Highlands County, FL Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Where banned
- Property owned or used by any government
- What's banned
- Political signs, ads, handbills, snipe signs, billboards
- Private property
- Not covered by this specific section
- Max fine
- $500 per violation, § 2-382
Summary
Unincorporated Highlands County bars political signs, along with advertisements, handbills, snipe signs and billboards, from any property owned or used by the county or another government agency. The rule targets placement on public land rather than political signs generally, so campaign signs on private property are not reached by this specific section.
No political signs, advertisements, handbills, snipe signs or billboards shall be placed on property owned or used by the county or by any other governmental agencies or units in the unincorporated area of the county.
Full Breakdown
104, in the Land Development Regulations' Article 7 sign standards, states that no political signs, advertisements, handbills, snipe signs or billboards may be placed on property owned or used by the county or by any other governmental agency or unit within the unincorporated area. 103). 104 specifically forecloses is using county-owned or other government-owned land, such as road rights-of-way, parks, government building grounds or utility sites, as a place to post political campaign material, along with the same categories of advertisements, handbills and billboards. Because the ban covers 'property owned or used by' government, it extends to leased or licensed government-use sites, not just fee-owned parcels.
A sign erected in violation is treated the same as any other unauthorized sign on public property under the county's Land Development Regulations, and its removal does not require a separate finding about the content of the sign, since the rule turns on the location, not the message.
Violations & Fines
Political signs and other prohibited items placed on county or other government property in violation of § 12.07.104 can be removed by the county, and the responsible party faces a Land Development Regulations violation under Article 18: code enforcement issues a notice, and an unresolved case can go to the special magistrate for a fine of up to $500 per violation under § 2-382, with continuing placement counted as a separate violation each day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a campaign sign on the county road right-of-way?
Does this rule limit political signs on my own yard?
What other locations count as 'government property' under this rule?
What happens if a political sign is found on public land?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highlands County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Highlands County to another location·View the Florida sign regulations overview
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