Political Signs in Brattleboro

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A guide for the placement and removal of temporary political signs This publication represents a combination of both State and Town regulations regarding political signs. It is not intended to be a complete listing of all State and Town sign regulations.

1. Location

Obtain permission from the property owner before you place any sign.
It is a violation of Vermont law to put a sign on utility poles and offenders can be fined (13 V.S.A. § 301).
Placing signs on public trees, benches and lights is prohibited (Brattleboro Land Use and Development Regulations 319.c)
Political signs may NOT be placed on property owned by the Town. This includes town parks and town facilities as well as their road frontage.
Political signs may be placed within Town-owned right-of-way for a temporary period of two weeks prior to the election as long as the advertising does not obstruct the safe flow of traffic and the sign is placed with the consent of any private property owner over which the right-of-way passes.

2. State Statute

On public or private property, the Travel Information Council along with the Agency of Transportation monitors Vermont's highways for non-conforming signs and enforces Vermont's sign statutes (10 VSA §495).
According to these statutes:

Signs may not be located within state highway rights-of-way or attached to trees or to state or town signs, posts, or guardrails. Most highway rights-of-way in Vermont are at least three rods, or 49.5 feet. This means that signs must be placed at least 24.75 feet away from the centerline of most highways.
Signs may not interfere with, imitate, or resemble any traffic control sign, signal or device or appear to attempt to direct the movement of traffic.
Signs may not prevent drivers from having a clear and unobstructed view of traffic signs and approaching or merging traffic.
Signs may not be positioned so that they are readable primarily from a limited access facility (which includes interstate ramps).
Signs must be in good repair and securely affixed to a substantial structure.
Temporary political campaign signs may be displayed for a period of not more than two weeks on town rights-of-way (10 V.S.A.§494 (9)).
Political signs should be removed 24 hours after the election.

3. Enforcement

The Travel Information Council is authorized to order the removal of any illegal off-premises, on-premises, or exempt sign if the sign is within the public highway right-of-way. The Agency of Transportation or municipality may remove a temporary sign that is not affixed to a substantial structure, without prior notice (10 V.S.A. §497).

4. Political Sign Safety

Signs shall be designed and located in such a manner as:

Not to impair public safety.
Not to restrict visibility or access between sidewalks and streets.
To withstand a wind pressure of at least thirty (30) pounds per square foot.

(Brattleboro Land Use and Development Regulations § 319), (10 V.S.A. § 497).

5. Allowable Size

Signs six (6) square feet (3'x2') or less do not require a permit.
Signs more than six (6) square feet require a permit from the Planning Services Department.
Signs requiring a permit have a fee of $45.00 for each sign. When obtaining the permit application inquire about additional restrictions for permitted signs.

(Brattleboro Land Use and Development Regulations § 319).

6. Removal

Political signs found in violation of any state or local regulation can be removed without notice. Signs removed by municipal officials can be retrieved from storage by sending an email to [email protected]. Unclaimed political signs will be destroyed 2 weeks after the election. The Town of Brattleboro is not responsible for signs removed by State officials.

7. Political Campaign signs at the Polling Place on Election Day

The presiding officer can prohibit all signs from being placed in the ground or affixed to anything on the property of the polling place. In Brattleboro, political signs are prohibited from being placed in the ground or affixed to anything on the property of the polling place, unless they are placed within the designated campaign area.

The presiding officer cannot prohibit a person from standing and holding a sign outside the polling place so long as the person remains in the designated campaign area and does not hinder or impede the progress of any voter going into or out of the polling place. For election day, the presiding officer can adopt a policy to allow hand-held signs and signs to be placed in certain areas so long as the policy is applied evenly to all candidates or political issues regardless of the political content. The presiding officer can limit the size or number of signs per candidate. Signs must be removed from the designated campaign area on election night (17 V.S.A.§2508).

8. Hand-held Signs

Hand-held signs on Town owned property follow the same rules as signs placed in the ground, unless otherwise approved by the Town department that manages said property.

Although not directly related to signs, candidates or political activists can stand outside of polling places on the day of election and hand out brochures or cards to voters so long as they remain inside the designated campaign area and do not hinder or impede the progress of voters going into and out of the polling place (24 V.S.A.§2508).

There is no specific number of feet away from the polling place limitation in Vermont law. It is up to the presiding officer at each polling place to set reasonable rules so voters can enter the polling place without interference.

For complete sign regulations in Brattleboro contact:
Planning Services Department, 230 Main Street, Suite 202, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Phone: 802-251-8154
Email: [email protected]

For complete State laws governing political signs contact:
Vermont Secretary of State's Office, Elections Division, 128 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05609-1101
Phone: 802-828-2363
https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/

For information regarding towns other than Brattleboro, check the Secretary of State's website for a listing of all town clerks in VT to find out if a town has adopted zoning bylaws. The zoning administrator of the town can explain their local rules for temporary signs.