With the City Commission runoff election a week away, campaign signs for candidates David Cook and Nate Kilton can be found all over town.
There are specific rules for placing signs on public and private right of ways, as candidates are finding.
Signs must not be placed on public right of ways or on private property without the owner’s permission.
Many signs have been placed on public right of ways or private property without owner’s permission. In an email sent by candidate Nate Kilton to the City of Plant City, fellow runoff candidate David Cook and former candidate Ricky Coronado on Sunday, March, 27, Kilton referred to the sign rules after he noticed signs in the public right of way and next to his signs on private property. He said he had asked permission of private property owners to place his signs on private property.
“I want to do the honorable thing by informing you of my intent to contact code enforcement on Monday (March 28) regarding campaign signs placed in the public right of way,” Kilton wrote. “I want you to have the chance to retrieve your signs. I’ve been very careful to ensure that I have permission of the property owner and that the signs are not being placed in the right of way. In instances where your signs have been on private property next to mine I have placed the sign on the ground for you to pick up at your convenience.”
Although Kilton laid the signs down and did not remove them from their locations, Code Enforcement Manager Tray Towles advised candidates not to remove signs from another campaign after the email was sent.
“Signs should only be removed from rights of way or public property by members of the Code Enforcement Department,” Towles wrote. “If you observe a violation involving another candidate’s signs, contact the Code Enforcement Department.”
What are the rules for temporary election signs:
Private Property
Signs can only be placed in an area with the property owner’s consent.
Do Not Obstruct
Wherever they are placed, signs must not obstruct or impair access to public property or right of ways, traffic control signs, bus stops or fire hydrants.
No Go
Signs must not be tacked, nailed, posted or affixed to trees, utility poles, fences, rocks or other supporting structures. They can’t be placed on a public right of way.
Time
Signs are allowed to be posted for up to 90 days and then must be removed or replaced.
Collection
If Code Enforcement collects signs from a candidate’s campaign, it notifies the campaign. Candidates then can pick up the signs from the City’s Archives Building. If the signs are not picked up within 14 days, the signs will be destroyed.
Removal
The candidates are advised not to collect or remove another candidate’s sign, even if it is technically a violation.