District of West Vancouver councillors will bring forward a motion on July 20 that would ban election signs from all public property and reduce size and height limits for signs on private property, a report to council says.
What councillors are proposing
Councillors Peter Lambur and Sharon Thompson are asking the District to draft an amendment to Election Sign Bylaw No. 5114, 2021. The amendment would replace the current situational rules with a blanket prohibition on election signage on District-owned boulevards, medians, sidewalks, parks and other public structures.
- Election signs would be prohibited on public property, including boulevards, medians, sidewalks, parks, trees, mailboxes, signposts and bridges.
- Signs would remain permitted on private property with the owner's consent, but must be freestanding and not attached to fences or utility infrastructure.
- Maximum permitted sign dimensions on private property would be reduced.
Reasons cited in the report
The staff report cited several rationales for the change. It described public property as a communal resource that should not be used to promote candidates or parties, raised safety concerns about signs obscuring sightlines at intersections, medians and bike lanes, and noted environmental and administrative costs tied to plastic signage and enforcement.
"Public property belongs to everyone and should not be used to promote a political candidate or party."
The report also argues that candidates would be better served directing campaign time toward voter engagement, debates and policy communication, rather than managing roadside sign campaigns. It notes staff time and taxpayer funds are spent enforcing sign rules, impounding abandoned signs and disposing of them after elections.
Rules that would change
If council approves the motion directing staff to draft the amendment, the bylaw would remove existing boulevard siting rules and replace them with a broad prohibition. It would also tighten the size and height limits for signs remaining allowable on private property.
| Current rule | Proposed rule |
|---|---|
| Maximum size: 3.0 m² | Maximum size: 1.5 m² |
| Maximum height: 2.5 m | Maximum height: 1.8 m |
The amendment would also eliminate provisions related to impounding boulevard signs and the requirement to provide 48 hours' notice before placing them, since boulevard signage would no longer be permitted.
Local implications and next steps
The proposed changes touch on several local priorities: preserving the visual character of public spaces, reducing the use of non-recyclable materials in elections, and addressing potential safety hazards for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. If council directs staff to draft the bylaw amendment on July 20, a formal bylaw amendment would return to council for consideration and possible adoption at a later meeting.
Residents and candidates should expect to see further details from District staff if the motion is supported. Until any amendment is adopted, the existing Election Sign Bylaw remains in force, with permitted boulevard signage subject to the current conditions.
