Signs across town announce election season in Yorba Linda – Orange County Register

Yorba Linda has some of the strictest election sign laws in northern Orange County, including specific rules for posting signs on roadways and private property.

Yorba Linda “recognizes that free speech is an important and constitutionally protected right,” according to a set of interim road sign guidelines issued by the city’s Office of Community Preservation.

But the guidelines state that temporary signs “pose a potential hazard to persons and property,” so the city “must impose reasonable time limits” on the display of the signs. “The City’s temporary sign regulations allow for freedom of speech while maintaining public safety.”

Violations of the rules regarding the placement of temporary signs on public rights-of-way that are deemed to “present an immediate hazard to pedestrians or vehicles” allow the signs to be removed “without notice,” according to the guidelines.

Other violations allow for the sign to be removed upon notice to the owner, who has 72 hours to remove the sign. If the sign is removed by the city, the owner has 72 hours to pick up the sign from the city before it is thrown out.

Signs must be removed within five days of election day.

Owners must include their name, address, and telephone number on the signs prior to installation. The area of ​​the signs may not exceed 6 square feet and their height may not exceed 4 feet.

Two major violations include placing signs in the median strips of streets and highways and placing signs in tree wells along sidewalks. The signs may be placed in public parks, but not within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, driveway or intersection.

Signs must be freestanding and may not be attached to traffic control devices, government signs, lampposts, utility poles, bus shelters or other structures, poles, fences, shrubs or trees.

Signs may not be placed in locations that, in the opinion of the city traffic engineer, pose a hazard to pedestrians or road traffic.

Signs on private property are limited to 32 square feet in area and 6 feet in height. Signs may be freestanding or attached to a private fence or structure, but must not obstruct the view of vehicular traffic or interfere with pedestrians.

Candidates for Yorba Linda City Council positions receive a copy of the guidelines upon filing their nomination papers with the City Clerk, but candidates for other positions do not receive the guidelines upon registering with the County Registrar of Voters.

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Don’t expect to see any candidate announcements for the two open positions on the Yorba Linda Water District board, as only two incumbents — Trudi DesRoches and Gene Hernandez — have filed to run.

DesRoches was first nominated in 2020 when she was one of two candidates seeking election, while Hernandez was appointed in January.

Since the introduction of public voting in 1959, ten elections have been cancelled due to a lack of opposing candidates.

Jim Drummond is a longtime Yorba Linda resident. He shares his opinion on local issues each week. Email him at [email protected].