The Springfield City Council passed an ordinance on June 22 to crack down on illegal signs in public right-of-way or on public property, commonly referred to as “bandit signs.”

Ordinance Applies to City, County, State, and Federal Property

The ordinance did not change existing regulations on where signs can be placed but created a new enforcement mechanism by establishing a “prima facie framework,” assigning responsibility to the person, business, or organization referenced on the signage.

Deputy City Manager Collin Quigley stated that the ordinance was prompted by a significant increase in illegal signs throughout Springfield, which obstruct views, distract drivers, and detract from the community’s appearance.

Reinstatement of Previous Sign Code

In a separate move, the City Council also approved a text amendment to the city code reinstating certain sign regulations from the previous land development code. This amendment aims to restore the old baseline and sets the stage for a larger conversation about signs and sign policy in the future.

Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.