Political and other non-commercial signs are strongly protected in Martinez and may be posted on private residential property at any time, with no pre-election or post-election duration limits. Under Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015) and California Elections Code section 18370, political signs are treated the same as other temporary non-commercial signs, generally limited to 6 square feet and 4 feet tall when freestanding.
Martinez treats political signs under the same content-neutral temporary-sign framework that applies to all non-commercial signage in MMC Title 22. The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Reed v. Town of Gilbert held that sign ordinances distinguishing among temporary signs by message (political vs. real-estate vs. ideological) are content-based and presumptively unconstitutional. Accordingly, Martinez applies a single set of size, height, and location rules to all temporary non-commercial signs.
Residents may post political signs on their own property or with the consent of a private property owner at any time, without regard to election calendars. Typical limits in residential zones: maximum 6 square feet of total temporary sign area per parcel, maximum 4 feet in height for freestanding signs, and at least 1 foot behind the public sidewalk or right-of-way line.
California Elections Code 18370 prohibits the defacement or unauthorized removal of political signs and imposes criminal penalties. Civil Code 4710 prevents HOAs and CC&Rs from banning non-commercial signs, posters, flags, or banners on members' separate property, subject only to reasonable content-neutral restrictions.
Prohibited regardless of message: placement in the public right-of-way (medians, sidewalks, utility poles, street trees, traffic-sign posts), attachment to public property, and obstruction of sight triangles at intersections. Signs in the right-of-way may be removed by the city without notice under Streets & Highways Code 101.7. Campaign volunteers should retrieve signs within a reasonable period after election day as a courtesy, though the city does not enforce a specific removal deadline for legally posted political signs on private property.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Contra Costa County.
See how other cities in Contra Costa County handle political signs.
See how Martinez's political signs rules stack up against other locations.
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