San Jose regulates political signs as part of content-neutral temporary sign rules in SJMC Chapter 23. Residential properties may display temporary signs up to 8 square feet per sign without permits. Signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited. The city rewrote sign rules after Reed v Gilbert to apply uniformly to all temporary signs regardless of message.
San Jose Municipal Code Chapter 23 (Sign Regulations) treats political signs as temporary signs subject to the same content-neutral rules as real estate, garage sale, and event signs. Each temporary sign on a residential property may be up to 8 square feet without a permit, with aggregate area caps based on parcel size. After Reed v Town of Gilbert (2015), San Jose Planning eliminated election-specific timing restrictions and now relies on a generally applicable 15-day post-event removal requirement that covers any temporary sign.
Prohibited placement includes the public right-of-way, parkways, medians, traffic signal poles, utility poles, street trees, and freeway-facing fences. Signs may not be illuminated, animated, or extend above the roofline. The Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement handles complaints; signs in the right-of-way are removed by Public Works without notice.
Violations are infractions with fines beginning at $100 and escalating to $500 for repeat offenses. Owners are billed for removal costs. Signs in the public right-of-way are removed without notice and held briefly for retrieval.
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