Signs and the City: Sign Codes and Freedom of Speech

Abstract

Signs serve multiple purposes: promoting a business service, advocating for a political cause, pointing a passerby to a garage sale, warning neighbors to “beware of dogs.” These postings are characteristic of American citizens’ freedom of speech, protected by the First Amendment. In certain instances, however, free speech may be regulated by city govern- ments through the creation of sign codes or ordinances. This paper serves as an exploration of how a city can meet the diverse interests of its occupants while maintaining a cohesive environment. This paper (1) introduces legal concepts involved in the creation of sign codes; (2) analyzes United States Supreme Court cases that have impacted local gov- ernment regulations of sign codes and urban design; and (3) concludes by analyzing potential solutions that protect the public’s right to free speech while maintaining an element of community.