Amherst, NY Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Political signs sit inside § 7-8-3, "Signs Exempt from Regulation," specifically the list at subsection B, "Signs Not Requiring a Permit," alongside address signs, real estate signs and construction signs. Item 7 defines a political sign as "a temporary sign that supports or opposes any political candidate, political issue, political referendum or political party" and imposes three standards: it must be placed only on private property, so it cannot go on Town rights-of-way, medians or utility poles; it cannot block an intersection's clear sight triangle, the same sightline protection zoning applies to fences, hedges and other obstructions near corners under § 2-5-1; and it must come down within seven days after the election it references.

Because the sign is exempt from the permit process in § 8-10, the Building Department does not review it before it goes up, but that exemption does not put it outside the code. The Commissioner of Building can order the owner, occupant or sign holder to bring a noncompliant sign into compliance or remove it, and failure to comply with that written order is itself a Zoning Ordinance violation under § 8-10-7.