Monterey County Municipal Code Ch. 16.24 Political Signs on Private Property

A. A "political sign" is any board, poster, placard, banner or other medium, including its structure and component parts, which is designed to influence the action of a voter in voting for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot at any national, State, or local election.

B. "Director of Planning" includes the person with that job title as well as any personnel to which he or she delegates enforcement responsibility for this Section.

C. "Election period" consist of the sixty (60) days prior to election, election day and the ten (10) days after election day.

(Ord. 3013, 1984)

A. No political sign shall be erected earlier than sixty (60) days before the election to which it relates.

B. No political sign or any part thereof shall be supplied with electrical power for lighting, movement, or any other purpose unless a building permit is first obtained from the County Building Services Department.

C. No political sign shall be erected in such a manner that it will, or reasonably may be expected to obstruct, the view of, or conflict with any traffic sign, signal, or device. A political sign shall not be erected in such a manner that it will, or reasonably may be expected to obstruct, the view of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

D. No political sign shall be erected or maintained upon the property of another without first obtaining permission to do so from the owner or tenant of said property. In the case of vacant property, written permission must be obtained from the property owner, and such signs must have affixed to the rear of the said sign a copy of the written permission, including the name, address, telephone number, and signature of the property owner.

E. No political sign shall be erected or maintained unless a statement of responsibility has been filed with the Director of Planning certifying a person who will be responsible for the placing and removal of the political sign pursuant to this Chapter and who will reimburse the County of Monterey for any costs incurred to remove it.

F. No political sign shall be erected or maintained which exceeds the maximum size allowed for signs in the zones in which the sign is located. If building or use permits are required in the zoning area to accommodate a sign of the proposed size, these permits shall also be required of political signs.

(Ord. 3013, 1984)

(Ord. No. 5135, § 19, 7-7-2009)

A. Political signs shall be removed within ten (10) days after the election to which they relate. Political signs placed on behalf of candidates who have been successful in primary elections shall not remain posted for general election purposes.

B. Any political sign not posted or erected in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter shall be deemed a public nuisance and shall be subject to removal by the person certifying responsibility, the candidate or the property owner within ten (10) days of notification of the violation. Upon their failure to remove the sign, the Director of Planning or his or her designated representative may remove the sign.

C. Any political sign not removed within ten (10) days after the election shall be deemed abandoned and may be summarily removed by the Director of Planning or his or her designated representative.

(Ord. 3013, 1984)

The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to:

1. Political signs erected inside a building.

2. Political signs posted by a person or corporation duly licensed to erect and maintain commercial outdoor advertising signs and billboards, provided that the sign or signs as posted are in a location and manner authorized or permitted under the planning and zoning provisions of this Code.

(Ord. 3013, 1984)