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What’s Up With That? Candidates have 15 days to clear signs from landscape

By Scott Hewitt, Columbian staff writer
Published: November 3, 2010, 12:00am

There are campaign signs cluttering the landscape everywhere. What are the laws about these signs? Isn’t there some requirement about how fast they have to be taken down? This year is the worst I’ve ever seen.

— Steve Kennedy, West Hazel Dell

That very special, very American season — the season of sloganeering, attack ads and Look at me! No, me! No, me!is over. But chances are, as you read this in cold morning-after light, Clark County is still cluttered with competing roadside attention grabbers.

So here’s a definitive answer for you, Steve: 15 days.

“Political signs must be removed within 15 days of the election” in unincorporated Clark County, Commissioner Steve Stuart informs candidates in a form letter.

It’s part of a packet sent to any candidate who files for office, according to code coordinator Kevin Pridemore. The packet includes all the rules and regulations regarding sign placement and removal, an application requiring the name and contact information of the person responsible for removal, and a traffic diagram illustrating how close is too close to the street — creating a visibility hazard.

It even includes a pledge not to place political signs on public land. A similar “dear candidate” form letter from the Washington State Department of Transportation says no political sign can ever be placed on any state freeway right-of-way. That’s right: never, ever.

Given all that, Pridemore finds the widespread placement of political signs in public spaces — such as arterial intersections and freeway overpasses — frankly appalling.

“This is the worst I’ve ever seen them,” he said, echoing Stuart’s sentiment. “With all the communications we’ve got going, and information online — they still get so crowded, I can’t believe it.”

When the 15 days have expired, Pridmore said, the county may respond to some complaints by yanking signs — or, preferably, by reminding candidates the signs must go. Most have just lost track, he said, and are eager to comply. Fines and other penalties for stragglers aren’t likely.

Because this is such a hot topic — and because different jurisdictions have different rules — somebody at Clark County took the trouble to compile all the political sign regulations of all the cities in Clark County (http://www.co.clark.wa.us/elections), making it easy to run down the list. In Vancouver and Ridgefield, as in the unincorporated county, the limit is 15 days past the election. Camas requires removal within 14 days. Washougal only gives 10 days. In Battle Ground it’s one week.

La Center doesn’t address political signs specifically, but its municipal code says any temporary sign can only stand for 120 days before it’s no longer considered temporary — and therefore needs a permit.

Fifteen days from Election Day is Wednesday, Nov. 17.

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