Reedley, CA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Political signs in Reedley are protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and California state law, which together establish strong protections for political expression through signage on private property. California Elections Code Section 18310 makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly take, possess, destroy, mutilate, or deface any political sign that has been lawfully placed, providing criminal penalties for sign vandalism and theft. Reedley's municipal code permits political signs on private property with the property owner's consent, consistent with constitutional requirements established by the U.S. Supreme Court in City of Ladue v. Gilleo (1994), which struck down a blanket ban on residential signs as a violation of the First Amendment. Signs on trees are specifically prohibited under the city's general sign regulations, and political signs may not be placed on public property, utility poles, streetlight standards, traffic signs and signals, or within the public right-of-way including sidewalks, medians, and roadway shoulders. Under California Government Code Section 65850.6, local agencies may adopt reasonable regulations regarding the time, place, and manner of political sign display, but cannot impose regulations that effectively prohibit the display of political signs on residential property. This means the city can regulate sign size, placement on the lot, and the timing of election-specific signs, but cannot ban political signs altogether or impose overly restrictive requirements that have the practical effect of preventing political expression. California municipal regulations typically allow political signs related to specific candidates or ballot measures to be displayed up to 90 days before an election and require removal within 10 days after the election. However, signs expressing general political viewpoints, opinions, or ideological positions that are not tied to a specific election or candidate may be displayed year-round as constitutionally protected speech. Size limits for temporary signs in residential zones under Reedley's zoning code (Title 10) apply to political signs, consistent with content-neutral sign regulations upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015), which requires that sign regulations not discriminate based on message content. Political signs must not obstruct traffic sight lines at intersections, driveways, or pedestrian crossings, as the city maintains the authority to require removal of signs that create traffic safety hazards. Signs that extend over the property line into the public right-of-way may be removed by city staff. Contact the Community Development Department at (559) 637-4200 for information about specific sign size limits and placement standards applicable to your zoning district.