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Cary, NC Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Where banned
Town-maintained street rights-of-way
Max fine
$100 per day
State authority
G.S. 136-32(f)
Removal
Anyone may remove, no penalty

Summary

Cary bans all signs, including political signs, from town-maintained street rights-of-way; a political sign left there is deemed abandoned under state law and anyone may remove it without penalty.

No sign may be placed within the right of way of any street located within the corporate limits of the Town of Cary and maintained by the Town of Cary unless expressly permitted by the Town of Cary Land Development Ordinance. Enforcement of this prohibition by the Town may be made through either the Land Development Ordinance or this section. If enforced pursuant to this section 28-12, the following shall apply: Any sign placed in violation of this section shall be deemed a public nuisance and may be seized by an enforcement official or other representative of the Town. Any person owning or placing a sign in violation of this section shall be subject to a fine of $100 per day that the sign remains in place and may be charged the cost of removing and disposing of the sign. Violations of this provision shall not constitute a misdemeanor as provided in G.S. 14-4. In addition, and as required by G.S. 136-32(f), any political sign that remains in a right-of-way of streets located within the corporate limits and maintained by the Town is to be deemed unlawfully placed and abandoned property, and a person may remove and dispose of such political sign without penalty. (Ord. No. 2011Code-06, 9-27-2011; Ord. No. 2020-LDO-01, 5-7-2020) Secs. 28-13—28-40. Reserved. **** ARTICLE II. SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE* **** ---------- *State law reference(s)--Special assessments, G.S. 160A-216 et seq.; interest on assessments, G.S. 160A-233. ----------

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2023 S-87_S-57: Current through local ordinance 2022-Code-05, passed 11-17-2022 and effective 11-17-2022 | LDO: Current through local ordinance 2022-LDO-04, passed 11-17-22 and effective 11-17-22).

Full Breakdown

The town's general right-of-way sign ban covers political signs too: no sign may sit in the right-of-way of a Town of Cary-maintained street unless the Land Development Ordinance expressly allows it, and violators face a fine of up to $100 per day the sign stays put. Layered on top, and required by North Carolina's own political-sign statute, any political sign left in a Cary-maintained right-of-way is automatically deemed unlawfully placed and abandoned property, meaning anyone, not just the town, can remove and dispose of it without facing penalty.

Violations & Fines

Placing or leaving a political sign in a town-maintained right-of-way risks seizure as a public nuisance, a fine of up to $100 per day it remains, and removal by any member of the public without penalty under state law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave a political yard sign in the Cary street right-of-way?
No. Cary Code of Ordinances § 28-12 bans signs in town-maintained rights-of-way, and state law lets anyone remove a political sign left there as abandoned property.
What's the fine for an illegal sign in Cary's right-of-way?
Up to $100 per day the sign remains, though the ordinance specifies this isn't charged as a misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Cary

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