Can I place a campaign sign on a Delaware highway median?

No. DelDOT prohibits all signs in state highway rights-of-way including medians, shoulders, and traffic islands. Signs are removed without notice.

Can a Delaware town ban political signs from front yards?

No. Outright bans on political signs on private property violate the First Amendment. Towns may set reasonable size and duration limits applied neutrally to all signs.

How close to a polling place can I put a sign in Delaware?

Delaware election law prohibits campaign signage and electioneering within statutory distances of polling places on Election Day, enforced by the Department of Elections.

Delaware Political Signs Law: Statewide Sign Regulations Rules (2026)

Key Facts

ROW signs: Prohibited statewide
Authority: DelDOT and 17 Del.C.
Polling place buffer: Per 15 Del.C.
Private property: Generally protected speech
Removal: Without prior notice

Full Breakdown

Under 17 Del.C. Chapter 11, the Delaware Department of Transportation regulates all signs within state highway rights-of-way. Political signs cannot be placed on state-maintained road shoulders, medians, traffic islands, or attached to utility poles, traffic signs, or guardrails anywhere in Delaware. DelDOT removes noncompliant signs without notice. On private property, content-neutral municipal time, place, and manner restrictions apply, but cities cannot ban political signs outright or treat them more restrictively than other temporary signs under Reed v. Town of Gilbert. State election law (15 Del.C.) bars campaign signs within prescribed distances of polling places on Election Day.

Violations & Penalties

Signs in DelDOT rights-of-way are removed and discarded without compensation. Repeat violators may face civil penalties up to $100 per sign under DelDOT regulations.

Delaware Political Sign Rules and Right-of-Way Limits

Key Facts

Full Breakdown

Violations & Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

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