Election season is here! The City of Fitchburg Planning & Zoning Department wants to remind you that the City’s Sign Ordinance, Chapter 26, provides specific regulations for political signs. A copy of the City’s Sign Ordinance is available for viewing on the City’s website.
Below is a summary of the political sign regulations:
? -Public election or referenda signs may only be displayed during an election campaign period.
? -Political signs may not exceed 11 square feet in residential zoning districts.
? -A political sign may not have any electrical, mechanical or audio auxiliary.
-No political sign shall be placed so as to jeopardize traffic or pedestrian safety.
?-No person shall paste or otherwise fasten any paper, poster or other materials, paint, stencil or write any number, sign, name or any disfiguring mark within any street right-of-way, on any sidewalk, curb, gutter, street, post, fire hydrant, pole or tree, any other sign, fence or other structure, nor shall any of said objects be defaced in any manner.
? -No signs shall be placed in the Public Right-Of-Way (ROW).
The most common complaint is the location of a sign in the Public ROW. Please make sure the sign is placed on private property and not in the ROW and that you have permission from the property owner to place the sign on the property. If you are not certain where the right-of-way is located, please contact the Fitchburg Public Works Department.
Persons or committees authorizing the distribution or posting of campaign materials, as well as the owner of the premises on which the sign is displayed, are responsible for compliance. The City will attempt to contact candidates and/or property owners regarding any signs in violation and ask for the signs to be removed; however, signs in the Right-of-Way are subject to removal by the City at any time.
Questions regarding the City’s Sign Ordinance can be directed to Community Planner
Susan Badtke at (608) 270-4256 or by e-mail at susan.badtke@fitchburgwi.gov.
For information on electioneering and political signs near polling locations, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (608) 270-4210.
Thank you for complying with the City’s Sign Ordinance.