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Campaign Signs, Posters, and Placards on Public Property

The Office of Campaign Finance requires that campaign literature contain on its face the words “Paid for by”, followed by the name and address of the payer or the committee and other person and its treasurer on whose behalf the material appears.

The Board’s ability to regulate the placement of campaign materials is limited to within 50 feet of the entrance of a polling place. Rules and regulations for the posting of campaign signs in public space outside of this perimeter are overseen by the District Department of Transportation. These rules are primarily enforced by the Department of Public Works.

In general, campaign signs, posters, and placards are permitted on public property, but a permit is required from the Department of Transportation Public Space Permitting Center. Permits can be filed online at https://tops.ddot.dc.gov/.

Even though candidates for political office in the District are allowed to place signs, posters, and placards throughout the city, there are restrictions within the law that you and your campaign supporters should know about and follow.

The following excerpts from Title 24 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) provide specifics of the law that pertain to posting and removal of campaign materials in public space. By following these regulations, you will ensure that your campaign signs will serve their intended purpose - as civic reminders of the importance of exercising the right to vote - rather than as unfortunate signs of environmental blight and potential litter.

24 D.C. Municipal Regulations § 108

108.1	No person shall affix a sign, advertisement, or poster to any public lamppost or appurtenances of a lamppost, except as provided in accordance with this section.
108.2	The placing of any advertisement on any tree in public space is prohibited.
108.3	No poster or placard shall be publicly displayed or exhibited if it is lewd, indecent, or vulgar, or if it pictorially represents the commission of or the attempt to commit any crime.
108.4	Any sign, advertisement, or poster that does not relate to the sale of goods or services may be affixed on public lampposts or appurtenances of a lamppost, subject to the restrictions set forth in this section.
108.5	A sign, advertisement, or poster not related to a specific event 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 to which it is related. This subsection does not extend the time limit in subsection 108.5.
108.7	Each sign, advertisement, or poster shall contain the date upon which it was initially affixed to a lamppost.
108.8	Each sign, advertisement, or poster shall be affixed securely to avoid being torn or disengaged by normal weather conditions.
108.9	Signs, advertisements, and posters shall not be affixed by adhesives that prevent their complete removal from the fixture, or that do damage to the fixture.
108.10	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.
108.11	Within twenty-four (24) hours of posting each sign, advertisement, or poster, two (2) copies of the material shall be filed with an agent of the District of Columbia so designated by the Mayor. The filing shall include the name, address, and telephone number of the originator of the sign, advertisement, or poster, and if the sign is for an event, the date of the event.
108.12	For purposes of this section, a "public lamppost" is any public post erected for the purpose of supporting electric wires.
108.13	For purposes of this section, the term "event" refers to an occurrence, happening, activity or series of activities, specific to an identifiable time and place, if referenced on the poster itself or reasonably determined from all circumstances by the inspector.

Members of the Public:

To make a complaint about a campaign sign, posters, or placard posted on public property in violation of these rules, call the Citywide Call Center at 311.