Rockville Central » street signs

Is This Sign Illegal?

Cindy Cotte Griffiths — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:57:22 +0000

The sign ordinance in Rockville was adopted to strictly limit the “visual blight caused by the unregulated proliferation of signs”. This is why businesses pay people to carry signs along Rockville Pike, often in costume. I saw a giant dollar bill today!

Last month Capital One renamed all the Chevy Chase Banks. As a 21-year customer of Chevy Chase, the change has required an adjustment for me. When the branch on Hungerford Drive put up their new signage, this sign appeared right next to the roadway.

I’ve been wondering if this sign is legal under the Rockville City Code.

Section 19.5-11S forbids:

Signs erected by any person on any public property or right-of-way except for signs erected by or at the direction of the City

This sign is so close to the road, it must be in the right-of-way. If all the businesses along Hungerford put up signs at driveway entrances, our City would certainly experience visual clutter. Signs also pose a hazard because they block drivers’ views.

So, is this sign illegal? Should it be removed?

POTD: Begin

Brad Rourke — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Cool story behind this photo by Julia Defino Leiby. According to her mother Theresa Defino: “How long was this sign up like this? Julia wanted to shoot this and rode her bike to get it. She finally got a shot on Tuesday, and today I saw it was fixed!”

Thank you, Julia.

POTD: Tabula Rasa

Brad Rourke — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:32:00 +0000

(With apologies to John Locke. No, not that one.) Whenever I see this sign, I feel like it’s just waiting for someone to write on it.

POTD: Perpetual Joy

Brad Rourke — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:46:00 +0000

> This struck me as hilarious. It reminds me of Lake Wobegon, where every child is above average.

POTD: Tall Flower

Brad Rourke — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:47:00 +0000

> We don’t know if this sunflower is trying to disguise the signs, compete with their height, or…?

(Photo by cindycg)

POTD: Bugged

Brad Rourke — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:50:00 +0000

> I love driving by this building. It’s the side of the Womack Pest Control building on Congressional.

POTD: Who You Calling Slow?

Brad Rourke — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:09:00 +0000

> Surely they don’t mean our kids are “slow?”

Street Signs

Cindy Cotte Griffiths — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:02:00 +0000

Only the straight and narrow in Rockville, MD.