REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO POLITICAL SIGNS
(Updated April 10, 2007)

Foster City has established standards for signage which are outlined in Chapter 15.12 of the Foster City Municipal Code (FCMC).

The City recognizes the importance of political signs in the exercise of free speech. The City hereby finds it necessary to regulate certain aspects of political signs, pursuant to FCMC 15.12.010, for the following reasons:

1. Prohibition of political signs on public street medians, bridges, public utility box or any poles used for public utility, traffic control signs, traffic signals, or street signs is necessary to: prevent visual distractions to motorists which create traffic hazards, prevent unsafe road conditions, and to prevent eyesores from proliferating along public streets.

2. Regulation of the size of political signs is necessary for safety and aesthetic reasons, specifically, that the strong winds common in Foster City would remove the signs, creating hazards and accumulation of debris, and extremely large or illuminated signs would create a distraction to motorists.

The following sections of the FCMC govern the placement of political signs in the City:

15.12.020: Definitions. “’Political sign’ means a sign associated with a candidate for elected office or ballot measure.”

15.12.160.V. “With the exception of signs as provided in subsections A, B, and C of Section 15.12.170 (traffic signs or pavement markings required by state law, city/district regulations, or the city engineer, signs erected by the City, District, County, State or the United States, signs erected by public utility companies with the permission of the planning director which serve the public safety or welfare), the placement of signs in any portion of a City park is prohibited; signs placed in violation of this subsection are subject to immediate removal by a representative of the City authorized to do so by the City Manager. If information is provided to the City or included on the sign indicating whom to contact regarding the sign, the City shall provide notice to the contact following removal of the sign.”

Except as otherwise provided or referenced, pursuant to FCMC 15.12.170, the following signs are declared to be exempt from the requirements of sign permit application, review, approval and fees, but must adhere to all other regulations of federal, state and local laws:

15.12.170.J. “Political signs which meet the following criteria:

1. Political signs shall not be placed in any public street median, or on any bridge, public utility box, or any pole used for public utility, traffic control signs, traffic signals, or street signs. These signs are deemed to create a hazardous condition and shall be subject to immediate removal by a representative of the city authorized to do so by the city manager. If information is provided to the city or included on the sign indicating whom to contact regarding the sign, the city shall provide notice to the contact following removal of the sign.

2. Political signs shall not be placed in or along public rights-of-way such that they are considered by the city to be a sight distance problem for the drivers of vehicles, or which interfere or distract from the traffic control devices in place, or which interfere with safe bicycle or pedestrian circulation. These signs are deemed to create a hazardous condition and shall be subject to immediate removal by a representative of the city authorized to do so by the city manager. If information is provided to the city or included on the sign indicating whom to contact regarding the sign, the city shall provide notice to the contact following removal of the sign.

3. With the exception of public parks, political signs may be placed on public property within ten feet from the back of curb adjacent to a public street if they do not interfere with pedestrian circulation along sidewalks, pathways or the levee/pedway; do not obstruct bicycle circulation along bicycle paths; do not obstruct the sight distance of drivers of vehicles; and/or, do not cause unsafe conditions as determined by the city. Signs deemed to create a hazardous condition shall be subject to immediate removal by a representative of the city authorized to do so by the city manager. If information is provided to the city or included on the sign indicating whom to contact regarding the sign, the city shall provide notice to the contact following removal of the sign.

4. Political signs placed in residential zoning districts shall be no larger than four square feet. Placement of political signs on roofs is prohibited.

5. Political signs placed in zoning districts other than residential shall be no larger than eight square feet.

6. Political signs placed on private property must have the express consent of the property owner.

7. Political signs shall not be illuminated.

8. Political signs may be placed ninety days prior to an election and shall be removed no later than ten days after the election.

9. Any political signs placed in median strips along Foster City Boulevard, Shell Boulevard, Beach Park Boulevard, East Hillsdale Boulevard, Edgewater Boulevard, Metro Center Boulevard, Chess Drive, Vintage Park Drive, Bounty Drive, Polynesia Drive or any other public street shall be subject to immediate removal by a representative of the city authorized to do so by the city manager. If information is provided to the city or included on the sign indicating whom to contact regarding the sign, the city shall provide notice to the contact following removal of the sign.

10. Any political sign deemed to have damaged public property shall be subject to immediate removal by the city. If information is provided to the city or included on the sign indicating whom to contact regarding the sign, the city shall provide notice to the contact following removal of the sign.”