District of Columbia Campaign Sign Laws: Polling Places, Right-of-Way and Removal

What District of Columbia state law says about campaign yard signs: A poster on a public lamppost "related to a specific event shall be removed no later than thirty (30) days following the event"; the DC Board of Elections publishes this as its campaign poster rule. More rules are in the table below. Every rule links to the official text, checked on November 2, 2026.

Not legal advice.

This is general information read from the official District of Columbia sources linked below on 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 District of Columbia rules, from official sources

Removal (lamppost posters)

A poster on a public lamppost "related to a specific event shall be removed no later than thirty (30) days following the event"; the DC Board of Elections publishes this as its campaign poster rule. No lamppost poster may stay up more than 180 days.

Thu Dec 3

24 DCMR 108.5–108.6 (as published by DC Board of Elections)

Removal (protection from removal)

Until 4 days after the election, anyone other than the candidate, the material's owner, the property owner, their agents or enforcement officials who removes or defaces a lawfully placed campaign sign faces a fine of up to $100.

Protected through Fri Nov 6 (our count)

D.C. Code § 1-1001.14(b-1)

Polling places

No one may electioneer or "post any campaign material" within a Vote Center or within 50 feet of a Vote Center's entrance and exit.

D.C. Code § 1-1001.10(b)(2)

Right-of-way and private property (lamppost posters)

Non-commercial posters may go on public lampposts only under set rules: each must show the date it was put up, no more than three copies per side of a street per block, no damaging adhesives, and no signs on any tree or tree box on public space.

24 DCMR 108 (as published by DC Board of Elections)

When do campaign signs have to come down in District of Columbia?

A poster on a public lamppost "related to a specific event shall be removed no later than thirty (30) days following the event"; the DC Board of Elections publishes this as its campaign poster rule. No lamppost poster may stay up more than 180 days. Until 4 days after the election, anyone other than the candidate, the material's owner, the property owner, their agents or enforcement officials who removes or defaces a lawfully placed campaign sign faces a fine of up to $100. For the November 3, 2026 election: Thu Dec 3; Protected through Fri Nov 6 (our count). Many cities set their own deadline, so check with yours.

How to stay inside the District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia right-of-way rule is in the table above.

Mark the polling-place buffer on your map

Use the distance in the District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia?

A poster on a public lamppost "related to a specific event shall be removed no later than thirty (30) days following the event"; the DC Board of Elections publishes this as its campaign poster rule. No lamppost poster may stay up more than 180 days. (24 DCMR 108.5–108.6 (as published by DC Board of Elections)) For the November 3, 2026 election: Thu Dec 3. Not legal advice.

When do campaign signs have to be removed in District of Columbia under D.C. Code § 1-1001.14(b-1)?

Until 4 days after the election, anyone other than the candidate, the material's owner, the property owner, their agents or enforcement officials who removes or defaces a lawfully placed campaign sign faces a fine of up to $100. (D.C. Code § 1-1001.14(b-1)) For the November 3, 2026 election: Protected through Fri Nov 6 (our count). Not legal advice.

How far do campaign signs need to be from a polling place in District of Columbia?

No one may electioneer or "post any campaign material" within a Vote Center or within 50 feet of a Vote Center's entrance and exit. (D.C. Code § 1-1001.10(b)(2)) Not legal advice.

Where can campaign signs go in District of Columbia?

Non-commercial posters may go on public lampposts only under set rules: each must show the date it was put up, no more than three copies per side of a street per block, no damaging adhesives, and no signs on any tree or tree box on public space. (24 DCMR 108 (as published by DC Board of Elections)) Not legal advice.

Laws on this page checked November 2, 2026. Not legal advice.

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