For immediate release
Contact: Johnson County Auditor’s Office
Contact number: 319-356-6004
Contact email: [email protected]
April 16, 2024
Johnson County Auditor’s Office reminds campaigns about yard sign rules
The Johnson County Auditor’s Office once again wants to remind candidates and their supporters that yard signs should not be placed in the public right of way, on corporate property, or on public property. Signs also cannot be placed at people’s homes without permission, and signs already placed at people’s homes should not be moved.
Within cities, the right of way includes the area between the sidewalk and street. In the rural part of the county, right of way generally extends 33 feet from the center line of the road and includes the ditch.
Corporate property specifically includes corporations, insurance companies, banks and credit unions.
Our office does not enforce sign law except at early voting sites and on Election Day in and around polling places. Signs at private homes near a polling place are allowed.
Complaints about signs in the right of way or on public property should be directed to the appropriate city streets department, or in the rural part of the county, Johnson County Secondary Roads. They will remove signs as their schedule permits. You should not risk a confrontation by taking signs down yourself.
- Iowa City Engineering Department, 319-356-5140
- Coralville Streets Department, 319-248-1740
- North Liberty Street Department, 319-626-5718
- Johnson County Secondary Roads, 319-356-6046
Complaints about possible illegal sign placement should be directed to Iowa Ethics, (515) 281-4028, during office hours: 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday – Friday. They do not remove signs, but can reprimand a campaign after the fact.
Our office is committed to fair, safe, and accurate elections through demonstrating the highest standards of election integrity. If you have any questions, you can call our office at (319) 356-6004 and ask for Deputy Auditor of Elections Bogdana Velterean or Auditor and Commissioner of Election Travis Weipert or email [email protected].