Plant City code enforcement staff clear the streets.
Code Enforcement officers from Plant City, Hillsborough County, Tampa, and Temple Terrace joined forces on October 31, to rid streets of illegal signs. The annual cooperative effort, “Sign-Off Day Tampa Bay,” targeted unauthorized signs and advertising on public spaces (aka snipe signs) such as utility poles, medians, parkways, and other rights of way. The definition of a snipe sign is: a prohibited temporary sign of any material, including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard, wood, or metal, which is tacked, nailed, stapled, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, fences, or any other object. These signs advertise everything from piano lessons to house buyers, to real estate open houses, to moving services, to tree services, and are often put up at intersections or busy roads. Plant City Ordinance Sections 102-1476, 102-1475, and 102-1540 detail the prohibition of such signs on public property. The city and county government’s Code Enforcement staff dedicated four hours of their day to the effort.
“Snipe signs may seem harmless, but they create a range of safety, environmental, and community problems,” Tina Barber, Plant City’s Code Manager, said. “These signs can block drivers’ visibility at intersections, increasing the risk of accidents. During storms or high winds, they can come loose and become dangerous flying debris. They also pose hazards for utility workers, as the nails and screws used to attach them can tear protective gloves, damage safety gear, or cause falls. Over time, the holes left behind allow water to seep into poles, weakening them and leading to costly repairs. In addition, snipe signs often contribute to environmental and infrastructure issues when torn paper and debris clog storm drains, causing flooding. Their presence creates visual clutter that diminishes the appearance of city streets and forces crews to spend valuable time and resources removing them. Beyond the physical and visual impacts, these illegal ads also promote unfair business practices by allowing some to use public spaces for free advertising while others pay for proper permits. In short, snipe signs may appear small, but their negative effects on safety, the environment, and fairness in our community are significant.”
Any business or person who posts snipe signs could be fined. First, the offender would receive a Notice of Violation, then have to appear before the Code Enforcement Board, which decides the amount of the fine. Code Enforcement in Plant City removes 50 signs on slow weeks, to 150 signs on busy weeks. If there is something major happening like an election, the number of signs pulled up or taken down can near 500.
“On Friday alone, our team removed a substantial number of signs throughout the city as part of the cleanup effort,” Barber said. “Sign Off Day Tampa Bay 2025 was a great success and demonstrated the effectiveness of collaboration. By partnering with Hillsborough County Code Enforcement, the City of Tampa Code Enforcement, City of Temple Terrace Code Enforcement, we were able to remove thousands of illegal snipe signs across the area. The event not only helped clean up streets and improve visibility at intersections, but also raised awareness about the negative impacts of these signs. It was a productive and positive day that highlighted how coordinated efforts can make Hillsborough County safer and more welcoming for everyone.”
The day generated 60 cubic yards of signs. Volunteers assisted Code Enforcement staff by unloading the trucks and separating the metal stakes from the signs. The metal legs and frames of the snipe signs went to be recycled in the county’s existing scrap metal recycling program. The county and Plant City’s NuCycle Energy are pursuing the possibility the other sign materials could be used to manufacture the company’s environmentally-friendly fuel cubes.
