Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and yard signs are in full bloom across Ohio and Northern Kentucky. In a community association, that often brings a familiar question to the board: can we limit political signs, and if so, how far can we go?
The answer depends on which side of the river you live on. Ohio has no statute protecting political yard signs, so the answer lives in your governing documents. Kentucky has a statute that protects them in planned communities. Here is what boards and owners in both states should know before the election.
Ohio: It comes down to your governing documents
Ohio law protects certain flags in community associations. Under Ohio Revised Code 5301.072, an association cannot prohibit an owner from displaying the U.S. flag, the Ohio flag, the POW/MIA flag or a military service flag, subject to some conditions.
Political signs are not on that list. In Ohio, whether an owner can display a campaign sign, and on what terms, depends on the association’s declaration, bylaws and rules. Some communities ban political signs entirely. Others allow them with limits on size, number, location or timing. Many say nothing about political signs specifically.
That last group deserves a closer look. Many Ohio declarations include a general sign restriction, often something like “no signs except a for sale sign.” A provision like that can reach campaign signs even though it never mentions politics, so boards should read the language carefully before assuming signs are allowed or prohibited.
Owners sometimes point to free speech, but the First Amendment limits what the government can do, not what a private association agrees to in its recorded documents. When an Ohio declaration clearly restricts signs and the board applies that restriction evenly, it is generally enforceable. Problems tend to arise when a rule is vague, when it was adopted without following the process in the governing documents, or when it is enforced against some signs and not others.
Local rules can matter too. Many Ohio cities and townships have their own zoning limits on yard signs, including how close a sign can be placed to the street. Owners need to follow both the community’s rules and the local code.
Northern Kentucky: Political signs are protected
Kentucky law, KRS 381.800, says the governing documents of an association “shall not prohibit the outdoor display of political yard signs” by an owner or resident on their own property. The protection applies around each election:
- Signs may go up as early as 30 days before a primary, regular or special election.
- Signs must come down within 7 days after the election, unless a local ordinance allows a longer period.
- Associations may still adopt reasonable rules on the placement, size and manner of display.
When the law first took effect in 2023, it did not reach restrictions that were already in a community’s documents. The General Assembly closed that gap in 2025. Today, the statute applies to all planned communities in Kentucky, and any provision in an existing governing document that conflicts with it is void.
For boards in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, that means an outright ban on political signs is no longer enforceable, no matter when it was written. A rule that limits where a sign can go, how large it can be or how long it can stay up is still fine, as long as it is reasonable. If your community’s documents have not been reviewed since the law changed, now is a good time. Our Northern Kentucky spotlight covers the broader statutory framework that applies to associations there.
What boards should do before Election Day
Know what your documents actually say. Read the sign provisions in your declaration and rules before complaints start coming in. In Kentucky, compare them against the statute. In Ohio, confirm whether your documents address political signs specifically or only signs in general.
Enforce the rules the same way for everyone. This is the most important point. A sign rule has to be applied consistently, regardless of the candidate, party or cause on the sign. Selective enforcement is the fastest way to turn a routine issue into a dispute. We wrote about why consistency matters in community rules and how boards can approach enforcement and liability.
Focus on what the rule regulates, not on the message. Reasonable rules deal with size, number, placement, safety and timing. A board should never be in the position of deciding which messages are acceptable.
Communicate early. A short reminder in your next newsletter or email blast explaining the sign rules, and the date signs need to come down after the election, prevents a lot of misunderstanding.
Remember common areas are different. Entrances, medians, clubhouses and other common elements belong to the association. Owners generally do not have a right to place signs there, and associations commonly keep common areas free of campaign signs altogether.
Talk to your attorney before changing your documents. If your sign rules need an update, whether to comply with Kentucky law or to set clearer standards in Ohio, work with association counsel on the language and follow the amendment process in your documents.
Keeping the peace in election season
Political signs can stir strong feelings, but they do not have to become a fight. Clear rules, consistent enforcement and early communication go a long way toward keeping the focus where it belongs: on a well-run community where neighbors can disagree and still get along.
Have questions about your association’s sign rules or governing documents? Contact us and we will be glad to help.
