Campaign Sign Regulations
Campaign Sign Regulations in Benton County
Political signs are an important part an of election campaign, but laws regarding when and where they can be placed can differ within city, county and state.
Before you begin to put up campaign signs, be sure you understand the rules for all types of roadways.
City Codes
City of Adair Village
You must have permission from the property owner or manager before placing any signs or posters on public or private property.
You may not scatter, leave or distribute flyers, posters or advertisements on streets, sidewalks, public areas or private property.
Handing out materials directly to people during a parade or another approved public event is allowed.
City of Adair Development Code section 40.530.
For more information, visit their website or call.
City of Albany
Signs of any kind may not be located at any time in the public right-of-way as per Albany Development Code 13.220(2)(b).
One temporary sign per issue and per candidate may be placed on property based on the ballot of an election within the district where the property is located.
In residential zones, signs are limited to an area of four-square feet per face and a maximum height of three feet.
In commercial or industrial zones, signs are limited to an area of eight square feet per face and a maximum height of five feet. Signs may be placed 45 days prior to an election and must be removed no more than seven days after the election.
For more information, visit their website or call.
City of Corvallis
Political signs shall be erected and maintained entirely on private property with the consent of the occupant of the premises.
No signs are permitted on public property, including rights-of-way, streets, boulevards, bridges, rights-of-way to bridges and streets, medians, parks, planting strips in front of parks, and any other public property.
The area between the sidewalk and the street is not private property; it is a public right-of-way and signs are not allowed.
Political signs shall not be erected prior to 60 days from the applicable election and shall be removed within 15 days after the election.
Corvallis Land Development Code Sections 4.7.50 and 4.7.70
For more information, visit their website or call.
City of Monroe City Code
No one may place or distribute posters, placards or advertisements on streets, sidewalks, public areas or private property. You must have permission from the property owner or manager before placing any signs or posters on public or private property.
These rules do not change or replace any existing or future city regulations governing the placement or use of signs and advertising.
City of Monroe Code of Ordinances 92.18.
For more information, visit their website or call.
City of Philomath City Code
Political signs in Philomath are treated as temporary signs under Chapter 18.95 and must be placed on private property with the owner’s permission. They may remain up to 90 consecutive days per calendar year or for the duration typically associated with their purpose, without needing a permit or fee. In residential zones (R‑1 and R‑2), each home can display a freestanding or wall-mounted sign up to 16 sq ft per face, or up to 32 sq ft if the property has multiple street frontages; no sign may exceed 5 ft in height.
All other placement rules in Chapter 18.95 still apply. If you’re unsure about a specific location or size, contact the Planning Department before installing signs.
For more information, visit their website or call.
County & State Code
Benton County Code
Under Oregon law (ORS 368.942) no person may paste, paint, brand or in any manner whatever place or attach to any building, fence, gate, bridge, tree, rock, board, structure or anything whatever within the limits of the right of way of any county road any written, printed or painted advertisement, bill, notice, sign, picture, card or poster, except within the limits of any incorporated city through which the county road runs.
It has been the longstanding policy of Benton County to remove political signs which are placed in the public right of way. If it appears to any road supervisor or authorized public works employee to be obvious that the sign is in the public right of way, the sign will be immediately removed, returned to the County Shop, and be available for candidates or PACS to retrieve within seven (7) days after the completion of the election. After that time the signs will be destroyed.
For more information, call Benton County Public Works.
State of Oregon Code
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Outdoor Advertising Program regulates signs that are on private property, where visible to a state highway. Only official traffic control signs and devices are allowed on state highway right-of-way.
Temporary signs are signs that are up for less than 60 days in a year, are no more than 12 square feet, and not posted for compensation may be exempt from needing a permit. As additional criteria apply, please see ORS 377.735.
Under statute ORS 377.735, signs up to 32 square feet may qualify for a size variance. To request a variance, submit a Request for Size or Time Variance for Temporary Sign.
For forms and answers to frequently asked questions, go to ODOT website.