The latest election cycle is upon us with all the effects that it brings. One way we know which issues and who’s in the race is the proliferation of campaign signs. We’ll start seeing them more and more throughout these elections. Community Code Compliance has already received numerous complaints regarding the placement and size of these signs. A recent State Senate bill, HB2500, has further delineated both compliant and non-compliant locations with ultimate authority for same.
The basics include:
- Political signs may not be placed on City, State or Federal property.
- Political signs may not be placed on State owned right of ways, i.e. South Milton Rd., Ft. Valley Rd., East and West Rt. 66, and 89A south of Lake Mary Road. Signs are allowed on City of Flagstaff rights of way. As a rule the public right of way ends at the outside edge of the sidewalk, but some areas are different.
- Permission must be obtained from the property owner in order to place political signs on private property.
- Political signs may not be placed so as to block the line of sight at an intersection, pose a hazard or interfere with Americans with Disabilities requirements.
- Political signs in residentially zoned areas are not allowed to be greater than 16 square feet in area, in all other areas, political signs are not allowed to be greater than 32 square feet.
- Political signs can be posted up to 60 days before the primary election on August 26, with successful candidates being able to keep their signs in place through the general election on November 4. Unsuccessful candidates from the primary must remove their signs by 15 days after the primary election. Successful candidates must remove all signs by 15 days after the general election.
- All political signs must contain the name of the candidate and contact information for the candidate or campaign committee.
If there are any questions or complaints, please direct communications to:
Arizona Department of Transportation Chuck King 774-1491
City of Flagstaff Community Code Compliance, Cindy Perger 213-2148
Tom Boughner, Community Code Compliance Mgr. City of Flagstaff, 928-213-2147, [email protected]