Wisconsin Statewide Rule
Wisconsin Political Sign Protections on Private Property
Key Facts
- Residential signs
- Protected, Wis. Stat. 12.04
- Defacing/removing sign
- Crime, Wis. Stat. 12.13(3)(h)
- Right-of-way
- Barred, Wis. Stat. 86.19
- Content rules
- Generally protected
- Time limits
- Municipal discretion
Summary
Wisconsin protects the display of political signs on private property. Wis. Stat. 12.04 limits how municipalities may restrict residential political signs, and Wis. Stat. 12.13(3)(h) makes it a crime to deface or remove lawfully placed campaign signs.
(3) Except as provided in sub. (4), no county or municipality may regulate the size, shape, placement or content of any sign containing a political message placed upon residential property during an election campaign period.
Full Breakdown
Wis. Stat. 12.04 addresses communication of political messages and constrains municipal size and placement rules for political signs on residential property; content-based restrictions face First Amendment limits under Reed v. Town of Gilbert. Wis. Stat. 12.13(3)(h) prohibits defacing, destroying, or removing any lawfully placed campaign sign with intent to disrupt a campaign, though a property owner may remove signs from their own property. Placement in public highway rights-of-way is generally barred under Wis. Stat. 86.19. Municipalities may still impose reasonable time, place, and manner rules.
Violations & Penalties
Defacing, destroying, or removing a lawfully placed campaign sign violates Wis. Stat. 12.13(3)(h). Signs placed in highway rights-of-way may be removed and cited under Wis. Stat. 86.19.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Wisconsin cities ban political yard signs?
Is removing a political sign illegal in Wisconsin?
Sources
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