District of Columbia Statewide Rule

Washington DC Political Sign & Postering Rules

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across District of Columbia (2026)

Key Facts

Max display: 180 days per poster
Post-event removal: Within 30 days of election
Copies per block side: No more than three
Date required: Affix date shown on poster
Public trees: Postering banned outright

Last verified: July 31, 2026

Summary

The District lets political posters go up on public lampposts without a permit, but 24 DCMR 108 dates each poster, caps display at 180 days, limits three copies per block side, and forces removal within 30 days after the election.

108.5 A sign, advertisement, or poster shall be affixed for no more than one hundred eighty (180) days. ... 108.6 A sign, advertisement, or poster related to a specific event shall be removed no later than thirty (30) days following the event. ... No more than three (3) versions or copies of each sign, advertisement, or poster shall be affixed on one (1) side of a street within one (1) block.

View official code

Full Breakdown

DC treats campaign posters as protected civic speech but regulates the mechanics on public space. Under 24 DCMR 108, a sign, advertisement, or poster may stay on a public lamppost for no more than 180 days, and any poster tied to a specific event, including an election, must come down within 30 days after that event. Each poster must carry the date it was first affixed, and no more than three copies may hang on one side of a street within a single block. Placing any advertisement on a public tree is flatly prohibited. The enabling authority is DC Official Code 1-303.21, and the Department of Public Works and DDOT enforce the rules and remove noncompliant posters.

Violations & Penalties

Posters displayed past 180 days, carrying no affixed date, exceeding three copies per block side, or left up more than 30 days after the election are noncompliant and removed by DPW; placing any advertisement on a public tree is prohibited outright.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to post a campaign sign in DC?

No. Political posters may be affixed to public lampposts without a permit, but they must follow 24 DCMR 108's dating, quantity, and removal requirements.

When must DC campaign posters come down?

Within 30 days after the election or event they relate to, and in no case more than 180 days after they were first affixed to the lamppost.

Can I staple posters to public trees?

No. 24 DCMR 108.2 prohibits placing any advertisement on any tree in public space.

Sources

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