Yard signs—especially those endorsing or opposing a political candidate or issue—are sometimes the target of homeowners’ associations (HOAs), neighborhood organizations, local governments, and vandals.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution only prohibits federal, state, or local government interference with free speech. But many states have enacted statutes that protect elections and political speech in yard and other signs—allowing HOAs, neighborhood organizations, and local governments to place some limits on political signs, but not to ban them. For example, signs may be required to be inoffensive, mounted in the ground, and only displayed for 45 or 90 days before an election and up to ten days following an election.

State statutes that permit political signs on private property may also permit political signs in an unpaved right-of-way (ROW)—a city-owned strip of land from the edge of a city street or county road.

Yard signs that are not political speech—such as those warning trespassers (No Trespassing) or advertising a business’s goods or services or that a property or home is for sale—are generally subject to restrictions by HOAs, neighborhood organizations, and local governments. For example, some municipalities may require a permit to display certain signs.

In Louisiana, the regulation of yard signs, including those for political purposes, is influenced by both state statutes and local ordinances. While the First Amendment protects free speech from government interference, this does not directly limit the actions of private entities like homeowners' associations (HOAs). However, Louisiana law does provide some protections for political signs on private property. For instance, Louisiana Revised Statutes may allow for the display of political signs within certain time frames around an election period and may impose restrictions on their size and manner of display to ensure they are not offensive or hazardous. Local governments and HOAs may have additional rules regarding the placement and duration of political signs, but they cannot completely ban them due to the protections for political speech. Non-political yard signs, such as those advertising services or warning against trespassing, are more heavily regulated and may require permits or be subject to more stringent HOA and local government restrictions. It's important for residents to check with their local ordinances and HOA rules to understand the specific regulations that apply to their yard signs.