Town of Coaldale makes changes to land use bylaw following vandalism to election signs this spring

Posted on July 18, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

The Town of Coaldale will no longer see elections signs on boulevards and road rights of way adjoining parks and playing fields, after councillors passed an amendment to the town’s land use bylaw, that came as a result of vandalism during the federal election this spring. 

Coaldale councillors unanimously passed second and third readings of Land Use Bylaw Amendment 923-P-05-25, at the July 3 regular council meeting, following a public hearing, where no submissions were received and no feedback or questions from the public was heard. 

First reading of Land Use Bylaw Amendment 923-P-05-25 was passed at the May 20 regular council meeting. 

“The Land Use Bylaw 923-P-05-25 is an amendment to the land use bylaw with respect to Schedule 13, dealing with sign regulations. It’s a revision to the regulations specifically regarding election signage,” said Cameron Mills, director of Growth and Investment and Deputy CAO for the Town of Coaldale. 

Earlier this spring, administration was asked to prepare an amending bylaw for council to consider, that would revise the regulations pertaining to election signs, also “referred to as political posters throughout the bylaw,” Mills noted. 

“Currently the Land Use Bylaw restricts the placement of elections signs on town-owned property, but provides for an allowance for signs posted on boulevards or road rights of way adjoining parks and playing fields,” said Mills. “The proposed amendment would prohibit election signs from being posted on boulevards and road rights of way adjoining parks and playing fields, fundamentally putting us in line with regulations as seen in the City of Lethbridge.” 

Mills pointed out the changes to the proposed amendment to Land Use Bylaw 677-P-04-13, Schedule 13: Sign Regulations, Section 5 – signs not requiring a permit, which will now read “signs will not be posted within the property boundaries of an existing town-owned land or facility or any sidewalks, road rights of way adjacent to town-owned land or facilities, including boulevards and road rights of way adjoining parks and playing fields.” 

He also noted that with the proposed amendment, election signage will still be allowed and encouraged within the Town of Coaldale. 

“However, that will be restricted to private property, so if someone wants to support a political candidate during an election, they’re certainly welcome to do so on their own private property with no requirement from a permit or any interaction with town administration in order to do that,” explained Mills noting, the town did advertise the public hearing for two weeks, but did not receive any feedback from the community. 

Prior to closing the public hearing and subsequent passing of second and third reading, Town of Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn shared a few words and pointed out some of the reasons behind the amendment to the land use bylaw. 

“This came about after the federal election that we had a few months ago. That was to do with federal election signs in the Town of Coaldale where we had lots of vandalism,” said Van Rijn. “We’ve had some obscenities, graffiti spray-painted on roadways so this is one reason why this is before us.”

Councillors asked one question that pertained to fines or costs for any infractions, which they were told would be up to the town’s bylaw enforcement.