Political signs along Beaufort County highways soon may be a thing of the past, and not just because an election is around the corner.

County administrator Gary Kubic said Friday he would send a letter Monday to all area politicians warning them that the county is beginning to fully enforce its sign ordinance. The county's code enforcement officers then will have the authority to remove signs that are placed illegally in highway rights of way and attached to fence posts, telephone or utility polls, trees or other natural features.

"It's my intent on Monday to send a notice to all of the candidates, giving them perhaps a three-day window of opportunity to remove signs in unpermitted areas," Kubic said. "If they fail to do so, I will instruct our staff to remove them, store them and make them available" for candidates to pick up later.

Placards that are in legal locations but simply don't have the required permit would have a little more leeway. Those signs will be branded with a red sticker, which gives the owner 10 days to remove it before the county will do so, Kubic said.

The standards will apply to signs in highway medians or on highway rights of way. Placards that are tacked onto regular highway signs also are illegal.

County ordinance limits the total area of temporary signs, including those for political purposes, at 80 square feet. The signs also cannot be located within 100 feet of a church, cemetery, public building, historic site or the intersection of two streets or highways.

For years, the county hasn't fully enforced its ordinance or state law regarding signs for political candidates.

In 2002, county attorney Kelly Golden issued a legal opinion stating that the county's ordinance could be only enforced in unincorporated areas of the county that are not controlled by the state Department of Transportation. But Kubic noted Friday that her legal opinion was simply advisory.

Kubic said he also would send a notice to members of County Council, advising them that he would be fully enforcing the ordinance. If the council thinks that the ordinance should not be fully enforced, Kubic said, the ordinance should be changed, rather than having part of the law go unenforced.

Illegally placed signs that aren't politically oriented already are being removed by state or local officials wherever they are found. Violators typically receive a warning from county code enforcers, followed by a citation if they don't comply with the law.

Those who receive a citation are required to appear before a magistrate, who may issue a fine of up to $1,087.

People who post signs either along the highway or on their body are violating the law and may receive a citation, officials have said.