Rochester, NY Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Rochester classifies political signs under § 120-177C, "Limited signs," alongside real estate signs, home-occupation signs and construction signs; each lot may display no more than two limited signs at a time without securing a certificate of zoning compliance from the Director of Zoning and Permitting. A political sign itself cannot exceed six square feet per side, whether it is freestanding in a yard or affixed to a structure, and the removal deadline is strict: all election signs must come down within 14 calendar days of the election they reference, win or lose.

Because political signs fall under the "limited signs" category rather than the broader Subsection B allowed-signs list (holiday decorations, address signs, traffic signs and similar), they still count toward a property's two-sign cap alongside any real estate or construction signage displayed on the lot at the same time. The general sign-location standards of § 120-177E also apply: no sign may interfere with or obstruct the view of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and no sign may be attached to a tree, utility pole or other street appurtenance.

The design standards in § 120-177F, such as the ban on pennants, streamers, spinners and other moving devices, apply to political signs the same as any other sign on a lot, and no more than 50% of a sign face may be covered with text or graphics.