Red Oak residents demanded answers after receiving notices for “No Data Center” yard signs due to an incorrect code citation by city officials.
RED OAK, Texas — It’s not uncommon to see yard signs for schools, teams and even politicians. That’s why some Red Oak residents are demanding answers from city leaders about letters they received about their “No Data Center” yard signs.
In letters WFAA obtained from various residents, Code Enforcement Officer David Arnold informed them they were violating Code 12.2.1, which states, “a person commits an offense if the person erects, repairs, alters or relocates a sign without first obtaining a building permit from the building official and making a payment of the required fee.”
The corrective action, according to the letter, is to “obtain” a permit for the signs or remove them, or they will have to pay a fine.
It’s a process that none of them have done for any other signs.
“During [the] Covid [pandemic], they came out and put a sign in the yard congratulating my grandson for graduating from Red Oak ISD. They put the sign right there [and] no problem that year,” Red Oak Resident Cindi Stephenson, said.
The letter states that residents have until May 31 to obtain a building permit or pay the fees. All expenses incurred will be billed to the property owner, and failure to pay could mean a lien on the property.
But residents say there’s a problem with that, too.
“When I asked him, the code compliance officer, David Arnold, how much the permit fee was, I found it perplexing that he didn’t know,” Red Oak Resident Sharon Cotton, said.
In a separate letter, WFAA obtained from another resident, the Red Oak Chief Building Official wrote:
“The signs are permitted per our Zoning ordinance. They do not require a permit, but they cannot be placed in the Public ROW [Right of Way].”
“The ROW for Crestview is 60’, 30’ from the center of the road.”
“The ROW for Lowrance is 50’, 25’ from the center of the road per the current plat for this property. Future ROW shows 85’. The case will be closed once the signs are moved on to private property.”
Right of way is a type of easement.
In a statement to WFAA, a spokesperson said the letter residents received was the wrong code.
“It has been brought to our attention that the wrong code was cited when the notices were issued. The correct code reference on the notice should have been to 12.3.1, ‘a person commits an offense if the person attaches, erects or maintains any sign, including a political sign, over or in public rights-of-way. No sign shall be erected in the right-of-way except movement control, traffic-control devices, street signs or directional signs placed by the city or state.’
“While residents should avoid placing their signs in the right of way, as per city ordinance, signs of this nature are permitted on private property. Please note that since being discovered, all related cases have been closed and no further action is required from residents at this time.”