Stanislaus County, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

The Stanislaus County Zoning Ordinance (Title 21) does not include a dedicated political or campaign sign section; its general sign provision, Section 21.08.070, addresses only signs within a city's sphere of influence, and the district sign rules regulate identification, real estate, and advertising signs rather than political speech. Because the county has no specific local rule, temporary political signs on private property in unincorporated areas are governed primarily by California's Outdoor Advertising Act. Business and Professions Code Section 5405.3 exempts a temporary political sign from normal outdoor-advertising display requirements if it: is no larger than 32 square feet; is placed not sooner than 90 days prior to the scheduled election and removed within 10 days after that election; and has a statement of responsibility filed with Caltrans certifying who will remove it. The statute also bars placing such a sign within the right-of-way of any highway or within 660 feet of, and visible from, the right-of-way of a landscaped freeway. Property owners may post political signs on their own private property subject to these size, timing, and placement limits. Signs in zoning districts must still avoid creating a traffic hazard and may not be placed on public right-of-way. Because political-sign placement rules are largely a First Amendment-protected area, the county relies on state law and constitutional limits rather than a separate ordinance. Always verify current Caltrans guidance, since enforcement of right-of-way signs falls to the state.