Austin regulates political signs as temporary signs under Land Development Code Chapter 25-10. Residential properties may display non-illuminated temporary signs up to 8 square feet per sign and 36 square feet aggregate without permits. Texas state law preempts content-based timing rules; Austin applies content-neutral size and placement standards year-round.
Austin Land Development Code Chapter 25-10 (Sign Regulations) governs all signs including political signs, which are treated as temporary signs. Residential properties may display non-illuminated temporary signs up to 8 square feet per sign and 36 square feet aggregate without a permit. After Reed v Town of Gilbert (2015), Austin revised its code to apply content-neutral standards uniformly across all temporary signs regardless of message.
Texas Transportation Code §393.0025 also preempts municipalities from imposing content-based political-sign rules. Prohibited placement includes the public right-of-way, medians, utility poles, traffic signals, street trees, and city-owned property. Signs may not be illuminated, animated, or include audio. The Development Services Department handles enforcement on private property; Public Works removes signs from the right-of-way without notice. Campaign committees remain responsible for retrieving removed signs.
Violations are Class C misdemeanors with fines up to $500 per sign per day, plus removal costs. Signs in the public right-of-way are removed by Public Works without notice and held briefly before disposal.
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