Seattle taking applications to move billboards you hate

Got a billboard in Seattle that bugs you? You’ve got a chance to get it moved.

Every year, between Jan.1 and March 1, the Department of Planning and Development accepts requests from residents who want a billboard relocated. You don’t need to have a reason.

The city ultimately allows only one to move. It is a big deal, because even though there are about 500 billboards within the city limits, Seattle doesn’t allow any new ones, according to DPD spokesperson Bryan Stevens.

Most relocation requests ultimately come from sign owners themselves who are forced out of a space by redevelopment, according to Stevens.

While the city chooses among the applicants, it’s ultimately up to the sign owner to decide whether to relocate. So far, no one has applied to get a sign moved possibly because few people are even aware they can apply.