New sign ordinance takes effect in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma City neighbors could see more signs going up along city streets.

A new temporary sign ordinance took effect Friday. After decades banning temporary signs, the new ordinance now allows them but with some rules.

"Temporary signs would only be permitted in the right of way," said Scott Wise, the city’s Development City Manager.

A right of way is typically areas between street curbs and sidewalks and includes medians and alleys. It would still be illegal to place signs in intersection sight triangles and on telephone poles, electric poles, lamp posts, street signs, and parking meters.

The signs can be placed on private property, like someone’s front lawn, if the owner gives the business permission.

Now, people will be required to buy a permit. The city will charge $25 for a sign.

"And that's $25 per graphic image,” said Wise. “If you have 'vote for John' compared to 'vote for Jim', that's two different permits."

That means political signs will be a part of the ordinance. Anyone running for office who wants to put signs near the road will have to pay to do so. If that person wanted to put a bunch of signs in the ground, it would be an additional $0.25 per sign.

Georgie Rasco is the executive director of the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma. She told News 4 that she had some concerns about how the signs would look in neighborhoods, but the price tag might scare people off.

"They're no longer going to be free to place in the medians and so forth,” said Rasco. “I do think it's going to cut down on the number of signs."

Neighbors on social media reacted to the new ordinance, saying on Nextdoor comments like “great more trash”, “more clutter”, and “I guess a new way to get more money.”

"The fees are primarily figured to recoup costs,” said Wise. “The costs for the permit, the cost for our time spent traveling the city and enforcing the regulations."

The permit stickers will be color coded and good for one month.

"If they're left up beyond 30 days, you'll have five days to take the sign down yourself," said Wise.

If not, the city will circle through, pull them out of the ground and throw them out.

Wise said so far the city has not decided if it will fine anyone who does not take down the signs after the permit runs out.