In some cities, signs illegal before first week in September

PHILOMATH — Thinking about putting up an election sign in your yard? If you live in Philomath, you’d be breaking the law.

Philomath is among the cities in this area that prohibit election yard signs from being posted more than 60 days before an election. For the Nov. 4 general election — which includes races for president, U.S. Senate, the Benton County Board of Commissioners and the Philomath City Council — that means signs can’t go up before Sept. 5.

Corvallis prohibits political lawn signs 90 days before an election, which made it OK after Aug. 6, but maybe for the last time. Kathy Louie, assistant to the city manager and city recorder, said Corvallis also is considering making the yard signs illegal until 60 days before the election.

In Albany, signs may be posted 45 days before the date mail-in ballots are distributed to the general population.

In Benton County, that’s Sept. 2; in Linn County, it’s Sept. 3.

Until then, “Put it in your window if you want to, put it in your car, but yard signs are fair to be regulated by the community,” said Randy Kugler, Philomath city manager.

Ordinances regarding when election signs can appear are not unusual in Oregon, although there isn’t a state standard. According to the Oregon Elections Division, the state has no rules on when political signs can be placed on private property. Cities and counties have jurisdiction.

Benton County doesn’t have rules regarding how early election signs could be displayed, said Jill Van Buren, county elections supervisor. Adair Village and Monroe city officials said their cities had no specific ordinances or codes regarding the timing of election sign posting.

Philomath’s rules, which could carry a penalty of up to $250 per day for violators, are generating some controversy.

Two residents were cited Aug. 22 for refusing to take down their early yard signs, said Joan Swanson, city finance director.

“I’m glad to hear the city is doing that. I took mine down — and they ought to take theirs down,” said David Stein, one of several Philomath residents who received letters instructing them to remove such lawn signs.

“We have people who believe signage is a constitutional right and have opted to ignore the city ordinance,” said Mayor Chris Nusbaum. “Unfortunately, it puts our Police Department in the awkward position to start issuing citations.”

Nusbaum, a Republican, is seeking the seat on the Benton County Board of Commissioners held by Democratic incumbent Annabelle Jaramillo. One of the residents cited had a sign up supporting Nusbaum’s candidacy.

Kugler said the city operates on a complaint basis regarding campaign signs, with residents notifying officials of specific residences that are in violation of the ordinance. He said there had been several calls from residents this summer.

“This is the first time we have had to enforce the provision,” Kugler said. “We haven’t had any complaints in the past.”

He said “sign fatigue” was the reason for the law, which has been on the books since at least the 1980s. “It gets irritating if you have an opposing view to a sign you are looking at all the time,” he said.

That irritation also typically leads to conflicts ranging from complaints of signs being placed illegally on private or public property to disputes between residents over lawn sign theft, burning and vandalism.

Complaints about signs being out too early are rare, said Marilyn Smith, Albany’s public information officer.

“What we usually get complaints about are signs that are missing or are removed,” she said.