EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0817*
SENATE BILL 817
N1 5lr3200
CF HB 363
By: Senator Watson
Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2025
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
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
5–6B–23. 21
(a) In this section, “candidate sign” means a sign on behalf of a candidate for 22
public office or a slate of candidates for public office. 23
2 SENATE BILL 817
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a recorded covenant or 1
restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision in the bylaws or rules of a cooperative 2
housing corporation may not prohibit or restrict the display of: 3
(1) A candidate sign; or 4
(2) A sign that advertises the support or defeat of any question submitted 5
to the voters in accordance with the Election Law Article. 6
(c) A recorded covenant or restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision 7
in the bylaws or rules of a cooperative housing corporation may restrict the display of a 8
candidate sign or a sign that advertises the support or defeat of any proposition: 9
(1) In any areas constituting those portions of a cooperative project 10
possessed in common by the members; 11
(2) In accordance with provisions of federal, State, and local law; or 12
(3) If a limitation to the time period during which signs may be displayed 13
is not specified by a law governing the jurisdiction in which the cooperative housing 14
corporation is located, to a time period not less than: 15
(i) 1. 30 DAYS BEFORE THE STAR T OF EARLY VOTING FO R A 16
PRIMARY ELECTION , GENERAL ELECTION , OR VOTE ON THE PROPO SITION; OR 17
2. IF THERE IS NO EARLY VOTING, 30 days before the 18
primary election, general election, or vote on the proposition; and 19
(ii) 7 days after the primary election, general election, or vote on the 20
proposition. 21
Article – Real Property 22
11–111.2. 23
(a) In this section, “candidate sign” means a sign on behalf of a candidate for 24
public office or a slate of candidates for public office. 25
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a recorded covenant or 26
restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision in the bylaws or rules of a 27
condominium may not restrict or prohibit the display of: 28
(1) A candidate sign; or 29
(2) A sign that advertises the support or defeat of any question submitted 30
to voters in accordance with the Election Law Article. 31
SENATE BILL 817 3
(c) A recorded covenant or restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision 1
in the bylaws or rules of a condominium may restrict the display of a candidate sign or a 2
sign that advertises the support or defeat of any proposition: 3
(1) In the common elements; 4
(2) In accordance with provisions of federal, State, and local law; or 5
(3) If a limitation to the time period during which signs may be displayed 6
is not specified by a law of the jurisdiction in which the condominium is located, to a time 7
period not less than: 8
(i) 1. 30 DAYS BEFORE THE STAR T OF EARLY VOTING FO R A 9
PRIMARY ELECTION , GENERAL ELECTION , OR VOTE ON THE PROPO SITION; OR 10
2. IF THERE IS NO EARLY VOTING, 30 days before the 11
primary election, general election, or vote on the proposition; and 12
(ii) 7 days after the primary election, general election, or vote on the 13
proposition. 14
11B–111.2. 15
(a) In this section, “candidate sign” means a sign on behalf of a candidate for 16
public office or a slate of candidates for public office. 17
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a recorded covenant or 18
restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision in the bylaws or rules of a 19
homeowners association may not restrict or prohibit the display of: 20
(1) A candidate sign; or 21
(2) A sign that advertises the support or defeat of any question submitted 22
to the voters in accordance with the Election Law Article. 23
(c) A recorded covenant or restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision 24
in the bylaws or rules of a homeowners association may restrict the display of a candidate 25
sign or a sign that advertises the support or defeat of any proposition: 26
(1) In the common areas; 27
(2) In accordance with provisions of federal, State, and local law; or 28
(3) If a limitation to the time period during which signs may be displayed 29
is not specified by a law of the jurisdiction in which the homeowners association is located, 30
to a time period not less than: 31
4 SENATE BILL 817
(i) 1. 30 DAYS BEFORE THE STAR T OF EARLY VOTING FO R A 1
PRIMARY ELECTION , GENERAL ELECTION, OR VOTE ON THE PROPO SITION; OR 2
2. IF THERE IS NO EARLY VOTING, 30 days before the 3
primary election, general election, or vote on the proposition; and 4
(ii) 7 days after the primary election, general election, or vote on the 5
proposition. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 7
October 1, 2025. 8