Garden Grove : Political Signs Curb Given Preliminary OK

Candidates cannot litter the landscape with “vote for me” signs in this city anymore, according to a law given preliminary approval by the City Council.

In past elections, there were no limits on the number of signs politicians could plaster on a given lot. The result, as in many other parts of the state, were sites filled with hundreds of the placards. City workers frequently end up having to clean up the mess.

The new law aims to end the problem by limiting each candidate or cause to one sign, a maximum of 32 square feet, per lot. “Basically, it just reduces the sign clutter,” city planner Patrick Richardson said.

Candidates who ignore the law will be ordered to remove the excess posters. If the clutter isn’t cleared, court action can ensue and misdemeanor penalties may be levied. However, Richardson noted, city officials do not expect any violators to flaunt the law.