Deschutes County joins ODOT, others in not allowing political signs in road rights of way

(Update: Adding ODOT info)

Recent 'change aligns us with other public road agencies in Central Oregon'

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- With Primary Election Day approaching on Tuesday, May 21, the Deschutes County Road Department said Monday it wants to make sure political campaigns and their supporters are aware that political signs are no longer allowed to be posted in the right of way of public roads under the county's jurisdiction.

Last year, the Board of County Commissioners adopted changes to Deschutes County Code 10.05 that remove the provision which allowed campaigns to obtain permits to temporarily place political signs within public road rights of way. The changes went into effect last Dec. 13.   

“Improperly placed political signs along a road can compromise the safety of all road users by interfering with official traffic control devices, restricting sight lines and causing distractions," said Chris Doty, Deschutes County Road Department director. “The change aligns us with other public road agencies in Central Oregon.”

It is the responsibility of political campaigns and their supporters to ensure that signs are not placed in public road rights of way. Political signs placed within a public road right of way under the jurisdiction of Deschutes County will be removed by the county Road Department.

Property owners and political campaigns can determine the approximate location of public road right of way boundaries by using the interactive map on the Deschutes County Dial website:  https://dial.deschutes.org/Real/InteractiveMap.

Campaign signs can still be posted on private properties with landowner permission.

For information regarding the placement of political signs adjacent to a state highway, please contact the Oregon Department of Transportation through their website at https://www.oregon.gov/odot/pages/ask-odot.aspx.

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No political signs allowed on state highway right of way

ODOT will remove wrongly placed signs and hold them for pickup at the nearest ODOT maintenance yard.

BEND, ore. (KTVZ) -- As the May 21, 2024, elections draw near, campaigns and their friends should remember that ODOT will remove political signs posted on the state highway right of way.

Every election season, we receive complaints from the public and from candidates regarding the improper placement of political signs on the state highway rights of way, where only official traffic control devices are allowed. Improperly placed signs can distract drivers and block road safety messages.

Wrongly placed signs will be taken down and held at a nearby ODOT district maintenance office for 30 days. To reclaim signs, go here to find the nearest ODOT maintenance office.

 Signs are prohibited on trees, utility poles, fence posts and natural features within highway right-of-ways. They also are prohibited within view of a designated scenic area.

The width of the state highway right of way can vary considerably depending on the specific location. If you’re uncertain whether you’re placing a sign on private property or highway right of way, check with the local ODOT district maintenance office.

Local municipalities may also regulate the placement of political signs.

Political signs are allowed on private property within view of state highways with the following restrictions:

• Signs are limited to 12 square feet but can be up to 32 square feet with a variance from our Oregon Advertising Sign program.
• Signs cannot have flashing or intermittent lights, or animated or moving parts.
• Signs must not imitate official highway signs or devices.
• Signs are not allowed in scenic corridors.
• No payment or compensation of any kind can be exchanged for either the placement of or the message on temporary signs, including political signs, which are visible to a state highway.

For more information go to ODOT’s Outdoor Advertising Sign Program.