Brentwood, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Sign Classification
- Treated same as non-commercial
- Size Limit
- 6 sq ft residential zones
- Removal Timeline
- Within 10 days post-election
- Right-of-Way Ban
- No placement allowed
- Enforcement
- Content-neutral required
Summary
Political signs on private property in Brentwood are treated the same as other non-commercial yard signs under the city's content-neutral sign ordinance. State law limits the city's ability to restrict election-related signage. Political signs on public property or in the right-of-way are prohibited.
4710. (a) The governing documents may not prohibit posting or displaying of noncommercial signs, posters, flags, or banners on or in a member’s separate interest, except as required for the protection of public health or safety or if the posting or display would violate a local, state, or federal law. (b) For purposes of this section, a noncommercial sign, poster, flag, or banner may be made of paper, cardboard, cloth, plastic, or fabric, and may be posted or displayed from the yard, window, door, balcony, or outside wall of the separate interest, but may not be made of lights, roofing, siding, paving materials, flora, or balloons, or any other similar building, landscaping, or decorative component, or include the painting of architectural surfaces.
Full Breakdown
) set certain limits on signs near highways, and Caltrans has specific rules for signs along state routes including Vasco Road (Route 580) and Highway 4. 610 is written content-neutrally following Reed v. Gilbert, so political campaign signs are treated identically to other temporary non-commercial signs: allowed on private property with owner's consent, subject to size limits (typically 6 sq ft in residential zones, up to 32 sq ft in commercial zones), must be set back from the right-of-way, and must be removed within 10 days after the election.
State law (Government Code 12023) and various court decisions protect the right to post temporary campaign signs but permit reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. Signs in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, medians, and street signs are prohibited and will be removed by Public Works; campaigns that repeatedly violate may be invoiced for removal costs. Signs cannot obstruct sight lines at intersections or driveways, cannot be illuminated in residential zones, and must be maintained in safe condition. The First Amendment prevents the city from discriminating based on political content, and enforcement must be uniform across candidates and causes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I have to take down campaign signs?
Can I put a sign on the corner strip next to the sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brentwood
California rules heatmap·Compare Brentwood to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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Political Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle political signs.