Top 10 Things About Signs In River Bend

Here are 10 things that you need to know about signs in River Bend:

1. Certain signs (for example- campaign signs and real estate signs) are allowed without a permit, but even for these types of signs, there are guidelines that must be followed.

2. For the most part, signs can only be placed on private property by the property owner. Signs cannot be placed within the public right-of-way* (R/W) or on town-owned property or on town buildings. The one exception allows a resident to place a sign within the town’s R/W, but only on property within the R/W which is adjacent to their property. For example, if you live at 315 Main Street, you can only place a sign in the R/W that is adjacent to your property at 315 Main Street and all signs must be placed at least 15 feet away from the edge of the street pavement. This area is commonly referred to as the “shoulder” of the road. You cannot place signs in the “shoulder” anywhere else in town without the consent of the adjacent private property owner. 

3. Signs can never be attached to utility poles, traffic control devices, street signs, guardrails, bridges or any other safety barrier within the public right-of-way.    

4. During campaign season, which is defined as beginning 45 days prior to the start of early voting and ending 10 days after Election Day, the number of signs allowed to be placed on your property is not regulated. During any other time of the year, only 2 signs may be displayed on your property.

5. This year, early voting begins on October 17, 2024 and Election Day is November 5, 2024. Therefore, for the November 5, 2024 election, more than 2 signs can be displayed on your property between September 2, 2024 and November 15, 2024.

6. Signs shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area or be placed more than forty-two (42) inches above the ground. 

7. For the purpose of determining the total number of signs on a property, sign content is not a consideration. Except during the timeframe described above in # 4, the maximum number of signs on a single property is 2, regardless of the sign’s content. For example: 1 Save the Whales sign + 1 Smith for Governor sign = 2 total signs. If you add 1 more sign to that example, regardless of its content, the  total number of signs is 3 and is therefore a violation.             

8.  Signs cannot be placed on private property without the consent of the property owner.     

9. This list is not an all-inclusive list of our regulations. Read our sign ordinance here. 

10. Violations of this Ordinance could subject the offender to a $500 per day civil penalty. Also, any signs placed on any town property are subject to be immediately removed and discarded by town staff.