County council has approved an updated policy and by-law to regulate advertising signs and devices in the county right-of-way and on private property adjacent to county roads. The new by-law replaces a previous version.

At the committee meeting last month, Director of Public Works Terry McCann explained the policy was updated following numerous complaints received from the public and councilors about the proliferation of advertising signs along county roadways. “Excessive signs are a distraction for the travelling public and sight lines were being affected at some access points to county roads.”

The new policy and by-law make stipulations about prohibited signs, permits required, size allowance, location of signs, number of signs allowed per business and restricted areas. It includes categories such as real estate, businesses, election signs, billboards/field advertising signs, temporary signs, information signs and digital signs.

McCann said the existing and proposed by-law and policy were circulated to local municipalities for comment in the winter. The new versions will be easier to administer and regulate. More information can be found on the county’s website at lanarkcounty.ca.

Article by Brain Turner