Real Estate For Sale Signs

We are about to re-draft our guidelines for allowable real estate "for sale" signs.

Would appreciate samples of what your docs say on the subject.

Thanks.

Check your state laws, also. In my state the law prohibits an association from barring or removing for sale signs that meet industry standards. The realtors have a strong lobby.

Here's the wording in our Rules & Regs, NpS:

Signage for sale, lease/rent, or exchange is permitted in windows but limited to one (1) per street frontage, and to 4’ X 4’ in size. They must be removed within fifteen days of the close of escrow or new occupancy, whichever comes first.

Only one (1) noncommercial sign or poster not exceeding nine square feet in size, or one (1) noncommercial banner or flag not exceeding 15 square feet may be posted in one (1) window of a residence at any given time.

Because we're a controlled-access property (i.e., gated) we don't permit any open houses. We do have 13 town homes on potions of two sides and all of one side of our city block and they have to follow the same window signs rules as everyone else, but may have open houses since the elevator towers aren't involved.

Makes sense, NpS Limiting height, size & number might be good. And also when it must be removed. It's too bad you'll have to put up with it till you get your new rule(s) passed.

We added our rule a few years ago because of noncommercial signs/banners. One owner had placed a large "Don't Tread on Me" coiled-snake Tea Party banner in his window. A few days later, another owner placed about 20 1x1' sq. 99% signs in a couple of her windows in all different colors.

A national election year campaign was approaching so we wanted to get in front of the possibility of dozens of political sign plastered everywhere! Made the rule. During the campaign NO signs were posted.

We did Tim.

We said that a normal sized sign at the front of the house would be welcome. (The house faces an interior street - The sign is at the back/side corner).

The broker said that she had read our rules and determined that what they installed complies with what we have in writing. We could go back and forth on whether it complies - we say it doesn't - she says it does - but she has already told us that she will not remove the sign. It's obvious that no one anticipated this kind of sign when the specs were written. There is weakness in both positions.

As in Kerry's case, now that people have seen this monstrosity (the 2x2 post that the sign hangs on is more than seven foot tall), Pandora's box has been opened and we want to shut the lid again as quickly as possible. (Under our docs, the board has the authority to make changes of this kind to our regs without prior HO approval.)

Hoping that others here will post their specs and from there we can cobble something together that will suit our needs.

This describes many of the for sale signs in my area. They are more common than those little signs in iron frames that sit down close to the ground.

I like that John. Thanks. Do you have anything on signs for an "open house"?

Here is what I am proposing to our Board for our revised specs. It's a blend of what we had and what John recommended. Any suggestions?

Signage / Lawn Ornaments

• No signs, posters or handbills of a commercial or religious nature may be erected, placed or positioned in, on or about any Lot, including in, on or about any vehicles in the parking areas, except for: (a) professional security signs; (b) legal proceeding signs; (c) informational signs by the Board of Directors or its contractors; and (d) real estate "For Sale" signs.

• Professional security signs may be no larger than one (1) square foot.

• Real estate "For Sale" signs must be of professional quality and cannot be larger than eight (8) square feet or stand taller than four (4) feet from the ground. Only one "For Sale" sign is allowed per Lot. The "For Sale" cannot be placed more than 15 feet from the foundation wall of the house. Directional "Open House" signs of professional quality may be placed at ____________ Road intersections only for weekend open houses and must be removed prior to darkness on Sunday evening.

• Any contractor working on your home may not place their advertising sign on any property within the community. It is the responsibility of the Homeowner to have any sign left by his or her contractor removed from the property.

• Each townhouse is permitted to erect one (1) political sign 30 days prior to the election and must be removed within ten (10) days after the election. Political candidate signs must not exceed the size of 3’ x 2’. Signs can only be placed in the flower bed closest to the front door. Any political sign not following these guidelines will be removed without prior notice to the owner or resident.

• Lawn ornaments can only be placed in the flower beds adjacent to the townhouse. The Board of Directors has the right to request the owner/resident to remove a lawn ornament.

Hi Kerry

Prior to your comments, the only exception we had was for RE signs, and those were too loose.

To my knowledge, we have never had anyone put up any religious signs/statues etc. So our existing rules have never been challenged.

We know of nothing in the PA statutes re religious signs. If someone did come to us with a court ruling saying that we had to allow more than what we permit, we would flip the issue to the HOA attorney.

FYI, some communities around here don't even allow RE signs on the grounds. For sale signs can only be put inside windows.

We are also avoiding the issue of "For Rent" signs - Not sure what we will do if that pops up.

Thanks.

Our Pennsylvania Bylaws read: "No sign of any kind shall be displayed to the public view on any Unit except one temporary sign of not more than three square feet, advertising the Property for sale or rent. No such sign shall be illuminated."

Tim from Virginia said: SIGNS, REAL ESTATE:

Only one sign advertising a property for sale or rent may be displayed on a lot. Such signs must meet applicable County regulations with respect to size, content and removal. Signs obtained from a licensed Real Estate agent are considered to meet these requirements.

Only one Open House signs may be placed on common areas.

Question for Tim. Is this true if there is a statement in the Covenants limiting the use of signs? Is this like the Flag issue or the dish antenna issue which over ride local covenants?

Our covenants say, "No sign of any kind or nature shall be erected, posted or displayed upon or about any residence or in the common areas without the written permission of the Board of Directors of the Association."

State law supersedes governing docs, however, so we allow that, as per FS 720.304(6), "Any parcel owner may display a sign of reasonable size provided by a contractor for security services within 10 feet of any entrance to the home."

We are a gated subdivision with no through streets. Most local RE agents know pretty quick when something is for sale here and occasionally we'll see a "For Sale" sign outside our front entrance gate, which is technically on common property, but we don't usually make a fuss about it outside the entrance.