Wayne County, MI Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Political signs on private property in Wayne County are strongly protected by the First Amendment and Michigan election law. MCL 168.931 addresses campaign practices, and U.S. Supreme Court cases including Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015) prohibit content-based regulation of signs. Detroit, Dearborn, Livonia, and other Wayne County cities may impose content-neutral rules on sign size (commonly 6 to 16 square feet for residential), placement setbacks from the sidewalk or street, materials, and illumination, but cannot limit the number of political signs or require them to be removed after an election sooner than other temporary signs. Signs in the public right-of-way, including medians, tree lawns, and utility poles, are generally prohibited and removed by public works crews. Campaign signs at polling places are regulated by state election law requiring a 100-foot exclusion zone around polling entrances on election day. HOAs may impose private restrictions but cannot ban political signs outright in most cases. Signs must not obstruct sight distance at intersections.