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Union County, NC Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Size limit
32 sq ft per sign
Removal deadline
15 days after election
Permit required
None (exempt sign)
Applies to
Unincorporated Union County only
First-citation fine
$50
Citation
UDO § 50.030-K

Summary

In unincorporated Union County, temporary campaign and election signs are exempt from the sign permit requirement under UDO Section 50.030-K. Each individual sign may not exceed 32 square feet, and every sign must come down within 15 days after the election is decided or the vote concludes. The exemption sits inside Article 50's list of signs allowed without a permit, alongside real estate and construction signs, and applies only outside Union County's towns and their extraterritorial jurisdiction.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Union County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Temporary campaign or election signs, provided that: 1. Individual signs may not exceed 32 square feet in area; and 2. All signs must be removed within 15 days following the elected or conclusion of the vote;

View official code

Full Breakdown

030-K. The ordinance sets two hard limits: an individual campaign or election sign cannot exceed 32 square feet in area, and all such signs must be removed within 15 days following the election or the conclusion of the vote. Because these signs are permit-exempt, a property owner does not file a sign permit application with the Planning and Development department before placing one, but the size cap and removal deadline still apply and are enforced the same as any other sign standard in Article 50.

This exemption only governs unincorporated Union County: land inside Monroe, Indian Trail, Waxhaw, Weddington, Stallings, Wesley Chapel, Marvin, Mineral Springs, Unionville, Wingate, Marshville or any other municipality's corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction is regulated under that town's own sign code, not this UDO, unless the town has adopted a resolution opting into the county ordinance. 030-K even if it meets the size and duration limits.

Violations & Fines

A sign that exceeds 32 square feet or stays up more than 15 days after the election loses its permit exemption and becomes a code violation under UDO Article 95. The county issues a warning citation giving 10 days to correct the violation, then $50 for a first citation, $200 for a second, and $500 for a third or later citation for the same offense; each day a violation continues is a separate offense. Violations can also be prosecuted as a misdemeanor under NCGS 14-4, punishable by up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to put up a political yard sign in unincorporated Union County?
No. UDO Section 50.030-K exempts temporary campaign and election signs from the sign permit requirement, but the exemption only applies if the sign follows the size and removal rules: 32 square feet or smaller, taken down within 15 days after the election. A sign that breaks either limit is treated as an unpermitted sign and can be cited.
How big can a campaign sign be on my property?
Union County's UDO caps an individual campaign or election sign at 32 square feet in area under Section 50.030-K. That is a per-sign limit, not a per-property total, but every sign on the lot must independently meet the size cap and the 15-day removal deadline to keep its permit exemption.
When do I have to take my political sign down?
Within 15 days after the election is decided or the vote concludes, under UDO Section 50.030-K. Signs left up past that window no longer qualify for the no-permit exemption and become a sign code violation subject to the county's citation and fine schedule under Article 95.
Can I put a campaign sign in the road right-of-way in Union County?
No. Article 50's prohibited-sign rules bar any sign located in or extending into a public right-of-way, and that prohibition is not lifted by the Section 50.030-K campaign sign exemption. Keep the sign entirely on private property with the owner's permission to stay compliant.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Union County

Holiday DisplaysFew RestrictionsFreeway-Facing SignsSignificant RestrictionsGarage Sale SignsLight RestrictionsDigital BillboardsHeavy RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesHeavy RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingLight Restrictions

All Union County rules

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