Calaveras County, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Calaveras County's sign rules are in Chapter 17.24 of the 2024 Zoning Code, written to be content-neutral and to protect free speech (Section 17.24.010.F). Section 17.24.030.O specifically exempts political signs - those informing of political candidates, parties, issues, measures, propositions, philosophies or personal beliefs, and that are not commercial messages - from all regulations of the chapter, with two conditions: the signs may not be placed within the public right-of-way, and they must conform to the requirements of the California Elections Code for placement and removal. California Elections Code Section 20008 generally limits the posting period for temporary political signs along certain state highways and requires removal within 10 days after the election, and prohibits placement in the public right-of-way; local placement on private property with the owner's consent is otherwise broadly protected speech. Because the County exemption defers to the Elections Code, the practical rules are that political signs on private property are allowed without a permit and without a County size or count limit, but they cannot encroach on roads or the public right-of-way, cannot be affixed to utility poles or trees (Section 17.24.040.E), and cannot be placed on public property (Section 17.24.040.D) except where an encroachment permit authorizes it. Signs that imitate traffic-control devices or create traffic hazards are prohibited.