CCFJ COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BLOG

POSTING ELECTION CAMPAIGN SIGNS

An Opinion By Jan Bergemann

Published July 28, 2026

Primary elections will be in Florida on August 18. Let’s just hope that all our new neighbors who fled to blue states up North didn’t bring their former attitudes with them. We are doing real well here in Florida – and that’s the reason why so many folks from up North move down here to Florida.

But elections create campaign signs and we have seen in the past that many boards if community associations are not very happy when the front yards – or even windows and car windows – are plastered with campaign signs. Election time often creates some extra income for association attorneys.

But even if the governing docs of your community disallow posting campaign signs, there are ways to get around the fines by using the exact wording of the statutes:

FS 720.305(2) (b) A fine or suspension levied by the board of administration may not be imposed unless the board first provides at least 14 days’ written notice of the parcel owner’s right to a hearing to the parcel owner at his or her designated mailing or e-mail address in the association’s official records and, if applicable, to any occupant, licensee, or invitee of the parcel owner, sought to be fined or suspended. Such hearing must be held within 90 days after issuance of the notice before a committee of at least three members appointed by the board who are not officers, directors, or employees of the association, or the spouse, parent, child, brother, or sister of an officer, director, or employee. The committee may hold the hearing by telephone or other electronic means. The notice must include a description of the alleged violation; the specific action required to cure such violation, if applicable; and the hearing date, location, and access information if held by telephone or other electronic means. A parcel owner has the right to attend a hearing by telephone or other electronic means.

The Condo statutes are about the same – see FS 718.303(3)(b).

With other words: It’s just a matter of timing. If you post your campaign signs on August 1, you are pretty safe from getting fined. The association has first to send you a letter giving you 14 days to remove the violation. It will take them a few days to send you the written notice of violation. Now you have 14 days before they can even call a hearing to discuss your violation. In the meanwhile August 18 and the primary election is done – and you can remove your campaign signs without giving the association the opportunity to levy a fine against you.

Let your neighbors know which candidate you would like to see on the final election ballot for November.