The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB), Alta., has agreed to allow commercial advertising on billboards and freestanding signs on private property.
According to a report from Fort McMurray Today, council passed the amendment to the land use bylaw on Mar. 12, ending the ban on paid third-party advertising for signs throughout the region. The only two previous exemptions in Fort McMurray were signs at Centerfire Place arena and billboards in rural areas.
The goal of the new bylaw is to help clear up any confusion from its predecessor. Previously, the rules were not consistent throughout the region, and varied whether the signage was downtown, in the urban service area, or in rural areas. Instituting the same rules everywhere makes them easier to understand and enforce.
However, while there have been some changes, certain rules from the old bylaw remain in effect. There are still bans on third-party advertising on portable and fascia signs, but there are regulations for signs on fences, roofs, and in windows. There are also limits on size, brightness, and proximity to residential areas.
Further, the rules for election signs and non-profit groups are the same. Permits for signs near highways will be processed by the Alberta government, and those inside buildings and at sports fields are not regulated by the municipality.
If any signs go against the new bylaw, peace officers have the authority to take them down and issue fines. Businesses with illegal signs will receive a warning, with a three-month period to remove them.
“The main changes for freestanding signs is to allow them on smaller lots, allow more per parcel, and allow third-party advertising including digital,” RMWB senior manager of planning and development, Amanda Haitas, said in the report. “This will better support the business needs, creating an extra revenue stream through paid advertising.”
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB), Alta., has agreed to allow commercial advertising on billboards and freestanding signs on private property. Photo courtesy Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) |
