With the advent of stricter signage laws, how has this affected your real estate business?  What do your customers think?

Here in North Carolina, there is a growing trend towards cities and towns implementing stricter signage laws.  Many now forbid all types of directionals, others only allow them in certain right of ways on weekends.  The city of Charlotte recently increased their restrictions as well as their fines.  Here is a memo from the Charlotte Regional REALTOR^®  Association regarding our new sign laws:

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City of Charlotte Sign on Public Rights of Way and Temporary Off-Premises Real Estate Signs

Charlotte Neighborhood Development Code Enforcement Division would like to remind you of Charlotte's Sign Ordinance related to the posting of real estate and new-subdivision signs. Please pay special attention to the time restrictions on the posting of temporary off-premises real estate signs. Temporary off-premises signs can be posted after 8 a.m. on Saturdays (or holidays) and can remain until 6 p.m. on Sundays (or holidays).

It is illegal to post real estate signs that are:

• Within any public right of way
• Within 11 feet from the edge of the pavement of any road, street or alley
• Posted on any post, pole, tree, stake, shrub, fire hydrant, traffic median or anything else within 11 feet of the public right of way
• In excess of two per advertised property
• Located farther than one-half mile from the advertised property
• Posted before 8 a.m. on Saturdays or holidays, or that remain after 6 p.m. on Sundays or holidays

Sign Removal:
Charlotte Code Enforcement personnel or its designees have the authority to summarily remove any notice, sign or written material found in violation of the above.

NEW PENALITIES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2008

Responsible Person:
The "responsible person" is defined as the person, business, company or other entity organizing the event advertised, selling the services, dwelling or products, OR the person, business, company or other entity responsible for attaching, placing, painting, writing, stamping or pasting the sign.

Penalty:
For the first through fifth violations, the responsible person will be fined $100 per sign; for the sixth through 10th sign violations, the fine rises to $500. For the 11th and all future violations, the fee will be $1,000 per sign.

Homebuilders, developers, Realtors^® and sign contractors - please adhere to these regulations to avoid violations and subsequent penalties.

For more information contact Charlotte Neighborhood Development Code Enforcement Division at (704)336-7600 or 311.

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Charlotte is not the only city as even many of the small towns I work in, for example Matthews and Waxhaw, also have strict signage laws.  Many of these laws are in retaliation for national homebuilders who are notorious for putting 10 signs in a row on every corner for miles for the same neighborhoods.  Now THAT, I understand trying to prevent as it is total overkill.... But come on, let people try to sell their homes!  This is a confusing enough town directionally (esp. since they change the street name after every major crossroad!) to get around, especially for newcomers. 

So, this has me wondering how our laws compare to those around the country.  And especially in this down market, have you heard complaints from your listing and/or buyer clients?  I know I have, and I now I can't even have directional signage for agent open house events.  I have had the thought, more than once, that I wonder how elected officials feel about this when it comes time to SELL THEIR HOUSE!  Better yet, I would love to catch them violating the sign law (ok, yes I am a bit devious ).  

Would love to have comments from everyone around the country, and especially here locally.