GLOUCESTER – Gloucester County officials are reminding residents of the sign ordinance concerning utility poles after receiving complaints of signs with political messages or offensive or derogatory language. The issue has become a growing concern the past few months.
“The recent complaint was about a sign on a Dominion power pole, and Dominion took it down once we notified them of the complaint,” Anne Ducey-Ortiz, the interim site plan administrator for the county, wrote in an email.
In a press release, the county said Virginia State Code prohibits placing signs and advertisements within the limits of the highway. The Virginia Department of Transportation removes signs that violate the code, especially if it interferes with maintenance or is a hazard to workers or motorists. There is a $100 penalty for each violation.
“Signage going up becomes a safety issue,” Dominion Energy spokesperson Crystal Bright said in the release. “Every nail and staple degrades the poles, and they can become unsafe for our line workers to climb.”
Bright noted some signs on poles have been made with wood and attached with lag screws, which is a safety hazard.
“Even while working from an aerial lift, the sign creates an unnecessary obstacle for our employees to work around,” she said.
Ducey-Ortiz said the county investigates sign complaints, and determines under whose jurisdiction (Dominion, VDOT, or the county) it falls.
“If it’s the county’s jurisdiction, we determine whether it is permitted or not and follow up through zoning enforcement,” she said.
Some signs are allowed but require a permit.
“The reminder was mostly about signs placed on Dominion power poles and in the VDOT right of way, which are not allowed but are not regulated by the county,” Ducey-Ortiz said.
For information on whether a sign needs a permit, call the county’s planning and zoning office at (804) 693-1224 or email [email protected].