San Jose vs Sunnyvale
How do political signs rules compare between San Jose, CA and Sunnyvale, CA?
San Jose and Sunnyvale have similar restriction levels.
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara County
San Jose regulates signs under SJMC Title 23 (Sign Code). Political signs on private property are broadly protected under the First Amendment and California Elections Code §18370. Temporary political signs do not require permits. Signs may not be placed in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, or in median strips. Political signs on private property are limited to reasonable size restrictions consistent with the sign code's temporary sign provisions.
View full San Jose rules →Sunnyvale, CA
Santa Clara County
Sunnyvale residents may display temporary political signs on private property under First Amendment protections, with reasonable limits on size and placement.
View full Sunnyvale rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | San Jose | Sunnyvale |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | SJMC Title 23 - Sign Code | - |
| Permit Required | No permit needed for political signs | - |
| Removal Deadline | Within 10 days after election | - |
| Location | Private property only; no public right-of-way | - |
| State Law | CA Elections Code §18370 protects political signs | - |
| Permit required | - | No |
| Max size residential | - | Typically 6 sq ft |
| Public right-of-way | - | Prohibited |
| Removal deadline | - | 10 days post-election |
| State law | - | Gov Code 65850 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
San Jose FAQ
Can I put political signs in my yard in San Jose?
Yes. Political signs on private residential property are protected by the First Amendment and California law. No permit is required, but signs must be removed within 10 days after the election.
Can my HOA prohibit political signs?
California law (Civil Code §4710) limits HOA restrictions on political signs. HOAs must allow at least one sign per election displayed 90 days before through 15 days after the election.
Sunnyvale FAQ
Can I put political signs in my yard?
Yes. Political signs on private property are allowed without a permit, subject to size and placement limits.
Can I place signs on the curb strip or median?
No. Signs in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, or medians are prohibited and subject to removal.
Compare other topics
See how San Jose and Sunnyvale compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool