The City of Barrie will send a letter to the Ministry of Transportation urging them to crackdown on illegal signs along Highway 400.
Councillors voted in favour of sending the letter, asking the MTO to immediately enforce its regulations and provide the city with a date of commencement.
The signs can be seen along a section of the 400 through parts of Barrie and Innisfil, but not all are illegal.
The MTO says they’re only aware of one property where the signs are illegally placed.
“We have been in touch with the property owner and at this time we are seeking voluntary compliance,” says MTO spokesperson Astrid Poei. “Under the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act, the ministry, we do have the authority to remove the signs that don’t comply with our policy.”
According to the MTO, signs within 400 metres of a provincial highway require a permit and cannot promote a product or service that isn’t offered on the property.
“Third-party billboards are not permitted along 400 series highways and only first-party advertisement related to a good or service, sold or provided on the site are permitted.”
Councillors also passed a motion during the general committee meeting that would prohibit the use or display of wildlife or exotic animals, as part of its business licencing bylaw.
The motion will now move to city council on Oct. 3 for approval.
