Trail election signs sprout across city, but how big is too big?

Trail election signs sprout across city, but how big is too big?

Published 5:30 am Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Election signs are popping up across the city as the Oct. 17 municipal vote approaches, and some are noticeably bigger than others.

So what are the rules?

In Trail, political signs fall under the city’s Sign Bylaw No. 2580, which regulates where and when election signs can be placed, but not how large they can be.

David Moorhead, chief election officer for the City of Trail, confirmed political signs are governed by section 5.3 of the bylaw.

“The bylaw section outlines the timing of when election signs may be placed, as well as the deadline to remove them after an election,” Moorhead told the Trail Times.

He said the rules also restrict where signs can be placed, including a prohibition on muncipal parkland, and require that signs not create traffic or pedestrian hazards.

What the bylaw does not do is set limits on the size or number of political signs.

“That being said, it does not dictate signage sizing, number of signs etc., that would be decided by the individual candidate,” Moorhead said.

Under section 5.3, political signs may be installed in any zone beginning 30 days before a municipal, provincial, federal or school board election or referendum.

They cannot be placed on city parkland, on or adjacent to city-owned or occupied buildings, or anywhere they could create a traffic or pedestrian hazard.

They must also be removed within seven days after the election.

The bylaw also makes clear that political signs are among the types of signs that do not require a sign permit.

More broadly, the bylaw prohibits signs that create hazards for vehicles or pedestrians and bars signage on utility poles, street light standards and public refuse containers on or above streets, highways and public rights-of-way.

That means a candidate can go big — or small — so long as the sign otherwise complies with the rules.

Trail, which has 6,467 eligible voters according to CivicInfo BC, will have contests for both mayor and council.

Four candidates are seeking the mayor’s seat: Nick Cashol, incumbent Mayor Colleen Jones, Karl Kuepper and Terry Martin.

Ten candidates are running for six council seats: incumbents Bev Benson, Paul Butler and Thea Hanson, along with Mark Buckley, Sarah Bullock, Diana Dickieson, Paul Harvey, Sheldon Hicks, Glenn Hodge and Gary Stuart.

So while campaign signs may differ dramatically in size and style, in Trail there is no bylaw advantage — or penalty — simply for having the biggest one.