Durham, NC Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Max size
- 6 square feet
- Max height
- 4 feet
- Posting window
- Up to 45 days before election
- Removal deadline
- Within 15 days after election
- Scope
- City of Durham only, not county
- Governing section
- UDO § 11.5.1
Summary
Durham's UDO lets political and election signs go up in the public right-of-way without a permit, but the (City only) provision caps each sign at six square feet and four feet in height, keeps them clear of intersection sight lines, and enforces a strict clock: up 45 days before the election, down within 15 days after.
(City only) Signs erected in connections with elections, referenda, or current political events provided that they do not exceed six square feet per sign in area and are no more than four feet in height. The signs shall be located so as not to obstruct drivers' vision clearances at intersections. Such signs may be posted 45 days prior to an election in which a person identified on the sign is a candidate or item identified on the sign is on the ballot and shall be removed within 15 days after the election or cessation of candidacy of all persons identified on the sign, whichever comes first. Along State rights-of-way such signs may require permits from NCDOT.
Full Breakdown
UDO Sec. 11.5.1, General, lists the signs allowed within the public right-of-way in every zoning district, and one bullet is expressly marked '(City only)': signs erected in connection with elections, referenda, or current political events. That scoping matters because the UDO is a joint City-County ordinance covering both Durham's city limits and unincorporated Durham County, this particular right-of-way allowance for political signs applies only inside the City of Durham, not the county's unincorporated area.
The size limits are numeric and unqualified: a political sign shall 'not exceed six square feet per sign in area and are no more than four feet in height.' Placement is restricted by sight-line safety, the signs 'shall be located so as not to obstruct drivers' vision clearances at intersections', and by a fixed calendar window rather than a general seasonal rule. A sign may be posted 45 days before an election in which the person or item named on it is a candidate or ballot item, and it must come down within 15 days after the election, or after the named candidate drops out, whichever happens first. The ordinance separately flags that political signs placed along State rights-of-way may also need a permit from NCDOT, layering a state requirement on top of the local one.
Violations & Fines
A political sign that's oversized, blocks an intersection sight line, goes up before the 45-day window opens, or stays up past the 15-day removal deadline is a right-of-way sign violation under UDO Article 11, enforced through Article 15. The Planning Director, or a designee, can issue a citation with a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation under Sec. 15.4.4, and Sec. 15.3.9 authorizes additional remedies specific to sign violations, including removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can political signs go up in Durham?
How big can a political sign be in Durham?
Does this political sign rule apply in unincorporated Durham County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Durham
Compare Durham to another location·View the North Carolina sign regulations overview
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