California Campaign Sign Laws: Polling Places, Right-of-Way and Removal
What California state law says about campaign yard signs: A temporary political sign under the Act is placed no sooner than 90 days before and "removed within 10 days after that election," and someone must file a statement of responsibility for removing it. More rules are in the table below. Every rule links to the official text, checked between October 26 and November 2, 2026.
Not legal advice.
This is general information read from the official California sources linked below between October 26 and November 2, 2026. Cities, counties, the state transportation department and HOAs can add stricter rules. Check with your local election office or your city's code enforcement office before you rely on a date.
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The California rules, from official sources
Removal (signs covered by the Outdoor Advertising Act)
A temporary political sign under the Act is placed no sooner than 90 days before and "removed within 10 days after that election," and someone must file a statement of responsibility for removing it. Cities set their own rules for local streets.
Fri Nov 13
Bus. & Prof. Code 5405.3
Polling places
On election day, or any time a voter may be casting a ballot, no electioneering within 100 feet of the entrance to a building with a polling place or elections office, or an outdoor voting or ballot drop-off site. Electioneering covers "the visible display" of information for or against a candidate or measure, including signs.
Cal. Elec. Code 18370, 319.5 (as quoted by the Secretary of State, CCROV #24196)
Right-of-way and private property
Temporary political signs "are not allowed within the state highway right of way." On private property within 660 feet of a state highway, a sign visible from the road needs a Statement of Responsibility filed with Caltrans; on classified landscaped freeways signs can't be visible within 660 feet.
Caltrans (Bus. & Prof. Code 5405.3, Outdoor Advertising Act)
When do campaign signs have to come down in California?
A temporary political sign under the Act is placed no sooner than 90 days before and "removed within 10 days after that election," and someone must file a statement of responsibility for removing it. Cities set their own rules for local streets. For the November 3, 2026 election: Fri Nov 13. Many cities set their own deadline, so check with yours.
How to stay inside the California rules
Get the owner's permission for every yard
Keep the list.
Check the right-of-way rule before signs go near a road
The California right-of-way rule is in the table above.
Mark the polling-place buffer on your map
Use the distance in the California polling-place rule above.
Write down where every sign went
You'll need it on take-down day.
Other states
Removal deadlines, polling-place distances and right-of-way rules for 49 states and DC: Campaign sign laws by state.
Taking signs down?
Print the post-election sign cleanup checklist for your crew.
FlyerFly is an app for putting out yard signs and door hangers with your own crew. When your team puts out a sign, the app saves a GPS pin, a photo and the time, so you can see where every sign you placed is. While a job runs, your crew member's dot moves on your map with a Live badge, and a GPS trail shows where they went. It does not check whether a spot is legal, so use the rules above. It's nonpartisan and works the same for any campaign.
When do campaign signs have to be removed in California?
A temporary political sign under the Act is placed no sooner than 90 days before and "removed within 10 days after that election," and someone must file a statement of responsibility for removing it. Cities set their own rules for local streets. (Bus. & Prof. Code 5405.3) For the November 3, 2026 election: Fri Nov 13. Not legal advice.
How far do campaign signs need to be from a polling place in California?
On election day, or any time a voter may be casting a ballot, no electioneering within 100 feet of the entrance to a building with a polling place or elections office, or an outdoor voting or ballot drop-off site. Electioneering covers "the visible display" of information for or against a candidate or measure, including signs. (Cal. Elec. Code 18370, 319.5 (as quoted by the Secretary of State, CCROV #24196)) Not legal advice.
Where can campaign signs go in California?
Temporary political signs "are not allowed within the state highway right of way." On private property within 660 feet of a state highway, a sign visible from the road needs a Statement of Responsibility filed with Caltrans; on classified landscaped freeways signs can't be visible within 660 feet. (Caltrans (Bus. & Prof. Code 5405.3, Outdoor Advertising Act)) Not legal advice.
Laws on this page checked between October 26 and November 2, 2026. Not legal advice.
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