EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0363*
HOUSE BILL 363
N1 5lr1733
CF SB 817
By: Delegate Holmes
Introduced and read first time: January 16, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 18, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Common Ownership Communities – Candidate or Proposition Signs – Display 2
Period 3
FOR the purpose of altering, under certain circumstances, the time period during which a 4
common ownership community may restrict the display of candidate or proposition 5
signs; and generally relating to limitations on the display of candidate and 6
proposition signs in common ownership communities. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Corporations and Associations 9
Section 5–6B–23 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Real Property 14
Section 11–111.2 and 11B–111.2 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Corporations and Associations 20
2 HOUSE BILL 363
5–6B–23. 1
(a) In this section, “candidate sign” means a sign on behalf of a candidate for 2
public office or a slate of candidates for public office. 3
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a recorded covenant or 4
restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision in the bylaws or rules of a cooperative 5
housing corporation may not prohibit or restrict the display of: 6
(1) A candidate sign; or 7
(2) A sign that advertises the support or defeat of any question submitted 8
to the voters in accordance with the Election Law Article. 9
(c) A recorded covenant or restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision 10
in the bylaws or rules of a cooperative housing corporation may restrict the display of a 11
candidate sign or a sign that advertises the support or defeat of any proposition: 12
(1) In any areas constituting those portions of a cooperative project 13
possessed in common by the members; 14
(2) In accordance with provisions of federal, State, and local law; or 15
(3) If a limitation to the time period during which signs may be displayed 16
is not specified by a law governing the jurisdiction in which the cooperative housing 17
corporation is located, to a time period not less than: 18
(i) 1. 30 DAYS BEFORE THE STAR T OF EARLY VOTING FO R A 19
PRIMARY ELECTION , GENERAL ELECTION , OR VOTE ON THE PROPO SITION; OR 20
2. IF THERE IS NO EARLY VOTING, 30 days before the 21
primary election, general election, or vote on the proposition; and 22
(ii) 7 days after the primary election, general election, or vote on the 23
proposition. 24
Article – Real Property 25
11–111.2. 26
(a) In this section, “candidate sign” means a sign on behalf of a candidate for 27
public office or a slate of candidates for public office. 28
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a recorded covenant or 29
restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision in the bylaws or rules of a 30
condominium may not restrict or prohibit the display of: 31
HOUSE BILL 363 3
(1) A candidate sign; or 1
(2) A sign that advertises the support or defeat of any question submitted 2
to voters in accordance with the Election Law Article. 3
(c) A recorded covenant or restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision 4
in the bylaws or rules of a condominium may restrict the display of a candidate sign or a 5
sign that advertises the support or defeat of any proposition: 6
(1) In the common elements; 7
(2) In accordance with provisions of federal, State, and local law; or 8
(3) If a limitation to the time period during which signs may be displayed 9
is not specified by a law of the jurisdiction in which the condominium is located, to a time 10
period not less than: 11
(i) 1. 30 DAYS BEFORE THE STAR T OF EARLY VOTING FO R A 12
PRIMARY ELECTION , GENERAL ELECTION , OR VOTE ON THE PROPO SITION; OR 13
2. IF THERE IS NO EA RLY VOTING, 30 days before the 14
primary election, general election, or vote on the proposition; and 15
(ii) 7 days after the primary election, general election, or vote on the 16
proposition. 17
11B–111.2. 18
(a) In this section, “candidate sign” means a sign on behalf of a candidate for 19
public office or a slate of candidates for public office. 20
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a recorded covenant or 21
restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision in the bylaws or rules of a 22
homeowners association may not restrict or prohibit the display of: 23
(1) A candidate sign; or 24
(2) A sign that advertises the support or defeat of any question submitted 25
to the voters in accordance with the Election Law Article. 26
(c) A recorded covenant or restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision 27
in the bylaws or rules of a homeowners association may restrict the display of a candidate 28
sign or a sign that advertises the support or defeat of any proposition: 29
(1) In the common areas; 30
(2) In accordance with provisions of federal, State, and local law; or 31 4 HOUSE BILL 363
(3) If a limitation to the time period during which signs may be displayed 1
is not specified by a law of the jurisdiction in which the homeowners association is located, 2
to a time period not less than: 3
(i) 1. 30 DAYS BEFORE THE STAR T OF EARLY VOTING FO R A 4
PRIMARY ELECTION , GENERAL ELECTION , OR VOTE ON THE PROPO SITION; OR 5
2. IF THERE IS NO EARLY VOTING, 30 days before the 6
primary election, general election, or vote on the proposition; and 7
(ii) 7 days after the primary election, general election, or vote on the 8
proposition. 9
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 10
October 1, 2025. 11
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.