Can Your HOA Tell You Not to Post Political Signs?

State law could override HOA rules about displaying campaign yard signs, like these in my neighborhood. Image: Dona DeZube for HouseLogic

If you’re one of the more than 60 million Americans — about one in five U.S. residents — who live in a home owners association, condominium community, cooperative, or other planned community, you might not have the right to use your yard to proclaim your political views to passersby.

The homeowners associations that limit or even ban political signs aren’t trying to restrict your First Amendment rights. They just think it’s more important to have a tidy-looking street than to know which candidate the neighbors prefer.

My neighbors down the street, who had nine yard signs in the last election, would clearly disagree with any limits.

State law also comes into play in this issue. Some states prohibit community associations from restricting political signs. Others say HOAs have to allow signs, but can restrict them (for example, saying you can put up a sign 45 days before and 7 days after an election and it can’t be bigger than 2 ft. x 2 ft.), says Frank Rathburn, spokesperson for the Community Associations Institute.

In states without rules on political signs, home owners associations can do what they want without breaking state laws, but there might be local laws they must follow, Rathburn says.

I think the reasonable restriction route is the way to go. I wouldn’t like it if my yard sign-loving neighbors put up three of those billboard-sized signs for a bunch of candidates and then left the signs up for months. I especially wouldn’t like it if I were trying to sell my home.

I’m sympathetic if you disagree with me. So, if you want to fight to keep your lawn sign without restriction, try these tips:

1. Read your association’s governing documents to see what they say about signs.

2. If the HOA rules say you can’t have a sign, check your state law by doing a Google search using “political signs [state name]” or “rules for yard signs [state name].” Your state may prohibit the community association from messing with your sign.

3. If there’s no state protection, check to see if your city, county, or other local jurisdiction has laws about yard signs. The First Amendment Center follows recent cases on yard signs, so you can check there, too.

4. If the HOA rules prohibit yard signs and there aren’t any state or local laws protecting your sign, take it down for now. You’ve agreed to live in the association and follow its rules, even rules you don’t like. Then, try these next tips to change the rules.

5. Go to a board meeting and ask the board to allow political signs on a limited basis next year. Resist the urge to call the board First Amendment haters.

6. If the board refuses your request, shore up your friends and supporters and run for the board on a First Amendment slate. You can work to change the rules when you’re in charge.

7. Willing to kiss a big bunch of cash goodbye? Hire an attorney to file suit to make the community association change the rule. If you have no cash to spare, talk a free speech advocacy group like your local ACLU.

8. Write your state legislator to suggest passage of a yard sign protection law. Given that they’re the recipients of all the yard sign glory, you might find an ally for your cause.

Oh, and once you get to put up signs, don’t forget to recycle them.