With two elections on the horizon, local politicians are looking to toughen the rules for campaign signs.
A report going to the corporate services committee on Tuesday recommends the current election sign bylaw be amended to restrict candidates from putting signs too close together or outside of their prospective wards.
The amended bylaw would apply to candidates running in municipal, provincial, and federal elections.
City staff compiled the report using feedback from candidates and the public through the Election Office and the Public Service call centre. The most common complaints were related to the length of time election signs were posted, their proximity to intersections, and interference with driver sight lines.
Among the newly proposed rules is one that would eliminate sign clusters by limiting the same candidate to one sign every 10 metres. All signs would also have to be 7 metres away from an intersection and must be within the ward the candidate is running in.
Campaign office signs wouldn't be allowed to be posted until a candidate has filed their nomination papers. Candidates would have 72 hours after election day to remove all signs from the city.
"The proposed refinements to the Election Sign By-law will address concerns raised by various stakeholders and enable the City of London to administer the by-law provisions in a fair and consistent manner," the report concludes.
If given the committee nod, the bylaw changes would go to council for final approval.
Londoners go to the polls twice next year, once for the provincial vote in the spring, and again for the municipal election in the fall.
