Culver City : Sign Size Limit Changed

The City Council this week slightly increased the maximum size of political signs allowed on residential property.

Last month, the council introduced an ordinance limiting signs to 4 square feet. But last week, Councilman Richard Alexander said that a standard size political sign is larger than that.

The council Monday night agreed to increase the maximum allowable size sign to 4.3 square feet.

Resident Ed Little, who spoke at the meeting, said large political signs constitute “pollution” in residential neighborhoods. He described a sign made of three 4-by-8-foot boards that he said stood in his neighbor’s front yard and insulted him.

But Councilman James Boulgarides warned that the ordinance would cut off a means of peaceful citizen protest and would limit First Amendment rights. “I think this (ordinance) is a form of political censorship,” Boulgarides said.

Another speaker, resident Tom Hammons, suggested applying the same size limits to business properties. Mayor Paul Jacobs and Councilman Steven Gourley agreed to introduce such an ordinance soon.