Local races still run on yard signs. Not because signs persuade anyone — they don't — but because name recognition is most of the battle in a school board or town council race, and nothing buys recognition cheaper.
How many
For a small municipality, 100 is a realistic floor. A contested council seat in a mid-size town runs 200–300. County-wide races go into the thousands, at which point you're negotiating volume pricing anyway.
Then add 15% for losses. Weather takes some. Lawn crews take some. Road departments remove signs in the right-of-way. And yes, some walk off. Budget the replacements at the start of the campaign, not in the panic of late October.
Timing
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 8–10 weeks out | Order. Don't wait — every campaign in your county orders at the same time. |
| 6 weeks out | First placement wave: supporter yards, high-traffic corners. |
| 3–4 weeks out | Second wave. This is peak visibility window. |
| 2 weeks out | Replace losses. Add any late supporter yards. |
| Election week | Polling place signage, where legal — check the distance rule. |
| Within 48 hrs after | Take them down. Many towns fine for leaving them up. |
The rules that actually get enforced
Sign ordinances vary enormously by municipality, but these come up everywhere:
- Public right-of-way. The strip between the sidewalk and the street usually isn't the homeowner's. Signs there get removed by the road department, legally.
- Distance from polling places. Every state sets one. Violating it is a real problem, not a warning.
- Removal deadlines. Commonly 48 hours to a week after the election, with fines attached.
- Size and quantity limits per lot. Less common but real in some towns.
- Permission. Always ask the homeowner. A sign placed without permission gets thrown away and makes an enemy.
What goes on a campaign sign
The candidate's last name, large. The office. Nothing else is required and most things you add make it worse.
Slogans, endorsement lists, party logos and photos all compete with the name — and the name is the entire point. Somebody driving past needs to leave with one thing in their head.
Check your state's disclaimer requirements too. Many require "Paid for by..." on political materials, and a sign printed without it may be unusable.
Placement
Supporter front yards are the most valuable real estate you have, because a sign in a yard reads as an endorsement from a neighbor. A sign on a vacant lot reads as advertising.
Prioritize: high-traffic intersections with permission, then supporter yards on busy streets, then supporter yards on quiet streets. A cluster of three signs on one corner is more memorable than three signs spread thin.