East Orange, NJ Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

City Code Section 51-5 defines "Sign, Political" as a sign advancing the candidacy of any candidate or group of candidates for public office. The definition builds in two carve-outs: a political message may appear on an existing commercial billboard if the billboard owner consents, and may appear on a licensed motor vehicle in operating condition, provided the vehicle is not parked or placed anywhere for the primary purpose of displaying the sign. Outside those carve-outs, the same definition flatly states that political signs may not be displayed on any trees, lighting stanchions or other public property.

That public-property restriction is reinforced elsewhere in the sign article: Section 51-167(L), the general list of prohibited sign types applicable in all districts of the city, separately bars any private sign located within the street right-of-way or attached to public utility poles, lampposts, public signs or like structures, which covers the same lighting-stanchion and public-property ground the political sign definition addresses. The Land Use chapter's general sign provisions in Sections 51-166 through 51-170 do not carve out a separate size cap, permit requirement or posting/removal deadline specific to political signs the way some neighboring towns do for election season; East Orange's operative control on political signage is this locational ban plus the general prohibited-sign-type list. A candidate or supporter posting signs on private lawns or storefronts with the owner's permission falls outside these restrictions entirely.