THE DALLES — Over the past few weeks leading up to this month’s election, the City has been made aware of several political campaign signs located in the City’s public rights-of-way. Non-permitted signs located in the public right-of-way is a public and traffic safety concern — pursuant to The Dalles Municipal Code, the City may remove and immediately confiscate such signs without prior notice.
Effective Wednesday, May 8, the City will be enforcing The Dalles Municipal Code 10.13.070.040(C) (Removal of signs in public right-of-way or on City-owned real property) and removing non-permitted political campaign signs brought to the City’s attention as being located within the City’s public right-of-way or on other City-owned real property.
For signs without a visible telephone number or address of the sign’s owner on the sign itself, the City will hold such a confiscated sign for at least 15 days before disposing of it unless the sign’s owner reclaims it. The City will destroy such confiscated signs if unclaimed within that 15-day period.
For signs with a visible telephone number or address of the sign’s owner, the person responsible for the sign, or the person that is the subject of the sign’s communication (i.e., the political candidate), the City will hold such a confiscated sign for at least 30 days from the time the City contacts such person by telephone or by mail. The City will destroy such confiscated signs if unclaimed within that 30-day period unless an authorized person requests a hearing, in which case that person must provide the Community Development Director notice of the hearing request within 5 days from the date the City contacts such person by telephone or mail.
Additional details on the City’s regulations and laws relating to this issue can be accessed online at https://ecode360.com/44567679.
To report a sign located in the City’s public right-of-way or other City-owned real property, please send an email containing a photograph of the sign and surrounding area, an address or other information sufficient for City staff to identify where to locate the sign, and any other relevant information to cdd@ci.the-dalles.or.us.
For additional information, contact the Community Development Department at cdd@ci.the-dalles.or.us.
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