We have all more than likely seen bandit signs at least once, if not a million times. They are very popular in the real estate industry and among political campaigns. If you have never heard the term “bandit sign” before, did that last sentence help you to recognize what we are talking about?
Bandit signs are relatively small advertising and campaign signs that are usually posted in yards or on the side of the road. But why are they called bandit signs? Well, depending on the community and where the signs are posted, they can be illegal. Bandit signs are associated with flyposting, which is the posting of advertising or flyers in unauthorized places. The signs are categorized as street spam and considered to be eyesores.
Residents in some areas have been known to tear them down. So even if the signs have been posted legally, in an authorized place, they may not stay long if it is in a community where they are not welcome. Many cities and towns have made bandit signs illegal. Philadelphia, for example, has a penalty of $300 per posted sign for the first offense and up to $2,000 per sign for the second offense; and the city has previously paid residents to tear them down.
In Clark County, bandit signs have not been outlawed, but many rules and regulations have been put in place for posting them. If they are not followed carefully, the bandit signs are being posted illegally. Unlawfully posting signs or posters in Clark County is a misdemeanor with penalties of a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 6 months in jail.
The rules and regulations for posting signs in Clark County are stated in Chapter 30.72 of the Title 30 Clark County Unified Development Code. There are regulations from the hardware used to put up the signs to the content of the signs. The application of the Code is assuming that the poster has permission from the property owner to post the sign. If you don’t have permission, compliance with the rules will not prevent the property owner from taking down the sign.
The overall theme of the code is that bandit signs cannot be distracting. Signs are not to be placed within the right-of-way of any highway or road. If they are posted in a way that could interfere with, mislead, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any directional, warning, danger, signal or informational sign or structure, they are considered illegal. According to a recent statement by the Nevada Department of Transportation, campaign signs measuring less than 4×8 feet can be posted without a permit.
As we always say, “If you think you might need an attorney, you probably do.” Call us to set up a complimentary telephonic consultation before anything is set in stone.