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Q: We manage property for an owner of a single-family home. The home is not part of an HOA.  The tenant has posted a large political sign in the front yard. The owner is concerned about the sign being an eyesore in the neighborhood because it is so large. Do we have any authority to ask the tenant to remove the sign or replace it with a smaller one? 

A: Whether or not the landlord has authority to require a tenant to remove a yard sign in this situation is going to be governed by the terms of the lease. As posting a political sign is not illegal and there are no HOA rules at play here, the tenant can only be required to remove the sign if having it posted violates a term of the lease. For example, if the posts holding up the sign are damaging the yard, that could be a basis for requesting it be removed and/or serving a 21/30. If the tenant is not violating a term of the lease by posting the yard sign, then the landlord does not have the authority to require the tenant to remove it. 

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