AREA ZONING REGULATIONS CONCERNING REALTY SIGNS
February 26, 1998
Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS 5405 Market Street
Boardman, OH 44512
Dear Association of REALTORS,
This letter is to advise your association that we have noticed a proliferation of mini-directional signs on residential street comers throughout Boardman Town ship. Ohio Revised Code Section 5589.33 and Article XII of Boardman Town ship's Zoning Ordinance address the issue of placing signs in right-of-way limits. By law, signs in a public right-of-way are restricted to those which pertain to the regulation of traffic.
The right-of-way was created for the benefit of the public good but was not intended to be a means for advertising the sale of real estate or miscellaneous items of personal property. To some, enforcement of laws and ordinances that address signs and littering is nitpicking. The fact is that if these issues are ignored it insidiously sends the message that it is permissible to do it and, before you know it, everyone is doing it. Another consideration is the self-defeating nature of these signs; if we have signs on every street comer in Boardman, it might prompt the potential buyer to ask, "If this is such a great community, why does there seem to be so many homes for sale?"
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to call. Otherwise we look forward to your continued cooperation in promoting a safe and healthy community. Please pass this information along to all of your members.
Sincerely,
Patrolman Kim R. Kotheimer
Community Police Division
330-729-2062
LETTER FROM CURT SEDITZ, BOARDMAN TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR:
Boardman Township Zoning Office has been experiencing complaints regarding the recent proliferation of "off-premise signs". Specifically we are experiencing problems with realty signs which are advertising the sale of items or property other than where the signs are physically located.
The placement of signs as described above, and in fight-of-ways, is in direct violation of Boardman Township Zoning Ordinance. Over the years this office has shown flexibility with REALTORS in enforcing the related provisions of the ordinance with regards to these off premise signs. However, in recent months our office has received numerous complaints from citizens, businesses and other landowners that these signs are becoming an eyesore and are in violation of existing sign regulations. In fact, we are having to remove a number of these signs on a regular basis, many of which are "chained" to street sign posts.
Scenarios such as these are completely unacceptable. It is Boardman Township's desire to have these practices brought to an immediate halt. It is also our desire to avoid official citations under the Zoning Ordinance if at all possible.
NOTE: Boardman Township's Zoning Ordinance does not permit "off-premise" signs, specifically signs which are advertising the sale of items or property other than where the signs are physically located. Boardman Township will also not tolerate chaining a real estate sign to street sign posts.
NOTICE
Ohio Revised Code Section 5589.33
(Advertising on Public
Highways) and Article X11(F) of the Boardman Township
Zoning Ordinance prohibits placing signs in right-of-way
limits or affixing them to utility poles.
Signs are to be confined to private property.
For further information, contact
the Community Police
Division of the Boardman Police Department at
330-729-2062
The practice of placing signs at intersections and corners in Liberty Township to direct traffic to the property is not allowed and will no longer be tolerated!
* Complete copy of Liberty Township's Zoning Resolution is available at the YCAR office.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP CRACKING DOWN ON TOWNSHIP ZONING REGULATIONS CONCERNING REALTY
SIGNS!!
BE ADVISED: Liberty Township Zoning Inspector will no longer be lenient with any REALTOR® in violation of Liberty Township's zoning regulations.
WARNING!! EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: any REALTOR® who places a sign in direct violation of Liberty Township's zoning resolution will:
1) Be cited in Girard Court
2) Be required to sit in court and miss a day's work
3) Be responsible for court costs
4) Be fined $100 per day for every day the sign placement violation exists!!!
Liberty Township Zoning Resolution allows realty signs only under the following conditions:
1) The sign must be placed on the property that is for sale. Off premise signs are not permitted.
2) The sign may not exceed 6 square feet in area.
3) The sign must be set back from the established edge of a road a minimum of twenty (20) feet
4) No signs are permitted in the right-of-way.
Liberty Township Zoning Inspector WILL allow REALTORS® to put up directional signs to "open houses"
...only on the day of the open house
...only for the time frame that the house will be open
The office of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS® has again been contacted by James Rodway, Liberty Township Zoning Inspector, in reference to REALTORS® still violating his township's zoning regulations pertaining to the placement of realty signs. In addition to the public complaining about the placement of realty signs in Liberty Township, REALTORS® are calling the Zoning Department continuously complaining about other REALTORS®."
To all realtors and auctioneers doing business within the corporation llmits of Columbiana Village: There is an obscure sign regulation which some agencies are unknowingly violating. Please let me acquaint you:
Sign regulations within the confines of Columbiana Village
specifically Section 1185.08(i), Planning and Zoning Code. "(i)
Signs visible from a street shall not contain an arrow or words such
as "stop" "go" "slow" etc., or otherwise resemble highway traffic
or directional signals." Arrows are the big offenders.
Your cooperation will save complaints, forced sign removal, plus
lots of grey hair. Thank you for your attention and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Bob Belding
Assistant Building & Zoning Inspector