Political Signs: Gilbert vs Tempe
How do political signs rules compare between Gilbert, AZ and Tempe, AZ?
Tempe has fewer restrictions than Gilbert.
Gilbert, AZ
Maricopa County
Gilbert regulates signs through the Land Development Code. Arizona Revised Statutes protect political sign display on private property. Political signs may be displayed without a permit on private property. Gilbert's sign code was updated following Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015), a US Supreme Court case that originated in Gilbert and established that content-based sign regulations receive strict scrutiny.
View full Gilbert rules →Tempe, AZ
Maricopa County
Arizona law (ARS 16-1019) protects the right to display political signs on residential property. Tempe cannot prohibit political signs on private property within reasonable size limits. Signs may generally be placed 60 days before an election and must be removed 15 days after. HOAs cannot prohibit political signs within the statutory time period.
View full Tempe rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Gilbert | Tempe |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | No permit for political signs on private property | - |
| Supreme Court Case | Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015) | - |
| State Protection | ARS protects political sign display | - |
| Code Update | Sign code revised after SCOTUS ruling | - |
| ROW | Signs prohibited in public right-of-way | - |
| State Law | - | ARS 16-1019 protects political sign rights |
| Display Period | - | 71 days before primary through 15 days after general |
| Size | - | Reasonable size limits, typically 4x4 ft residential |
| HOA | - | ARS 33-1808 prevents HOA bans during display period |
| Public Property | - | Prohibited on public land, right-of-way, utility poles |
| First Amendment | - | Strong constitutional protection |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Gilbert FAQ
Can I put political signs in my Gilbert yard?
Yes. Political signs on private property are permitted without a permit. Arizona law protects political sign display. Signs may not be placed in the public right-of-way.
How did the Supreme Court case affect Gilbert signs?
Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015) originated in Gilbert and struck down content-based sign regulations. The town has updated its sign code to comply with the ruling.
Tempe FAQ
Can I put a political sign in my Tempe yard?
Yes. Arizona law (ARS 16-1019) protects your right to display political signs on your property within reasonable size limits during the statutory period.
Can my HOA ban political signs?
No. Arizona law (ARS 33-1808) prevents HOAs from prohibiting political signs during the statutory display period (71 days before primary through 15 days after general).
When do I have to remove political signs?
Within 15 days after the general election. Signs remaining after this period may be cited as a sign code violation.
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