remain in effect: signs cannot be placed in utility easements or parks, must respect setback requirements (for example, 15 feet from the curb in many cases), and candidates should obtain property-owner permission before placing signage on private residential lots. Officials noted enforcement had been inconsistent in recent years and suggested coordinating reminders to candidates and campaigns through the Board of Elections or similar offices.
Council members asked for clarity on placement rules and outreach to candidates; council reached consensus to move the ordinance forward for formal consideration.
