Josephine County, OR Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Timing on private land
- governed by the ORS
- Right-of-way placement
- barred, § 19.74.030(F)
- Traffic-sign obstruction
- barred, § 19.74.030(C)
- Maintenance
- kept neat and clean, § 19.74.030(D)
- Fine
- up to $500, $1,000 continuing
- Citation
- JCC § 19.74.030(B)
Summary
Josephine County's sign chapter defers temporary political signs to state law: JCC § 19.74.030(B) states they "are permitted in accordance with the ORS." The same section still bars any sign, political or otherwise, from obstructing traffic sign visibility, sitting in a right-of-way, or going unmaintained.
Temporary political signs are permitted in accordance with the ORS;
Full Breakdown
030, the Rural Land Development Code's general sign provisions, applies to political signs the same way it applies to every other sign type in the unincorporated county. Subsection (B) states plainly: "Temporary political signs are permitted in accordance with the ORS," pointing candidates and campaigns to Oregon's own statutory sign-timing and consent rules rather than creating a separate county timeline. 030 still governs a political sign's placement. Subsection (A) exempts only signs erected by a federal, state, county, city or public utility for informational purposes, so a political sign gets no separate exemption.
" Subsection (D) requires all signs, including political ones, to be kept in a neat, clean and attractive condition, and subsection (F) bars any sign, permanent or temporary, from being located within a county, state or federal right-of-way, meaning a political sign staked into a road shoulder is out of compliance regardless of what the ORS allows on private property. Subsection (G) sets the measuring traverse used to calculate any sign's area if a size question arises. 010.
Violations & Fines
A political sign placed in a county, state or federal right-of-way, or positioned so it obstructs or is confused with a traffic control sign, violates JCC § 19.74.030(C) and (F) even though § 19.74.030(B) otherwise defers political sign timing to the ORS. The Planning Director issues written notice and up to 30 days to correct under §§ 19.19.020-.030, and conviction carries a fine of up to $500, or $1,000 for a continuing violation, under § 19.19.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Josephine County have its own rule on how long political signs can stay up?
Can I put a political sign in the road right-of-way?
What if a political sign blocks the view of a stop sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Josephine County
Compare Josephine County to another location·View the Oregon sign regulations overview
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