New Hampshire Statewide Rule

New Hampshire Political Sign Placement and Removal Law

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across New Hampshire (2026)

Key Facts

Statute: RSA 664:17
Removal deadline: Second Friday post-election
Content regulation: Barred (First Amendment)
Owner consent: Required on private land
Enforcement: Local police, NHDOT

Last verified: August 20, 2026Source: New Hampshire General Court

Summary

New Hampshire RSA 664:17 establishes statewide rules for political advertising signs, governing placement on public rights-of-way, removal deadlines, and preempting conflicting local restrictions on protected political speech.

Section 664:17 664:17 Placement and Removal of Political Advertising. No political advertising shall be placed on or affixed to any public property including highway rights-of-way or private property without the owner's consent. All political advertising shall be removed by the candidate no later than the second Friday following the election unless the election is a primary and the advertising concerns a candidate who is a winner in the primary. Signs shall not be placed on or affixed to utility poles or highway signs. Political advertising may be placed within state-owned rights-of-way as long as the advertising does not obstruct the safe flow of traffic and the advertising is placed with the consent of the owner of the land over which the right-of-way passes. No person shall remove, deface, or knowingly destroy any political advertising which is placed on or affixed to public property or any private property except for removal by the owner of the property, persons authorized by the owner of the property, or a law enforcement officer removing improper advertising. Political advertising placed on or affixed to any public property may be removed by state, city, or town maintenance or law enforcement personnel.

Source: New Hampshire General CourtView official code

Full Breakdown

Under RSA 664:17, political advertising signs may be placed on or adjacent to public rights-of-way with property owner consent for adjacent private land. Signs must not obstruct visibility or traffic safety. Candidates and committees must remove signs within the second Friday following the election. The statute prohibits towns from regulating the content of political signs and limits how municipalities can restrict placement timing. Towns may regulate size and structural safety but cannot impose blanket bans or content-based restrictions. The Department of Transportation enforces removal in state highway rights-of-way.

Violations & Penalties

Signs not removed by the deadline may be taken down by the state or municipality at the responsible party's expense. Chapter 664 violations are generally enforced as misdemeanors under RSA 664:21; RSA 664:17 sets no per-sign daily fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

When must political signs come down in New Hampshire?

Per RSA 664:17, all political advertising signs must be removed by the second Friday following the election to which they relate.

Can a town ban political signs in yards?

No. State law and First Amendment protections preempt content-based bans. Towns may regulate size and safety but cannot prohibit political signs on private property.

Are political signs allowed on public roadsides?

Yes, signs may be placed on or adjacent to public rights-of-way if they don't obstruct traffic visibility, subject to NHDOT and local placement rules.

Sources

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