Yard Sign Rules

With so many County races on the ballot this year, it might be helpful to know the rules on yard signs which can vary by locality. The News-Gazette has had some helpful information for Champaign and Urbana residents (below), but for the most part you'll have to check with your local town, village, or city officials on the rules where you're at. Apartment dwellers often have even more restrictions depending on their lease and circumstances. You'll have to check with your lease and/or landlord which may restrict yard signs or even signs in windows.

Champaign and Urbana rules on political signs like yard signs vary a bit. From Tom's Mailbag today:

In Urbana it is legal to place political signs in the right of way. From the city's website: "Signs that are for short-term, timed use shall be allowed in the city's right-of-way as long as the signs are removed immediately following the event. Such signs would include garage sale signs, political campaign signs, significant University of Illinois events (i.e. IHSA tournaments) and fund-raising advertisements for non-profit agencies (i.e. UBA events, Festival of Lights)."

But property owners can remove any political campaign sign directly in front of their property on the public right-of-way.

In Champaign no one is permitted, other than "signs erected by the city or its agents," from placing any signs in the public right of way at any time, said Zoning Administrator Kevin Phillips.

Full Mailbag here. There was another political yard sign question on size answered by Champaign's Zoning Administrator in a later Tom's Mailbag:

The largest size allowed in residential areas is 24 inches x 36 inches, he said.

Champaign's only other rule is they be posted only on private property with the consent of the property owner.

"We will have a closer look around on Green Street to see what may have concerned the person who called you with the question," he said.

Urbana has no restrictions on the size of yard signs unless they could be considered a hazard.