The purpose of this information is to clearly outline regulations to be followed when installing political signs in Delta prior to and following an election. Signs are not permitted to be installed prior to September 15, 2022 at 12:00 a.m. midnight and must be removed no later than October 22, 2022. Portable electronic message boards are not permitted.
Delta Sign Bylaw No. 5860, 2000 regulates the installation of signs within the City of Delta, other than those located on a Provincial highway as defined in the Highway Act.
Extract from Delta Sign Bylaw No. 5860, 2000
| Definitions | |
|---|
| Political Sign | Means a temporary sign containing names and messages related to an election or referendum. |
| Boulevard | Means the area between the curb lines, the lateral lines or the shoulder of a Roadway and the adjacent property line; and in the case of a divided Highway that portion between the inside curb lines, lateral lines or shoulders of the Roadways. |
| Median | Means the longitudinal area of a highway separating two travel lanes, excluding left turn lanes, that is marked by cross hatching painted diagonally on the pavement, or delineated by a raised or at grade grassed or landscaped area. |
| Referendum Sign | Means a political sign |
| Sign Face | Means a distinct side on a sign where copy may be placed. A cylinder is considered to have three sign faces, a sphere is considered to have six sign faces. |
| Section 7.8 Political Sign |
| (a) | A person must not place, or permit to be placed, a political sign on: |
| | i) a highway or right of way; |
| | ii) a boulevard, centre median, island or sidewalk; |
| | iii) any roadway structure or traffic control device; |
| | iv) a tree, bush, planter, waste or recycling receptacle, newspaper box, mailbox, signpost, bridge or overpass structure; |
| | v) any other public property including land, buildings, structures, parks, gardens or equipment; or |
| | vi) overhanging public property. |
| (b) | Election or political signs may be placed on private property in all zones, including single family, two family, multi-family, institutional, commercial and industrial provided that: |
| | i) signs have the consent of the property owner, occupant, or strata corporation in the case of a parcel containing strata lots (for common property), prior to placement. |
| (c) | Election or political signs for a campaign office are subject to the sign regulations for signs allowed by permit. |
| (d) | Election or political signs must adhere to the following requirements and restrictions: |
| | i) comply with provisions of the Local Government Act, Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, Motor Vehicle Act, Transportation Act, and any other applicable Provincial or Federal Statutes, orders or regulations thereto; |
| | ii) pertain to an election or referendum being conducted within the municipal boundaries of the City of Delta; |
| | iii) are non-illuminated, do not exceed two sign faces, 3 m2 sign area on each sign face, 3.0 m in height and are no closer than 0.3 m in any direction to any other sign; |
| | iv) must not use the City of Delta or the School District No. 37 logos, heraldic emblems or similar corporate identifiers for the purpose of any candidate’s campaign activities; |
| | v) must not be placed within 5 metres of a fire hydrant; |
| | vi) are displayed no more than 30 days before the date of and 7 days after the conclusion of an election or referendum. |
The Corporation of Delta Highways Bylaw No. 6922, 2011 applies to all Highways within the City of Delta and to any person involved in an activity or subject matter covered by the Bylaw.
Extract from the Corporation of Delta Highways Bylaw No. 6922, 2011
| Section 3.2 |
| Except as authorized by a Highway Use Permit issued by the Engineer pursuant to this Bylaw, a person must not: |
| (e) | Place, construct or maintain a retaining wall, loading platform, hoarding, skid, rail, mechanical device, building, signs, or any other structure or thing on a Highway. |
Extract from Delta Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 7206, 2013
| Part 10 – Vending/Advertising |
| 10.1 | Within a Park or Municipal Land, a person must not, except in accordance with Municipal Permit or the written permission of the Director: |
| | (a) | Sell or display for sale any refreshments, good, articles or things, or offer any service for a fee; |
| | (b) | Post, paint, affix an advertisement, bill, poster, picture, matter or thing in or on any Park or Municipal Land, Body of Water, or on any tree, post pole, building or other structure or thing within any Park or Municipal Land; |
| | (c) | Conduct any organized activity without a Municipal Permit that prohibits the general public from using the Park or Municipal Land; or |
| | (d) | Engage in the distribution or delivery of advertising material in any Park or Municipal Land whatsoever, except as provided for under the Corporation of Delta “Highways Bylaw No. 6922 Section 10.9” or in locations designated by Signage. |
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
The installation of political signs on provincial highways is regulated by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Click here for the Ministry's Technical Circular T-03/18.
General Local Election Signs:
A sign, poster or other notice posted by a registered political party, candidate or election advertising sponsor for general local elections.
Sign placement period: Signs may be placed only during the campaign period (campaign period as defined by Election BC – September 17 to October 15) and must be removed on the day following the end of the electoral event.
For more information on political signs on provincial highways please visit www.gov.bc.ca/electionsigns.
Signs on Tsawwassen First Nation
The installation of political signs on Tsawwassen First Nation lands is regulated by Tsawwassen First Nation. Click here Tsawwassen First Nation's Land Use Planning and Development Act Sign Regulation.
Sponsorship Information on Political Signs
The Local Election Campaign Financing Act requires that sponsorship information be provided on most election advertising, including political signs.
Signs must include:
- the name of the financial agent;
- the words “authorized by” in front of the financial agent’s name; and
- a BC telephone number, or BC mailing address, or email address at which the financial agent can be contacted.
Although there are no size requirements for the sponsorship information, it must be clear and readable.
Sponsorship information must be on the election advertising itself and must be in English or understandable to readers of English. If the advertising is in another language, the sponsorship information must also be in that language or understandable to readers of that language.
If the election advertising is co-sponsored by two or more candidates, the sponsorship information for each candidate’s financial agent must be on the advertising.
One-sided election signs must have sponsorship information on the side that contains the advertising. It cannot be on the back of the sign only.
Two-sided election signs must have sponsorship information on at least one side. It is not required to be on both sides.
Political Sign Placement during Voting Proceedings
In accordance with the Local Government Act, political signs are not permitted within 100 metres of a voting place while voting is being conducted.
