541.10 POLITICAL YARD SIGNS.

   (a)   Definition. "Political yard sign" means any sign, poster, board or placard bearing information or advertising a candidate for public office or a public political issue which is installed by staking, guy wires or other methods of installation.

   (b)   Intent. It is the intent of this section to regulate, restrict and control the display of political signs as to duration, size and location. It is further not the intent of this section to prohibit or discourage political signs; rather, to enhance the appearance of the community before, during and after a political election as well as to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City who may be endangered due to defective construction and location of the signs. Political yard signs in residential areas and on residential property shall not exceed two feet by three feet in size.

   (c)   Display Duration. No person, firm or corporation shall post or cause to be erected a political yard sign, with the exception of billboards, for public display within the City limits prior to thirty days before the election. The political sign shall be removed from public display on or before the tenth day following the election.

(Ord. 94-225. Passed 2-26-97.)

   (d)   Location. No political sign shall be placed on or affixed to a City right-of-way and/or expressway right-of-way and/or City-owned property. No political sign shall be placed at an intersection on private property in excess of three feet in height and such sign shall be placed in such a manner as not to create a sight restriction to pedestrians and vehicular traffic.

   (e)   Violations. The violation of any provision of this section shall become the responsibility of the political candidate and/or the candidate's campaign chairman, or the local sponsor who is shown to have been responsible for the dissemination, distribution and location of the yard sign.

   (f)   Penalty. Whoever violates or fails to comply with any provision of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. The cost of removal of the signs shall be borne by the violator of the section. By due notification of violators by City sign inspectors, whoever violates or fails to comply with this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.  
(Ord. 00-119. Passed 3-29-00.)