[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Ramapo as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 5-8-1985 by L.L. No. 4-1985]
This article shall be known and may be cited
hereinafter as the "Temporary Signs Law of the Town of Ramapo."
[Amended 6-14-1989 by L.L. No. 11-1989]
It is the intention of the Town Board of the
Town of Ramapo, by the adoption of this article, to regulate the posting
and display of political and other temporary signs on property within
the unincorporated area of the Town of Ramapo in pursuance of and
for the purpose of securing and protecting the public health, comfort,
convenience, safety and welfare and preserving the peace, good order
and physical appearance of the Town of Ramapo and its inhabitants.
The Town Board finds that the streets, highways and other areas of
the Town are becoming increasingly cluttered with political and other
types of signs which are interfering with the natural beauty and traffic
safety of the Town. The substantial possibility exists of a proliferation
of such signs in the Town over extended periods of time with the attendant
problems with pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety, litter, structural
and other hazards. It is the purpose of this article to protect the
general public from the hazards of flying paper or cloth, general
debris and litter and the destruction of, or injury to, property and
property rights.
A.
"Shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
B.
PERSON
POLITICAL SIGN
PUBLIC PROPERTY
SIGN
TEMPORARY SIGN
For the purpose of this article, the following terms,
phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings given
herein.
An individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
A temporary sign or advertisement, the import of which asks
or suggests that the viewer vote for or against, or merely announces,
a particular candidate seeking any political or elective office, as
well as any sign or advertisement, the import of which asks or suggests
that the viewer vote for or against, or merely announces, a particular
ballot issue.
All publicly owned property, including highways, streets,
sidewalks, rights-of-way, easements, public grounds, parks, school
property or any other public property, posts, hydrants, trees, streetlamps,
utility poles or traffic signs situated on public property and anything
affixed thereto and thereover.
[Amended 6-14-1989 by L.L. No. 11-1989]
Any bill, poster, placard, announcement, handbill, flyer,
painting, drawing, structure or other similar configuration or object
in any form whatsoever, or any part thereof, which contains printed
or written matter in words, symbols or pictures, or in any combination
thereof. The term "sign" does not include the flag, pennant or insignia
of any nation, group of nations or of any governmental agency or of
any educational, charitable, philanthropic, civic, professional, religious
or like campaign, drive, movement or event, nor does it include signs
posted or erected pursuant to and in the discharge of any governmental
function or required by any law, ordinance or governmental regulation.
A sign erected for a relatively short period of time, which
period shall be terminated by the work, event, sale of the premises
or product advertised or occurrence of the event to which it refers,
and in all respects the same as a sign which is not temporary insofar
as matters of location, construction and public safety are concerned.
[Amended 6-14-1989 by L.L. No. 11-1989]
No person shall display or post any sign on,
or over, any public property in the unincorporated area of the Town
of Ramapo.
[Amended 6-14-1989 by L.L. No. 11-1989]
A.
No signs shall be posted on any private property without the written permission of the owner thereof and filing of a security deposit pursuant to § 223-6. A list of persons granting the written permission must be filed with the Town Clerk's office.
B.
No signs shall be placed in a position that will obstruct
or impair vision and traffic or in any manner create a hazard or disturbance
to the health and safety of the general public.
A.
Political signs.
[Amended 6-14-1989 by L.L. No. 11-1989]
(1)
Prior to the placement of any political signs by any
person, such person shall file with the Town Clerk a notice that said
person intends to post or display political signs, said notice containing
the following information:
(2)
Accompanying the notice described above shall be the payment of a
sign permit fee as set forth in the Standard Schedule of Fees and
a security deposit as set forth in the Standard Schedule of Fees of
the Town of Ramapo as a guaranty that each and every such sign will
be removed promptly within two weeks immediately following the nomination,
primary, election or referendum to which it pertains. If such removal
is not made within the specified time, the Town shall have such signs
removed and the security deposit shall be forfeited to the Town to
defray the cost of removal of such signs. No political sign may be
posted or displayed within the Town more than 60 days prior to the
nomination, primary, election or referendum to which it pertains.
Provided the candidate for a primary election succeeds in said primary
election, then and in that event, the removal of such candidate's
signs shall be completed within two weeks immediately following the
general election wherein said person is a candidate.
[Amended 5-28-2014 by L.L. No. 4-2014]
B.
Other temporary signs.
[Amended 6-14-1989 by L.L. No. 11-1989]
(1)
Prior to the placement of any temporary signs by any
person, such person shall file with the Town Clerk a notice that said
person intends to post or display signs, such notice containing the
following information:
(2)
Accompanying the notice described above shall be the payment of a
sign permit fee as set forth in the Standard Schedule of Fees and
a security deposit as set forth in the Standard Schedule of Fees of
the Town of Ramapo as a guaranty that such signs will be removed promptly
within two weeks immediately following the cessation of the event
or activity mentioned in the permit. If such removal is not made within
the specified time, the Town shall have such signs removed and the
security deposit shall be forfeited to the Town to defray the cost
of removal of such signs. No temporary sign, other than political
signs, may be posted or displayed within the Town for a period of
more than 30 days.
[Amended 5-28-2014 by L.L. No. 4-2014]
C.
Exemptions.
(1)
Signs for charitable purposes. All signs of a temporary
nature which are for charitable purposes, or where the applicant is
a charitable, nonprofit or philanthropic organization, shall be exempt
from the security deposit provisions of this article.
(2)
Signs advertising merchandise for sale. All temporary
signs advertising merchandise for sale in or upon the premises where
such temporary signs are displayed shall be exempt from the permit
and security deposit provisions of this article.
[Amended 1-14-1987 by L.L. No. 2-1987]
The Police Department of the Town of Ramapo and/or the enforcement official as designated in Chapter 376, Zoning, § 376-140 of the Code of the Town of Ramapo shall have the power, right and authority to issue an appearance ticket, as the same is defined in Article 150 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the State of New York, for the violation of any section of this article.
B.
In the case of continuing violation of this article,
each week that such violation exists and each sign posted in violation
of this article shall constitute a separate and distinct Class 3 violation.
C.
In addition to the above-provided penalties and punishment,
the Town Board may also maintain an action in the name of the Town
in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with or
to restrain by injunction the violation of this article.
