09/10/2007: "Take Down Those Signs!"

One goes up, and then another, and another, but now all are to be removed. Responding to complaints from citizens, and with questions being asked by some of the County Councilmen, SJ Community Development and Planning will be “tagging” signs with a notice that unauthorized “sandwich board” signs will be removed by the County..

San Juan County code requires that business identification and advertising signs be mounted or painted on a building -unless the business cannot be seen from a public road. Off-premises outdoor commercial signs are not permitted. Additionally, residential and commercial identification signs, outside of urban growth areas and activity centers, can be no more than two square feet in size.

The lone exceptions are special events signs, which can be displayed just once a year for a maximum of 30 days.

Signs can offer directions, but only if they refer to geographical locations, such as Roche Harbor or Eastsound and can include nothing beyond the location name, the mileage and a directional arrow; and approval from the County Engineer is required before directional signs can be erected.

According to Code Enforcement Officer Jeff Wasnick, illegally placed signs tagged for pickup by county personnel beginning October 8 will be held for a short period of time at the trash transfer facilities before being permanently discarded..

Complaints concerning illegally placed signs can be filed by filling out a “Request for Code Enforcement” which can be obtained on the county web site at: http://www.sanjuanco.com/permitcenter/pdf/RequestForCodeEnforcement_final.pdf

Questions about the sign regulations should be directed the County Code Enforcement office, phone: 370-7580.