Bristol, PA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Political signs in Bristol Borough fall under the temporary sign rules of § 27-602, subsection 1C. Subsection 1C(4) allows temporary signs advertising political parties or candidates for election to be erected and maintained if three conditions are met. First, the erector, or those responsible for or benefitting from the display, shall place the signs no sooner than 45 days before the election and remove them within seven days after the date of the election to which the signs relate. Second, the signs shall not be illuminated. Third, the maximum size is 32 square feet per side.

The introduction to subsection 1C adds placement conditions for every temporary sign in the category. A temporary, on-premises sign cannot be attached to trees, fences, utility poles or the like, and cannot be placed so as to obstruct or impair vision or traffic or in any manner which creates a nuisance, hazard or disturbance to the health and welfare of the general public. The same paragraph says temporary signs must be removed within seven days after they are no longer needed.

A sign permit is not required for temporary signs under § 27-601, subsection 3B, but subsection 3C says each sign must still comply with the standards of the chapter whether or not a permit is required. Location rules apply as well. Section 27-604 says no sign shall be allowed within street right-of-way lines, with exceptions for the government body that owns the right-of-way and public events temporary signs in the TC District, unless another Borough ordinance or Commonwealth law authorizes it. It also bars any sign located or arranged so that it interferes with traffic through glare or by blocking reasonable sight lines for streets, sidewalks or driveways.

Properties in the Historic District carry an extra step. Section 27-601, subsection 6, requires a certificate of appropriateness from the Borough Historical and Architectural Review Board (HARB) for the use, erection, structural repair, alteration, moving, removal, repainting or demolition of any sign for any use in the Historic District. Flags or emblems of political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations are listed among the exempt signs in § 27-601, subsection 4F.