District of West Vancouver council will decide on Monday on a motion to ban political signs from all public property, a move two councillors say will protect community appearance, improve road safety and save taxpayer money during election campaigns.
Peter Lambur and Sharon Thompson will bring the motion to the July 20 council meeting, directing staff to draft an amendment to Election Sign Bylaw No. 5114, 2021, that would prohibit election signs on District boulevards. Signs are currently allowed on boulevards under certain conditions.
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According to the report, public property belongs to everyone and should not be used to promote a political candidate or party.
The motion argues that large numbers of election signs clutter streetscapes, parks and boulevards, and that signs placed near intersections, medians or bike lanes can block sightlines and endanger drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. It also raises environmental and cost concerns, noting most signs are made of non-recyclable plastic and that staff spends time and money enforcing sign rules, removing abandoned signs and disposing of them after elections.
According to the report, candidates would be better served putting that time into voter engagement, debates and policy communication rather than managing roadside sign campaigns.
If approved, the bylaw amendment will strip out the current siting rules and replace them with a blanket ban on election signs across District property, including boulevards, medians, sidewalks, parks, trees, mailboxes, signposts and bridges. Signs would remain allowed on private property with the owner’s consent, provided they are freestanding and not attached to fences or utility infrastructure.
The amendment would also shrink the maximum sign size from three square metres to 1.5 square metres and cap sign height at 1.8 metres, down from 2.5 metres. Rules on impounding boulevard signs and requiring 48 hours’ notice before placing them would be scrapped, since boulevard signage would no longer be permitted at all.
According to the report, the changes are meant to protect the neutrality of public spaces while cutting costs for taxpayers. Council gave notice of the motion at its July 6 meeting. Debate is expected once it is formally moved and seconded on Monday.
