Lost Cat Posters Now Legal in Seattle

SEATTLE—Preserving the right to find lost pets, advertise garage sales and promote local rock-n-roll bands, the City Council passed legislation, introduced by Mayor Greg Nickels, allowing citizens to put up posters in their neighborhoods.

"These new regulations represent a win for everyone. Free speech rights have been upheld, and the City of Seattle will be able to maintain safety in the broadest sense," said Nickels.

The Council action officially repealed the existing city laws which banned posters. Earlier this year, the Washington State Court of Appeals found that parts of the city’s poster ban were unconstitutional, but allowed the city to regulate the time, place and manner of poster placement.

"This law will allow the city to regulate postering in a reasonable manner," said Seattle City Council member Nick Licata. "It should meet the court’s approval and avoid future law suits."

The ordinance outlines poster placement, size and length of display. Those placing the poster are responsible for their removal. However, the city can remove signs that are in violation or expired.

"We want this to be a self-enforcement process," added Nickels. "We want communities to be able to communicate, but also have the tools to keep their surroundings clean and safe."

Reader Comments

Discuss this article in the forums!