W
ith the upcoming presidential election just around the corner, many voters are expressing their political leanings through signs, flags, and banners in their front yards. However, displaying your political beliefs can sometimes backfire, as seen in recent incidents where homeowners have been asked to remove their signs due to HOA rules or neighbor disputes.
In Lodi, CA, Paul Wood Bonilla was told by his HOA to take down three Trump signs on his property, citing maximum size limits set by the Davis-Stirling Act. Bonilla eventually agreed to take down two of the signs but argued that if it said "Kamala Harris" instead, the HOA wouldn't have taken action.
In Birmingham, MI, Nikki Sapiro Vinckier planted signs in her yard promoting Harris for president and received a critical note from a neighbor. In response, Vinckier plastered her entire yard in signs promoting reproductive rights in pink, sparking conversations and drawing attention to her cause.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife Martha-Ann found themselves in the national spotlight after their neighbor Emily Baden posted anti-Trump signs on her lawn. In response, Martha-Ann raised an upside-down American flag in front of her house, symbolizing her rejection of the 2020 election results.
The rules for posting signs, flags, and political expression on your property vary depending on your neighborhood's HOA rules or local regulations. While homeowners have constitutional rights to display their candidate's signs in their yard, these rights may conflict with neighborhood rules. Many HOAs have strict guidelines for displaying political signage and flags, and violating these rules can result in fines or other penalties.
Keeping your political opinions out of your yard can help avoid unnecessary conflicts with your neighbors in today's politically polarized environment. One handmade sign for Vice President Kamala Harris on a lawn in Washington sparked controversy, highlighting the potential impact of political signs on home sales.
If you're trying to sell your house before the election, it's best to keep your political views neutral to appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. Political signs can quickly turn off potential buyers, especially in photos and advertisements.
Before putting up a sign or flag, read your HOA bylaws carefully and consider the potential hassles or headaches. If you have a neighbor whose sign bothers you, you can report it to your HOA or talk to your neighbor in a civil manner. If you decide to fly a flag or put up a sign in your yard, make sure to follow the U.S. Department of Defense's "Do's and Don'ts for Displaying Old Glory" guidelines for displaying flags properly.
