Political Signs
Political Signs
| The use of campaign signs is a vital part of any candidate’s campaign. Minnesota statutes and local ordinances regulate the placement of political campaign signs. Find the links here for the MN Department of Transportation. and the Anoka County Highway Department that include more detailed information about political sign placement. |
| Statutory Sign Placement Restrictions |
| State statute prohibits placement of signs in certain areas including: |
| • Placement, painting, printing or affixing on any object within the limits of any highway;
• On private land without the consent of the owner or occupant; • On public utility poles; • On trees or shrubs; • By painting or drawing on rocks or natural features; and • Within the “right of way” or blocking the sight lines of drivers entering the highway or leaving the highway onto public streets or private driveways |
| Municipal Sign Placement Restrictions |
| During even years only, municipalities are prohibited from restricting the size or number of noncommercial signs beginning 46 days before the state primary in a state general election year until ten days following the state general election (M.S. 211B.045). Municipal ordinances may regulate the size and number of noncommercial signs at other times. Municipal contact numbers are included in the Campaign Sign Placement Fact Sheet. |
| Determining Rights-of-Way |
| Rights-of-way vary from location to location and can be difficult for candidates and campaign workers to determine. For general reference in determining the county highway right-of-way: • Power poles and fences are usually located on, or near, the right-of-way lines and are a good reference for the width of highway right-of-way. When locating a sign on the side of the road opposite the power pole or fence, maintain the same distance from roadway centerline as on the side with the poles or fence. • On improved county roads, in other words those roads with paved shoulders, generally 40 feet or more in width and where no fences or power poles exist, please use 60 feet from the centerline as a guideline for installing campaign signs. • On unimproved county roads, generally those in the neighborhood of 22 - 30 feet in width, use a distance of at least 33 feet from the centerline for the placement of signs. If in doubt of the right-of-way at a specific location along a county highway, contact Anoka County Highway Department at (763) 324-3100. |
| Removal of Campaign Signs |
| Campaign signs determined to be in violation of local, state or federal law can be removed without prior notice. Generally, when a sign is noticed to be in violation and/or a complaint of a violation is received an attempt is made to contact the responsible candidate or campaign to remove the sign and place it in a legal location. If an illegally sign is not removed it may be dropped and placed outside of the highway right-of-way. Anoka County does not store election signs for retrieval. To avoid complaints and ensure your signs are not removed, share sign placement information with your campaign workers. To avoid complaints and ensure your signs are not removed, share the Campaign Sign Placement Fact Sheet with your campaign workers. |
| Disposal of Political Signs |
| Anoka County is committed to caring for our environment, and encourages candidates to recycle campaign signs whenever possible. This information sheet outlines recycling options and proper disposal methods of signs. |