The placement of campaign signs has led to the accidental violation of a city ordinance in Huda Scheidelman’s campaign for Student Association president.

Thora Blise, secretary of DeKalb’s Department of Building and Community Services, said political candidates need a city permit to place signs on property such as a house’s front lawn. Blise said that, as of Monday, Scheidelman does not have a permit.

Former SA Sen. Gary Stittgen said he noticed two Scheidelman campaign signs illegally displayed along Lucinda Avenue. Stittgen said he filed a complaint with the Department of Building and Community Services Thursday.

Stittgen said Scheidelman is violating Article IX Section I of the city ordinance code. The code states, “It shall be unlawful to erect, alter or relocate within the city any signs … without first obtaining a permit from the Department of Building and Community Services.”

Scheidelman said her signs are on private property, and that she called the Office of DeKalb City Clerk Peggy Hoyt and was informed that she did not need a permit to post her signs.

Deputy City Clerk Wanda Croom said she told Scheidelman that a permit is not required for students. Croom later called the Department of Building and Community Services and was told that a permit is required to post political signs. Scheidelman has since contacted the department to learn the correct information about the city ordinance, Blise said.

Blise said that misinforming Scheidelman “was very wrong.” She said that when Scheidelman first contacted the department, a field officer was not available to discuss the proper procedures of the city ordinance with her. “She’s (Scheidelman) trying to be right,” Blise said.

Obtaining a permit requires that the candidate or candidate’s representative complete an application at the department’s office, Blise said. A $100 deposit is required when filing for a permit, she said.

The deposit will be returned at the completion of the election if a candidate removes signs 10 days after the election, Blise said.

If a candidate fails to remove signs, the signs will be removed by city employees, Blise said. The cost will be deducted from the $100 deposit, she said. Any remaining money will be returned to candidates, she said.

Even with a permit, candidates cannot place signs in public parkways and closer than 25 feet to street corners, Blise said.

Lyle Dody, department code enforcement officer II, said violators are subject to a fine, Dody said. He said he does not know the amount of the fine, because the court, and not the department, levies the fines.

Blise said most violators of the city ordinance are unaware that they need a permit to display signs.