Greenville, NC Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Section 12-1-5 treats a political campaign sign the same as any other unauthorized handbill: it is unlawful to post one on or over city-owned or city-controlled property or right-of-way. The code carves out two exceptions: temporary signs placed in the right-of-way fronting residential property with the permission of the owner or occupant, and handbills on city bulletin boards set aside for public use. "Political campaign sign" is defined narrowly, as any sign urging election or defeat of a candidate or the passage or defeat of a ballot measure, and it expressly excludes any billboard owned or maintained by a commercial advertising firm.

When the Director of Planning and Development Services or a designee finds an illegally posted sign, staff first try to contact the responsible candidate, committee or person and give 24 hours' advance telephone notice describing the violation and location before removing it. In a campaign for office, the candidate is automatically deemed responsible for posted signs unless the candidate has notified the City Clerk and the Director of another responsible party in writing, including that person's name, address, phone number and signed consent. The business owner, sponsoring organization or other responsible party remains liable for unlawful postings even if they did not personally post the material, and the Director may issue a civil citation to any of them.