Vanderburgh County, IN Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Election-period protection
- 60 days before to 6th day after
- Governing statute
- IC 36-1-3-11
- County code section
- § 17.26.230(B)(2)
- Non-election temporary sign cap
- 2 signs, 2 sq ft each
- Permit required
- No ILP for temporary signs
Summary
Indiana law strips Vanderburgh County of any power to limit the number or size of political yard signs for the 60 days before an election through the fifth day after it. Section 17.26.230(B)(2) of the county sign ordinance defers directly to that statute, IC 36-1-3-11, and folds political signage into the county's broader temporary-sign allowance the rest of the year.
B. Temporary signs. A person exercising the right to place temporary signs on a property as described in this section 17.26.230.B must limit the number of temporary signs on the property per frontage at any one time to two (2) signs, plus any sign(s) allowed in section 17.26.230.B.2, except as provided in this subsection unless a court having jurisdiction determines that additional signs must be permitted and then the signage must be limited to the fewest signs and the smallest accumulated sign area permissible under the court's determination. The sign face of any temporary sign, unless otherwise regulated in this subsection, must not be larger than two (2) square feet. Authorized temporary signs include:
1. A property owner may place one temporary sign at any time with a sign face no larger than two square feet on the property.
2. Temporary signs that comply with IC 36-1-3-11 may be located on the owner's property for a period defined by IC 36-1-3-11.
Full Breakdown
230(B), 'Temporary signs,' incorporates Indiana's state preemption statute by reference. ' Under IC 36-1-3-11, a local ordinance regulating the number or size of signs is unenforceable for the 60 days before an election through the sixth day after it, with an exception the county may still invoke if enforcement is necessary for public safety. 230(B): a property is limited to two temporary signs per frontage at any one time, and any temporary sign not otherwise addressed in the subsection is capped at two square feet of sign face.
1 separately allows a property owner to place one temporary sign of up to two square feet at any time, which functions as a baseline allowance even outside election season. 230 or otherwise regulated by the chapter is a prohibited sign. Because Title 17 governs the unincorporated county only, this rule applies outside Evansville and Darmstadt city limits; the two municipalities enforce their own sign codes, though the IC 36-1-3-11 preemption itself reaches every political subdivision in the state, cities included.
Violations & Fines
A political sign that exceeds the two-square-foot temporary sign cap outside the IC 36-1-3-11 election window, or exceeds two signs per frontage, is a Title 17 zoning violation. The Area Plan Commission can issue a Notice of Ordinance Violation under Section 1.14.040, with a civil penalty under Section 17.36.150 of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $7,500 for repeat violations within 12 months. During the state-protected election period, the county can enforce only on public-safety grounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Vanderburgh County limit how many political signs I put in my yard before an election?
How many political signs can I have outside election season?
Do I need a permit for a political yard sign in unincorporated Vanderburgh County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vanderburgh County
Compare Vanderburgh County to another location·View the Indiana sign regulations overview
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