Allegheny County Header
File #: 12536-22    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Ordinance Status: Defeated
File created: 12/9/2022 In control: Committee on Public Works
On agenda: 12/13/2022 Final action: 7/5/2023
Title: An ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending and supplementing Chapter 770 of the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, entitled “Signs,” Article I, entitled “Campaign Signs,” in order to establish a mechanism for aiding the County in ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Article.
Sponsors: Tom Duerr, Bob Macey
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An ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending and supplementing Chapter 770 of the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, entitled “Signs,” Article I, entitled “Campaign Signs,” in order to establish a mechanism for aiding the County in ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Article.

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Whereas, the right of candidates to campaign and display political signs is an important right of free speech; and

Whereas, litter from political signs following elections in Allegheny County has been a prevalent problem for many years, littering our highways and roadsides, and negatively affecting the aesthetic quality and natural beauty of our region; and

Whereas, in addition to these issues, political signs can also be distracting and impair drivers’ and pedestrians’ views of important traffic signage and other vehicles and pedestrians, particularly when signs are particularly large and/or placed in close proximity to traffic control devices/signage, roadways, and intersections; and

Whereas, to the extent that this takes place, it constitutes a clear danger to the safety and well-being of the County’s residents and visitors; and

Whereas, in order to address these safety and aesthetic issues solely to the extent that they relate to certain campaign signs placed on County-owned property, the County enacted Ordinance 17-03-OR, now codified as Article I of Chapter 770 of the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances; and

Whereas, the provisions of Article I provide for the removal of campaign signs by the candidates for whom they were posted in accordance with applicable provisions of the Pennsylvania Elections Code, require that candidates certify their compliance with the removal requirements, and provide for the publication of information relating to those candidates who do not comply in both local newspapers and on the County website; and

Whereas, it is the judgment of Council that it is clear that not all campaign signage has a...

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