Opinion ID: 3065246
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the sign code and enforcement against good

Text: NEWS Like many municipalities, Gilbert regulates the display of outdoor signs. Town of Gilbert Land Development Code, Division 4, General Regulations, Article 4.4, Sign Regulations (“Sign Code” or “Code”). Gilbert’s Sign Code prohibits certain types of signs altogether. For signs that are not prohibited, the Code imposes a general ban on displaying signs 15400 REED v. TOWN OF GILBERT without a permit and establishes some generally applicable restrictions. § 4.402(A). Signs that are allowed with permits are regulated according to general categories, for example, “Real Estate.” The Sign Code exempts from the permitting requirement nineteen types of signs.2 The signs employed by Good News fall under one of the exemptions, § 4.402(P), for Temporary Directional Signs Relating to a Qualifying Event (“Qualifying Event Signs”). In July 2005, Good News received an email from a Gilbert Code Compliance officer noting a violation of an earlier version of § 4.402(P) because Good News’ signs had been sited too early and in a public right-of-way. A few months later, a Code Compliance officer issued an advisory notice to Good News, stating that signs were displayed outside of the hours allowed and did not include a date for the religious service. Good News relates that “[a]fter receiving these citations, the Church reduced the number of signs and the amount of time they placed the signs.” In February 2007, the Code Compliance Manager told Good News “that there is no leniency under the Code, and that the Church would be cited if it was determined that it had violated any of the applicable provisions in the Code.” 2 (1) Signs installed by a governmental jurisdiction; (2) Building Identification Signs; (3) Permanent Regulatory and Parking signs; (4) Information Wall Signs (e.g., “Delivery Entrance”); (5) Real Estate Signs; (6) Residential Open House Signs; (7) Political Signs; (8) Ideological Signs; (9) Garage Sale Signs; (10) Business Identification Banners during street construction; (11) Interim Business Identification Banners; (12) Boutique Signs; (13) Window Signs; (14) A-Frame Signs; (15) Temporary Directional Signs Relating to a Qualifying Event; (16) Construction Signs; (17) Suspended Signs (particular type of commercial sign); (18) Restaurant Menu Signs; and (19) Required Street Addresses. § 4.402(D). REED v. TOWN OF GILBERT 15401