What are the regulations for posting ads on street corners?

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QWhat are the regulations for posting advertisement signs on street corners? It started with ads from a business in Imperial, and now more and more businesses are putting up signs on street corners, especially on the corners of Aten and Ross. I appreciate that businesses need to advertise, but at what point are these signs too much? It is demeaning for quality businesses that pay to advertise on billboards or in the newspaper, when aforementioned businesses can put up these signs all over town and leave them up for as long as they please. What if every business in the Valley put up these signs as a form of free advertising-our street corners would be a crowded mess. — Stop Free Advterising, El Centro

AEl Centro Community Development Director Norma Villicana said posting signs on any public property or right-of-way is prohibited under Section 22.1-56 of the Municipal Code. Whenever such signs are posted, she said, city staff will contact the business to advise the signs are prohibited and must be removed. If you want to report signs, you can call the city at 760-337-4547.

She added, if the signs are not removed, city enforcement staff will then remove it.

In Imperial, Executive Assistant and Public Information Officer Alexis L. Chalupnik said no person can place advertising without a permit. She said if a business wants to place an advertisement, the business must be approved by department staff and a Development Review Committee.

In Brawley, City Manager Rosanna B. Moore states typically signs are prohibited in the right of way.

“The city’s right of way areas are primarily reserved for safety and directional signs,” she said.

She added some signs are permitted, but it depends on size and other circumstances.

We included some information on other cities for your reference. When in doubt, call your city hall and ask before you start placing signs.