California Tenant Right to Post Political Signs

The California Civil Code, Chapter 2, Section 1940.4 allows tenants to post or display political signs under the following conditions:

Public Government Issues

Except as provided under the subsection Restrictions, a landlord shall not prohibit a tenant from posting or displaying political signs relating to any of the following:

• An election or legislative vote, including an election of a candidate to public office.
• The initiative, referendum, or recall process.
• Issues that are before a public commission, public board, or elected local body for a vote.

Permissible Sign Locations

Political signs may be posted or displayed in the window or on the door of the premises leased by the tenant in a multifamily dwelling, or from the yard, window, door, balcony, or outside wall of the premises leased by a tenant of a single-family dwelling.

Restrictions

A landlord may prohibit a tenant from posting or displaying political signs in the following circumstances:

• The political sign is more than six square feet in size.
• The posting or displaying would violate a local, state, or federal law.
• The posting or displaying would violate a lawful provision in a common interest development governing a document that satisfies the criteria of California Civil Code Section 1353.6 (limitations on materials and size).

Time Limits

A tenant shall post and remove political signs in compliance with the time limits set by the ordinance for the jurisdiction where the premises are located. A tenant shall be solely responsible for any violation of a local ordinance. If no local ordinance exists or if the local ordinance does not include a time limit for posting and removing political signs on private property, the landlord may establish a reasonable time period for the posting and removal of political signs. A reasonable time period for this purpose shall begin at least 90 days prior to the date of the election or vote to which the sign relates and end at least 15 days following the date of the election or vote.

Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 383, Sec. 1. (SB 337) Effective January 1, 2012.

Return to California Landlord-Tenant Laws.