Bullhead City's Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 2, 2025 approved a code amendment to Title 17, Chapter 17.42 to designate certain rights-of-way as political sign-free zones.

Staff presented Exhibit A, which identifies the proposed rights-of-way exclusions. Under state law, cities must allow political signs in rights-of-way unless they designate commercial or tourism zones where signs may be excluded. The exhibit presented at the hearing would exclude political signs from a corridor along Highway 95 (described in the hearing as a segment from the Laughlin bridge area down to Mohave Drive on the north side), portions of the Parkway to Laughlin Ranch Boulevard, and segments along Silver Creek up to the Parkway. Staff said the calculation of the rights-of-way area shown on Exhibit A is about 0.23 square miles (the state permits up to 3 square miles for such designations); staff clarified the calculation reflects the right-of-way width (approximately 100 feet) multiplied by the corridor length.

Staff emphasized that the amendment would prohibit political signs in the specified rights-of-way but would not affect signs on private property or existing billboards that are off the right-of-way. A public commenter identified himself as "Scotty from Bullhead" objected to the change, saying it limited his ability to place campaign signs on city property and criticized enforcement practices; other commissioners supported the code change as a way to "declutter" rights-of-way.

A motion to approve the amendment passed on a recorded vote of 5 in favor and 1 opposed. Commissioners instructed staff to incorporate the Exhibit A mapping into the municipal code amendment language.