Waukesha County, WI Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Political signs in Waukesha County are governed by state statute, not the county zoning sign chapter. Wis. Stat. 12.04(3) bars any county or municipality from regulating the size, shape, placement, or content of a sign containing a political message placed on residential property during an election campaign period. Sec. 12.04(4) allows narrow exceptions only where a rule is necessary for traffic or pedestrian safety. The campaign period generally runs from the placement of signs before an election until shortly after it. Homeowners across the county, in both towns and cities, may post yard political signs without a local permit, subject only to safety limits and homeowners-association covenants where applicable.