Submitted by San Juan County.

San Juan County reminds businesses and event organizers of important ordinances regarding signage – particularly signs placed alongside the road in the County right-of-way. During the week of Monday, Aug. 14, County staff will be removing A-frame signs located within the public right-of-way in Eastsound.

According to San Juan County Code, off-premises, outdoor commercial signs shall not be permitted (18.40.370). Directional signs shall be permitted solely to provide direction to geographical places (e.g., Westsound, Roche Harbor, Richardson) and contain only the place name, an arrow, and mileage. Such signs may only be placed at critical intersections and, shall be no larger than 4×24 inches (18.40.380).

Excessive signage placed in the right-of-way can be distracting to drivers, dangerous to pedestrians and bicyclists, and impeding to road and shoulder maintenance and upkeep. The County asks those with signs to remove them from the public right-of-way by Monday, Aug, 14.

Currently, the only A-frame signs allowed in the right-of-way are Special Event signs and they are relegated to the three areas in Eastsound illustrated here. This includes the intersection of Main Street and Lovers Lane, and only allowed on the west side of Lovers Lane; at the intersection of School Road and Prune Alley; and at the south side of the intersection of Terrill Beach Road and Crescent Beach Drive. No more than one sign per organization is allowed and must be removed after 30 days.

Once the signs are removed, their owners will be able to pick them up the following week between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays at the Public Works facility building located at 1395 Mt. Baker Rd.