A. Signs For Political Purposes:
1. Definition: A "political sign" is defined as any sign, poster or placard printed, painted, made or designed for the purpose of furthering or advertising the candidacy of any person who is or intends to become or may be a candidate for the election to any public office, whether such public office be in the local, state, federal government or tribal government, or any subdivision thereof; and signs relating to and concerning support or opposition to any public issue.
2. Public Property Location Allowed: Location is not prohibited, except for the following:
a. Political signs shall not be placed or otherwise affixed to any utility pole, or utility structure, or any tree or any traffic control device or warning sign located in a street right of way or easement.
b. Political signs may be located in the street right of way or easements as long as they are placed in the ground and not on utility poles or structures, trees, or traffic control devices or warning signs; nor shall they be of such placement that they would block line of sight at intersection corners.
3. Duration: Political signs are allowed only thirty (30) days before and ten (10) days after the election to which they pertain.
4. Deposit: A check, or cash bond in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200.00) to ensure signs are removed is required to be deposited with the city clerk prior to placement of said signs.
a. Political signs that are placed in the public right of way or public easements shall only be considered in compliance when a cash bond or check payable to the city of Poteau has been posted in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for all political signs placed in the city limits pertaining to the candidacy of an individual or individuals for public office concerning support or opposition to any public issue. In order to have the full amount of the cash bond/check released, all political signs pertaining to the candidacy or issue, shall be removed.
b. In the event that all political signs are not removed from the public right of way or public easements within ten (10) days after the election to which they pertain, the code enforcement officer shall be permitted to impound the sign from the public right of way or easements. If it is necessary for the code enforcement officer to impound a political sign in the right of way or easement, the cash bond or check shall be forfeited. The signs recovered may be claimed by and returned to the responsible party. If not claimed within thirty (30) days after an election, such signs shall be destroyed. The code enforcement officer shall within thirty (30) days after the election, determine if all political signs, pertaining to the candidacy or issue, that are located in the public right of way or easements have been removed. If the political signs have been timely removed within the ten (10) days provided above, the two hundred dollars ($200.00) previously deposited shall be refunded.
5. Violation: Any political sign placed in violation of this section may be removed by the code enforcement officer. Any person placing a political sign violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished in accordance with the penalty provisions of section 1-4-1 of this code except that the fine shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each violation.
B. Garage Sale Signs, Estate Sale Signs And Auction Sale Signs:
1. Definition: A "sale sign" is defined as any sign, poster or placard printed, painted, made or designed for the purpose of furthering or advertising a garage sale, estate sale or auction sale.
2. Public Property Location Allowed: Location is not prohibited, except for the following:
a. A sale sign shall not be placed or otherwise affixed to any utility pole, or utility structure, or any tree or any traffic control device or warning sign located in a street right of way or easement.
b. A sale sign may be located in the street right of way or easements as long as they are placed in the ground and not on utility poles or structures, trees, or traffic control devices or warning signs; nor shall they be of such placement that they would block line of sight at intersection corners.
3. Duration: A sale sign may be placed twenty four (24) hours before the sale to which they pertain.
4. Removal: A sale sign must be removed no later than twenty four (24) hours following the sale to which they pertain.
5. Violation: Any sale sign placed in violation of this section may be removed by the code enforcement officer. Any person placing a sale sign violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished in accordance with the penalty provisions of section 1-4-1 of this code except that the fine shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each violation.
C. Business Services Or Sales Or Products Offered Signs:
1. Definition: A "business sign" is defined as any sign, poster or placard printed, painted, made or designed for the purpose of furthering or advertising a business product for sale or business service for sale.
2. Public Property Location Not Allowed: A business sign shall only be allowed upon private property and not in the street right of way or easement. A business sign may only be located on private property with the permission of the property owner.
a. A business sign shall not be placed or otherwise affixed to any utility pole, or utility structure, or any tree or any traffic control device or warning sign located in a street right of way or easement.
b. A business sign may not be located in the street right of way or easements and not on utility poles or structures, trees, or traffic control devices or warning signs; nor shall they be of such placement that they would block line of sight at intersection corners.
3. Violation: Any business sign placed in violation of this section may be removed by the code enforcement officer. Any person placing a business sign violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished in accordance with the penalty provisions of section 1-4-1 of this code except that the fine shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each violation.
D. Real Estate Signs:
1. Definition: A "real estate sign" is defined as any sign, poster or placard printed, painted, made or designed for the purpose of furthering or advertising real estate for sale.
2. Public Property Location Allowed: Location is not prohibited, except for the following:
a. A real estate sign shall not be placed or otherwise affixed to any utility pole, or utility structure, or any tree or any traffic control device or warning sign located in a street right of way or easement (except that said sign may be chained to such a pole for security).
b. A real estate sign may be located in the street right of way or easements as long as they are placed in the ground and not on utility poles or structures, trees, or traffic control devices or warning signs (except that said sign may be chained to such a pole for security); nor shall they be of such placement that they would block line of sight at intersection corners.
3. Removal: A sale real estate sign must be removed no later than seven (7) days following the sale of the property to which they pertain.
4. Violation: Any real estate sign placed in violation of this section may be removed by the code enforcement officer. Any person placing a real estate sign violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished in accordance with the penalty provisions of section 1-4-1 of this code except that the fine shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each violation. (Ord. 729, 6-10-2014)