Chapel Hill, NC Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Chapel Hill regulates signs in LUMO (Appendix A — Land Use Management Ordinance) Sec. 5.14 (Signs). The Town's published 'Rules for Political Signs' page summarizes LUMO Sec. 5.14.3(h) and is the operative public-facing rule. Key requirements: (1) Size — each temporary political sign advertising a candidate or issue is capped at four (4) square feet in area per display surface. (2) Private property — signs placed on private property with the property owner's consent must be removed within seven (7) days after the election. (3) Town-maintained public right-of-way — political signs may not be erected prior to forty-five (45) days before the election, and all political signs in the Town-maintained ROW must be removed within twelve (12) days after the election. (4) Traffic safety — signs may not compromise traffic safety by obstructing the view of traffic signals or signs, and may not use words / colors / symbols that could be confused with traffic directional or regulatory signs. (5) Permit — political signs are exempt from a sign permit under LUMO 5.14.3 (the same exemption category as real estate, construction, yard sale, public event, and grand opening signs). State-maintained rights-of-way (NC highway system, not Town streets) are governed by NCGS 136-32, which authorizes political signs in state ROW only between 30 days before the start of one-stop early voting and 10 days after Election Day, caps the sign at 864 square inches (6 sq ft) and 42 inches in height above the street pavement, requires the abutting property owner's consent, and prohibits placement on the roadway, shoulder, or interstate ROW. NCDOT (not the Town) enforces NCGS 136-32. Content-neutrality requirement under Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155 (2015), applies to any Town rule that distinguishes by message content. Code Enforcement: codeenforcement@townofchapelhill.org or 919-969-5043.