Bergen County does not regulate political signs on private property. New Jersey law and the First Amendment protect political speech, and municipalities may impose only content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions on size, setback, and removal after elections.
Political signs in Bergen County are protected under the First Amendment and N.J.S.A. 19:34-6. Following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015), municipal ordinances cannot impose stricter standards on political signs than on other temporary signs. Bergen County municipalities typically allow political signs on private property without permit, limit each sign to 6 to 16 square feet, prohibit placement in public rights-of-way, and require removal within 7 to 14 days after the election. The county itself does not regulate signs on private parcels but does prohibit unauthorized signs on county roads and county-owned property under N.J.S.A. 27:5-7.
Sign removal from public rights-of-way is typical enforcement, with fines of $50 to $250 per sign for repeat or commercial-style placement violations.
See how other cities in Bergen County handle political signs.
See how Garfield's political signs rules stack up against other locations.
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