Waltham, MA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed On
- Private property with owner consent
- Typical Size Limit
- 6-8 sq ft residential
- Prohibited Location
- Public ROW, utility poles, tree belts
- Duration
- No content-based time limit
- Maintenance
- Must stay in good condition
Summary
Waltham allows temporary political signs on private property with owner permission. Size and placement must not obstruct visibility, and signs are prohibited on public rights-of-way and utility poles.
Section 65. At an election of state or city officers, and of town officers in towns where official ballots are used, the presiding election officer at each polling place shall, before the opening of the polls, post at least three cards of instruction, three cards containing abstracts of the laws imposing penalties upon voters, and at least three specimen ballots within the polling place outside the guard rail, and have available at the check in area at state elections a number of copies of the information for voters material provided for in section fifty-four at least one for every one hundred voters; and no other poster, card, handbill, placard, picture or circular intended to influence the action of the voter shall be posted, exhibited, circulated or distributed in th
Full Breakdown
Waltham respects First Amendment protections for political speech and allows temporary political signs on private property with the owner's permission. Signs are typically limited in size (often 6-8 square feet in residential zones and larger in non-residential zones) and must be set back from the public right-of-way. Signs may not obstruct driver sightlines at intersections, driveways, or crosswalks. Placement on public property, including tree belts, medians, utility poles, traffic signs, and within the public right-of-way, is prohibited. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that content-based durational limits on political signs are constitutionally problematic, so Waltham generally does not restrict how long before or after an election political signs may remain. However, signs must be maintained in good condition and promptly removed after they become tattered or fallen. Signs on utility poles can also violate state law (MGL c.266 s.126A).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a political sign in my Waltham yard?
When must election signs come down?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waltham
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Political Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle political signs.