How long can political lawn signs stay up after an election? A look at common rules

Political signs on private property — whether posted in a front yard or taped to a window — are a form of free expression protected under both the U.S. Constitution and the New Jersey Constitution. But local rules may still determine when, where and how those signs can be displayed.
New Jersey saw plenty of lawn signs leading up to the primary election June 10. With the election over, you may be wondering how much longer you may see political signs around town.
While towns cannot treat political signs differently than other types of signs, they are allowed to adopt 'content-neutral' regulations that apply uniformly. These include rules on the number, placement, size and lighting of signs, as long as they are tied to legitimate public concerns, such as preventing distractions for drivers.
In most cases, municipalities cannot impose stricter rules just because a sign is political, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. But they can adopt general sign ordinances that are reasonable and applied equally.
For example, a town can bar all illuminated signs if they pose a hazard but cannot ban only illuminated political signs. Similarly, ordinances that prohibit signs on public property are generally permissible.
Courts in New Jersey have found that ordinances limiting political signs to a certain time period — such as only during an election season — may be unconstitutional. These types of restrictions are considered 'content-based' and often violate First Amendment protections.
Many municipalities require political signs to be removed shortly after an election. A common standard is 10 days after Election Day, though timelines may vary. Signs for candidates who win primaries are typically permitted until seven days after the general election.
Residents who believe a local ordinance violates their rights are encouraged to seek legal advice or contact civil liberties organizations.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: When do political signs need to be removed in NJ after an election?

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