Cleveland, OH Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential max
- 8 sq ft per sign
- Non-residential max
- 64 sq ft per sign
- Lot total cap
- 64 sq ft combined
- Public property
- Prohibited on ROW, poles, bridges
- Permit
- Exempt up to 48 sq ft
Summary
Cleveland caps political signs at 8 square feet in Residential Districts and 64 square feet in non-residential districts under Codified Ordinances § 350.11, with the combined area of all free-standing political signs on one lot never exceeding 64 square feet. Political signs may not go on public property, public rights-of-way, utility poles, bridges, or bridge abutments, and most yard signs need no permit.
Political signs, as defined in division (e)(9) of Section 350.03, shall be permitted in addition to otherwise permitted signs and sign area and only in accordance with the following regulations and other applicable regulations of this chapter: (a) Location. Political signs shall not be placed on any public property, public right-of-way, utility pole, bridge or bridge abutment. The location of political signs on private property is further prescribed in this chapter by the regulations for each zoning district. (b) Number and Area. The maximum size of any political sign shall be eight (8) square feet if located in a Residential District and sixty-four (64) square feet if located in a non-residential district. In no case shall the total area of all free-standing political signs on a lot exceed sixty-four (64) square feet, except for a lot on which billboards are permitted. In such a case, political signs may be displayed in accordance with the regulations for billboards in Section 350.10. (c) Substitution. In addition to the specifically authorized political signs, political messages may be displayed in place of commercial messages on any permitted billboard or other permitted permanent sign.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-28: Current through legislation passed September 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
' Placement is restricted first by location: political signs can never go on public property, in the public right-of-way, on a utility pole, or on a bridge or bridge abutment, wherever in the city they're posted. On private property, size depends on the zoning district, a political sign is capped at 8 square feet in a Residential District but can reach 64 square feet in a non-residential district. 10. Political messages also get a substitution right: beyond the specifically authorized political signs, a property owner may swap a political message onto the face of any permitted billboard or other permitted permanent sign in place of its usual commercial message, without that counting as a separate, additional sign.
04(a)(5) exempts political signs up to 48 square feet from the City's sign permit requirement altogether, so most yard and lawn political signs need no application to the Department of Building and Housing.
Violations & Fines
A political sign over the 8-square-foot residential or 64-square-foot non-residential cap, one placed on public property or a utility pole, or a lot's free-standing political signage exceeding 64 square feet combined violates § 350.11: a Zoning Code violation is a first-degree misdemeanor under § 327.99(a), with each day of noncompliance a separate offense, and the Department of Building and Housing can order oversized or improperly placed signs removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a political sign on the tree lawn or a utility pole in Cleveland?
How big can a political yard sign be in Cleveland?
Do I need a permit for a political sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cleveland
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