Guidelines for Campaign Signs

3(2) Except as provided in this bylaw, a person shall not place a sign on a highway which

(a) obstructs a traffic control device;

(b) is lit or electrified

(c) is a hazard or dangerous to vehicular or pedestrian traffic,

(d) is inflatable,

(e) is displayed for more than fourteen consecutive days or more than 24 hours following the date any advertised event concludes, whichever is less,

(f) is within 30 meters of an intersection;

(g) is within 2 meters of a curb or edge of any road;

(h) is permanently affixed;

(i) is supported by string, rope, wire or metal stakes and has a sign face larger than 0.6 square meters

(j) displays an intermittent, flashing or rotating light;

(k) is illuminated by a flood light in such a manner as to cause interference or create a hazard to the motoring public

(l) has any moving or rotating parts

(m) bears a legend giving a command such as “stop, stop ahead, turn, caution …” etc. or any legend that in any way imitates a standard or commonly used traffic control device;

(n) is internally lit for use at night;

3(3) Except as provided in this Bylaw, a Person shall not;

(a) attach a sign to any sound attenuation wall;

(b) attach a sign to any standard street light pole or traffic signal pole;

(c) attach a sign to any decorative street light pole;

(d) permit a sign to cause any damage to municipal property;

(e) allow a sign to become unsightly;

(f) place a sign on or within any traffic island median

(g) place a sign within 10 meters of a crosswalk that is not located at an intersection;

(h) place a sign on a fire hydrant.

(i) place a sign on a bridge

(4) A person who places or posts a sign shall legibly state on the sign:

(a) the name of an owner of the sign and the address and phone number of the owner, and the development approval number

(b) the date of posting of the sign

(c) sign ownership label shall not exceed 8 cm x 13 cm.

9.24.5 GENERAL SIGN REGULATIONS

All Signs, whether or not they require a Development Permit, shall meet the following 
general provisions:

1. A sign shall not be located such that it obstructs visibility at roadway intersections;
2. No signs shall be erected on or affixed to private property without the consent of the owner;
3. Signage which makes use of illumination, whether it be on the exterior or from the interior of the sign, shall adhere to the Dark Sky Bylaw.
4. Animated signs or illuminated signs shall not be permitted in developments where, in the opinion of the Development Authority, they might:
   1. Affect residents in adjacent housing or residential districts and are visible from any residential property within a distance of 90m (295 ft.);
   2. Interfere with the interpretation of traffic signs or controls;
   3. Cause interference to the motoring public; or
   4. Contravenes the Municipality’s Dark Sky Bylaw.
5. Temporary signs relating to a specific sale, event or work shall be removed by the advertiser within 14 days after the completion of the sale, event or work to which the sign relates;
6. A sign which is separate from a building must be located so as to comply with the front yard setback requirements applicable to the principal building unless otherwise provided, or exempted by a designated officer in writing. 
7. All signs shall be kept in a safe, clean and tidy condition and may be required to be renovated or removed if not properly maintained;
8. Existing signs which conform to this Bylaw, may be cleaned, maintained repaired and repainted without need for an additional Development Permit;
9. All signs must comply with applicable provincial legislation and approvals;  Currently, no sign, notice or advertising device shall be erected within 300m (984 ft.) from the limit of a controlled highway or 800m (2625 ft.) from the center point of an intersection of a controlled highway another highway or other public roadway without a permit from the Minister of Transportation pursuant to Section 5 of the Highway Development Control Regulation, Alberta Regulation 242/90. 
10. Setbacks, approval requirements and provincial regulations may be subject to change from time to time.  It is the responsibility of the landowner / developer to contact the appropriate department for updated and current regulations.

General Guidelines

• the maximum sign size permitted in a highway right-of-way (the existing highway limits) is 1.5 m2
• election signs are temporary and are only permitted from the date the election is called until 3 days after the election
• signs must meet eligibility criteria (see ineligible election sign types below)
• If a sign does not comply with these guidelines, a peace officer or an authorized representative, without notice or compensation, may remove the sign.

Ineligible election sign types

Election signs must not:

• display an intermittent flashing, rotating or moving light
• be floodlit which could distract drivers
• have any moving or rotating parts
• imitate the wording of a standard or commonly used highway traffic sign, such as stop, stop ahead or yield
• imitate or resemble a traffic control device, such as a stop sign

Signs should also not include associated yard lights, area lighting and other lights that, are excessively distracting to the public or create a traffic hazard.

Location guidelines

Election signs should be placed as far from the shoulder line as practical, always allowing drivers to have an unobstructed view of the road.

When placing election signs, consider:

• signs must be placed no closer than 2 m from the edge of pavement (or, in the case of gravel roads, no closer than 2 m from the shoulder of the road)
• during winter conditions, there is a high probability that signs less than 6 m from the road will be either covered with snow or damaged during snow removal and sanding operations

No election signs:

• are allowed within the median of a divided provincial highway
• can be mounted on highway signs or sign posts (these signs will be removed immediately)
• can be placed in or within 500 m of construction zones
• are allowed to obstruct a driver’s view of an intersection in an urban area or within 250 m of an intersection in a rural area

Read more about installing election signs.

Safety precautions

Take precautions when installing election signs to ensure your safety and prevent driver distraction:

• anyone working near the highway must wear reflective vests and bright clothing
• election signs can only be installed during daylight hours
• vehicles used for transporting election signs must:
  • be parked to minimize the impact to drivers (preferably on an approach), as far as possible from the travel lanes
  • have 4-way hazard warning signals operating at all times

Sign removal

All election signs must be removed within 3 days after the election. The campaign office is responsible for installing and removing election signs.

Removal includes:

• the sign panel
• supporting structure
• any tie wiring used to install and support the sign

Signs that pose an immediate hazard to the public will be removed immediately by highway maintenance contractors without notification.

When the removal of an election sign is necessary due to safety or operational concerns, the appropriate district office will notify the responsible campaign office to take the required action:

• failure to respond within the specified time will result in the sign being removed
• signs will be stored at the nearest highway maintenance facility or district office
• the campaign office will be notified to arrange to have the signs picked up