Goochland County steps up roadside sign removals to cut litter, boost safety

Goochland County stepped up its roadside sign cleanup by targeting illegal signs in road rights-of-way, where officials said they can block sight lines, add litter and create dangerous conditions for drivers.

General Services handled the program by identifying 2 to 3 problem areas at a time, then sending notice through news flashes, email and social media before any removal work began. Staff confirmed the actual right-of-way width using the Goochland County 2040 Major Thoroughfare Plan instead of making assumptions, then checked visible crossroads and corridors for signs that should not have been there.

Once a sign was identified, the county contacted the owner or organization listed on it and gave that party seven calendar days to take it down. If the sign stayed up after that deadline, county staff could remove it themselves. The county said experienced roadside workers handled the removals, and staff could ask the Virginia Department of Transportation for additional help.

Officials said there were no exceptions in state code for signs placed in the right-of-way. Real estate signs, temporary work signs, event signs and political signs were all illegal there, the county said. Temporary signs had to be set back at least 5 feet from the right-of-way under county code, could not exceed 32 square feet or 10 feet in height, and were allowed for one 180-day period per calendar year, with exceptions for some agricultural or residential property uses. Banners, feather signs and other signs that fluttered, waved or moved were limited to one 30-day period per calendar year.

The county’s rules lined up with Virginia’s broader highway restrictions. State administrative code required a single-use permit for banners and decorations across state highways and said they could not remain in place more than 30 calendar days. Goochland County said the Virginia Department of Transportation maintained all public roads in the county, while the county Transportation Department served as the liaison between residents and VDOT.

Signs taken down from the right-of-way were carried to the Central Convenience Center and held for one week so owners could retrieve them before disposal in the compactor. Residents and sign owners with questions were directed to Scott Foster, director of General Services, at 804-556-5331 or sfoster@goochlandva.us. The county also said signs in the road right-of-way could be reported to that office.

The sign removals fit into a broader local cleanup effort. The Clean Goochland Council, a citizen-led group, focused on preventing and removing trash from county roadsides and worked with General Services on community pickup events and other litter-reduction efforts as Goochland continued trying to keep its corridors clear of debris and illegal signage.