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Our Passion Is Your Safe Way Home 1440 Bunker Lake Boulevard N.W. Andover, MN 55304-4005 Office: [PHONE REDACTED] Fax: [PHONE REDACTED] www.anokacounty.us/highway Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer PLACEMENT OF POLITICAL SIGNS IN ANOKA COUNTY This information sheet has been prepared as an aid to candidates for public office and their volunteer committees for the placement of campaign signs. State law prohibits placement of signs in the public right-of-way. Because the determination of right-of-way locations has been difficult for candidates and their committees, the following information is intended to assist in the correct placement of signs and will be used by County personnel in controlling sign placement. Generally, if we receive a complaint about a sign in the County right-of-way, the sign(s) are inspected and, if incorrectly placed, the candidate is contacted and asked to remove the signs. If the signs are not removed or contact to the candidate cannot be made, County personnel will remove the signs and place them outside of the highway right-of-way (but will not reinstall). The following guidelines should assist you in keeping signs out of County right-of-way: 1. Do not attach signs to any traffic control devices such as signal poles, signal boxes, or sign posts. Campaign signs attached to these devices will be removed by County personnel without notification to the candidate. 2. Power poles and fences are usually located on or near the right-of-way lines and are a good reference for the width of highway right-of-way. When placing a sign on the side of the road opposite the power poles or fence, maintain the same distance from roadway centerline as the side with the poles or fence. 3. On improved county roads (those roads with paved shoulders, generally 40 feet or more in width, and where no fences or power poles exist), use 50 feet from the centerline as a guideline for placing campaign signs. On unimproved county roads (those roads approximately 22–30 feet in width), use a distance of at least 33 feet from the centerline for the placement of signs. 4. At street locations and driveway intersections, place signs so that they do not block the line of sight for drivers either entering or leaving the highway onto public streets or private driveways. 5. For specific right-of-way width determinations, Anoka County has a GIS map available online that shows property lines and plat information, which can help in determining the right-of-way widths. There also is an aerial view to allow you to have some actual reference points on the ground to assist you. This information can be found at We realize the use of signs is a vital part of a candidate’s campaign. If in doubt of highway right-of-way, or if you wish to report campaign signs located within the right-of-way, please contact the Anoka County Highway Department at [PHONE REDACTED]. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. 03/03/2021