Campaign Sign Placement On Corporate Property

In all cases, sign regulations regarding size and right-of-way placement still apply.

• Size: Signs larger than 32 square feet must carry disclaimer ("paid for by").
• Signs may not be placed in the right of way; in most places this includes the area between the sidewalk and street.

Campaigns for Candidates

Campaigns may place signs on corporate property under certain conditions.

Corporate property occupied by corporation:

• Candidate sign placement prohibited.

Corporate property occupied by individual tenants:

• Campaigns may place signs in common areas with written permission from all occupants.
• Signs may not be placed in the corporate office.
• Individual tenants may place signs in the area they are leasing.

Individual property leased to a corporate tenant:

• Campaigns may place signs with written permission from the corporate tenant.

Property owned by a family farm corporation:

• Campaigns may place signs. Other sign regulations (size and right-of-way) still apply.

Property rented as a campaign headquarters:

• Campaigns may place signs.

Copies of written permission should be available from the campaign committee upon demand.

Ballot Issue Campaigns

Ballot issue campaigns may place signs on corporate property.  Other sign regulations (size and right-of-way) still apply.

Enforcement

Our office is not responsible for the enforcement of sign laws.  Complaints about signs should be directed to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

• Iowa Ethics and Campagn Disclosure Board (IECDB) - Contacts and phone numbers
• Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board: Formal Advisory Opinion on Sign Placement
• Letter from IECDB Executive Director Kay Williams to Derek Maurer on placement of signs on corporate property, March 13, 1998 (.pdf)