Sign rules clarified

As the Flathead Valley braces for the onslaught of political signs geared to Nov. 6 general election, there are a few rule clarifications the county wants candidates and other sign bearers to note.

Flathead County Planning Director BJ Grieve last week sent a letter to all candidates on file with the election department, outlining sign regulations to alleviate any lingering confusion from the primary election.

“During the 2012 primary election, our office fielded lots of calls regarding political signs in rural areas of Flathead County,” Grieve said. “There was a bit of confusion over where signs could and could not be posted, how large they could be, when they could be posted and so on.”

In rural Flathead County, political signs on private land outside road easements or a right of way are regulated in all zoned areas. The county has an interactive mapping site at http://flathead.mt.gov/gis/.

Signs can’t exceed 32 square feet and can’t be erected more than 30 days prior to the election “or event to which the sign pertains.”

Since absentee voting starts Oct. 9, the Planning Office has interpreted the start of absentee voting as the “event to which the sign pertains,” Grieve said. That means the earliest political signs can go up is 12 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 9.

If evidence of a violation is found, the landowner will be contacted and given 30 days to voluntarily comply with the zoning regulations.