"Thirty days is what we’re looking for to have those removed," said Planning and Zoning Director Randy Knighton.

According to Hall County code section 17.270, obsolete signs must be removed within 30 days.

The primary elections were one month ago today, so time is up for those leftover signs.

But signs from the Aug. 5 runoff are in the clear. Their owners have an additional 30 days from the time of that election to remove them.

Knighton said typically, if campaign signs are left past the removal date, planning and zoning enforcement will remind the owners that they need to be taken down.

"Generally, we try to work with people and give them ample opportunity to remove the signs," Knighton said. "But, potentially, there could be a penalty."

Knighton said typically it is not campaign signs but other temporary advertisements that must be removed by planning and zoning enforcement.

Ashley Bell, who recently secured the District 4 seat on the Hall County Board of Commissioners, said it was part of his campaign strategy to remove his signs quickly.

"We took up the signs actually before the polls closed on election day ... and we just left notes on people’s doors thanking them for letting us put a sign in their yard," Bell said. "I wanted to get them down as soon as possible."

Bell said he has heard from several people in the county that they are tired of the signs that are left from the July 15 election.

"I’ve heard from many residents saying they want to put this election behind them," Bell said.

Chris Masters, who ran for the District 2 seat on the Hall County Board of Commissioners, said he also tried to remove all of his signs soon after Election Day.

"If there are any (remaining signs), there are probably just one or two stragglers," Masters said. "We went out there the very next morning. Typically when the campaign’s over, especially if you don’t win, you want to get your signs down as quickly as possible."

Commissioner Billy Powell said sometimes candidates may not be aware of signs supporters erected.

"When you give a yard sign to somebody ... you really don’t have control or knowledge of where they get put up," Powell said.

Commissioner Deborah Mack said she also found some of her campaign signs supporters helped place after driving through her district and taking them up.

"I hope I got all mine up," Mack said.

Knighton said he has not yet received any complaints about the signs, but said those who see signs that should be removed can call planning and zoning enforcement at 770-531-6762 to request they be taken down.