Charles County, MD Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Political campaign signs get their own carve-out in § 297-320A, part of the list of signs that need neither permit nor payment of a fee under Article XIX. The rule allows campaign signage in every zoning district in the County, residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural alike, without requiring the owner or candidate to file a sign application with the Zoning Officer or pay the sign-permit fee that applies to most other signage under § 297-319D. The only numeric cap is tied to residential zones: a political campaign sign there cannot exceed 32 square feet in area, matching the cap the County sets for special-event banners and portable signs under § 297-319G(6).

Illumination is flatly barred wherever the 32-square-foot residential cap applies, so a lit or backlit yard sign isn't permitted in a residential district. Placement is also restricted: every political campaign sign must be confined to private property, and none may be affixed to any public structure, which rules out utility poles, street signs, guardrails, bus shelters or other government-owned fixtures regardless of the zone. Because political signs are exempt from the permit article's general provisions, they still have to meet the construction and safety standards that apply to every exempt sign category, and an illegally placed sign can still be treated as illegal signage under § 297-319F if it violates the private-property or public-structure rules.