Evansville, IN Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Definition
- Any sign for a cause, party, candidate, idea
- Placement
- Right-of-way strip outside the sidewalk only
- Consent
- Frontage property owner's consent required
- Penalty
- $25 per violation, EMC 12.05.210(G)
Summary
Evansville defines political and cause signs as 'First Amendment signs' and lets them go in the street right-of-way strip outside the sidewalk, with the frontage owner's consent and no attachment to trees, poles, or City signs.
“First Amendment sign” means any sign promoting any cause, party, candidate, idea or concept... First Amendment signs may be placed in the right-of-way so long as they do not lie between the outside... of the public sidewalk and the paved portion of the street or in any boulevard or area mowed by the City or its contractor, and the person placing the sign has the consent of the property owner in front of whose property the sign is to be placed.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-2026-12, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
EMC 12.05.210 governs signs placed in the public right-of-way, separate from Evansville's zoning sign code (Title 18) or building code (Title 15). It defines a 'First Amendment sign' as any sign promoting a cause, party, candidate, or idea -- as opposed to a business or product ad -- and allows such signs in the right-of-way strip outside the sidewalk (or, where there's no sidewalk, outside the curb or pavement), provided they don't sit on the paved street, sidewalk, boulevard, or any tree, pole, or City sign, and the person placing it has the frontage property owner's consent.
Violations & Fines
Attaching a First Amendment sign to a tree, pole, or City sign, placing it on a paved surface, or skipping the frontage owner's consent violates EMC 12.05.210 and draws a $25 fine per violation, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a political sign in the street right-of-way in Evansville?
What's the fine for an illegal right-of-way sign in Evansville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evansville
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