Campaign Yard Sign Laws in California
Every year, the California Department of Transportation removes political campaign signs from road for violating the department's political sign regulations.
The department will not only remove the signs but also charge the campaign for the costs associated with the removal of the candidate signs.
Understanding California's yard sign regulations will, as the department states, help your campaign "avoid possible embarrassment or inconvenience to you and your supporters."
If a political campaign violates sign law, the candidate's opponent may use the violation to take your campaign to task for the violating the regulation. Your opponent could ask voters to consider this an issue of trust. If your campaign can't be trusted to follow simple sign regulations, then should you be trusted to make laws?
California Political Sign Laws
Temporary political signs are treated differently than other forms of outdoor advertising displays. Section 5405.3 of the State Outdoor Advertising Act exempts these signs from regulations that affect other signs such as real estate signs. According to the Department of Transportation, for a sign to be considered a temporary political sign it must meet the following requirements:
* Encourages a particular vote in an election.
* Is placed not sooner than 90 days prior to the election and is removed within 10 days after that election.
* Is no larger than 32 square feet.
* Has had a Statement of Responsibility filed with the Department certifying a person who will be responsible for removing the sign.
It's important to take down signs soon after the election or the deparment will remove the signs and charge the campaign for the cost of removal.
Moreover, large billboard-like signs are not considered temporarily political signs and fall under the more stringent regulations on other outdoor signage.
Finally, it's important to file a Statement of Responsibility with the Department. California regulation mostly centers on ensuring that signs are cleaned up and don't continue to clutter up the right-of-way following an election. To that end, California requires that political campaign certify a person to be responsible for removing the signs.
This is the address to file the statement:
Division of Traffic Operations
Outdoor Advertising Program
P.O. Box 942874, MS-36
Sacramento, CA 94274-0001
Since the campaign is filing a Statement of Responsibility, it's wise to know where your campaign signs are so that they are easy to collect following an election.
In addition to these regulations, do not place candidate signs within the right-of-way of any highway or so that it would be visible within 660 feet from the edge of a "Landscaped freeway."
According to state law, the Department of Transportation must remove the candidate signs that are violating state regulations and will bill the "responsible party" for their removal.
Municipal Sign Laws
In addition to the California Department of Transportation regulations, local governments may also have a sign ordinance that impacts when you can place signs along the public right-of-way and on private property.
Municipal governments may also include other restrictions on election signs including the size and shape of political lawn signs.
Conclusion
Campaigns that violate California's sign regulations risk getting their signs removes and billed for the expense. In addition, you risk being attacked by your political opponents or the media.
The state regulations that political campaigns need to remember are:
* Place the sign within 90 days of the election
* Remove the political sign within 10 days after the election
* The sign must be smaller than 36 square feet
* The campaign must file a statement of responsibility
* Do not put a sign on the highway's right-of-way
* The yard signs are not visible within 660 feet of a landscaped freeway
Finally, not only is important to know and follow state regulations revolving around yard signs for your own campaign but also to hold your opponent accountable. If you know these regulations, you can take your opponent to task if he or she violates them and use it to your political advantage.
The department will not only remove the signs but also charge the campaign for the costs associated with the removal of the candidate signs.
Understanding California's yard sign regulations will, as the department states, help your campaign "avoid possible embarrassment or inconvenience to you and your supporters."
If a political campaign violates sign law, the candidate's opponent may use the violation to take your campaign to task for the violating the regulation. Your opponent could ask voters to consider this an issue of trust. If your campaign can't be trusted to follow simple sign regulations, then should you be trusted to make laws?
California Political Sign Laws
Temporary political signs are treated differently than other forms of outdoor advertising displays. Section 5405.3 of the State Outdoor Advertising Act exempts these signs from regulations that affect other signs such as real estate signs. According to the Department of Transportation, for a sign to be considered a temporary political sign it must meet the following requirements:
* Encourages a particular vote in an election.
* Is placed not sooner than 90 days prior to the election and is removed within 10 days after that election.
* Is no larger than 32 square feet.
* Has had a Statement of Responsibility filed with the Department certifying a person who will be responsible for removing the sign.
It's important to take down signs soon after the election or the deparment will remove the signs and charge the campaign for the cost of removal.
Moreover, large billboard-like signs are not considered temporarily political signs and fall under the more stringent regulations on other outdoor signage.
Finally, it's important to file a Statement of Responsibility with the Department. California regulation mostly centers on ensuring that signs are cleaned up and don't continue to clutter up the right-of-way following an election. To that end, California requires that political campaign certify a person to be responsible for removing the signs.
This is the address to file the statement:
Division of Traffic Operations
Outdoor Advertising Program
P.O. Box 942874, MS-36
Sacramento, CA 94274-0001
Since the campaign is filing a Statement of Responsibility, it's wise to know where your campaign signs are so that they are easy to collect following an election.
In addition to these regulations, do not place candidate signs within the right-of-way of any highway or so that it would be visible within 660 feet from the edge of a "Landscaped freeway."
According to state law, the Department of Transportation must remove the candidate signs that are violating state regulations and will bill the "responsible party" for their removal.
Municipal Sign Laws
In addition to the California Department of Transportation regulations, local governments may also have a sign ordinance that impacts when you can place signs along the public right-of-way and on private property.
Municipal governments may also include other restrictions on election signs including the size and shape of political lawn signs.
Conclusion
Campaigns that violate California's sign regulations risk getting their signs removes and billed for the expense. In addition, you risk being attacked by your political opponents or the media.
The state regulations that political campaigns need to remember are:
* Place the sign within 90 days of the election
* Remove the political sign within 10 days after the election
* The sign must be smaller than 36 square feet
* The campaign must file a statement of responsibility
* Do not put a sign on the highway's right-of-way
* The yard signs are not visible within 660 feet of a landscaped freeway
Finally, not only is important to know and follow state regulations revolving around yard signs for your own campaign but also to hold your opponent accountable. If you know these regulations, you can take your opponent to task if he or she violates them and use it to your political advantage.
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