Campaign signs are appearing across Pittsburgh as Election Day approaches, but Pennsylvania law limits where candidates can place them and where residents can legally remove them.
Political signs are generally allowed on private property with the owner's permission, according to a community announcement. Because campaign signs are considered a form of protected political speech, a sign displayed in a front yard or on other private property is typically legal.
Not every sign placement is allowed, however.
Guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation prohibits political signs from being placed in state highway rights-of-way, medians or attached to traffic signs, signal poles or guide rails. The agency says those signs can create safety
hazards and distract drivers.
Signs placed in those locations are considered illegal encroachments and may be removed without notice.
The rules are intended to reduce distractions for motorists and improve roadway safety.
Can you remove a campaign sign?
Whether a person can legally remove a campaign sign depends on where it is located.
If a sign is lawfully displayed on private property, residents should not remove it. Campaign signs are considered personal property, and removing one could lead to complaints involving theft, trespassing or property damage.
Pennsylvania does not have a single statewide penalty that specifically applies to campaign sign removal, but legal consequences may be possible depending on the circumstances.
Signs illegally placed within state highway rights-of-way may be removed by PennDOT.
What happens after Election Day?
Political signs are not supposed to remain indefinitely after an election.
PennDOT says campaigns are responsible for removing their signs after Election Day. Pittsburgh zoning rules also generally require temporary political signs to be removed within 30 days after the election.
For voters wondering whether a campaign sign is legal, the answer often comes down to location. Signs on private property with the owner's permission are generally allowed, while signs placed along state highway rights-of-way can be subject to removal.
This story was produced by reporter Gabby Sartori, [gsartori@usatodayco.com], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Some Pittsburgh campaign signs can be removed. Here's where
