Candidates in the July 15 primary have a week to remove campaign signs dotting the county's roads and right of way.

But with a runoff election set for Aug. 5, signs touting the remaining candidates for clerk of Superior Court and District 5 county commission can stay until Aug. 20.

Gary J. Smith, Forsyth County chief voter registrar, said if the signs are an indication of anticipated runoff votes, "I don't think it'll seem like much."

"There just aren't many people putting them out," he said. "Some of the voters may only want to vote for the people running for state office, and don't know either candidate, or aren't concerned about the races that are out there now."

Signs on both private and public property need to be removed or reduced within 15 days after an election, according to county code. Up to two "expression signs" may remain on each lot.

Expression signs can have, but are not limited to, political signs. Any lot can have up to six expression signs during the 60 days prior to an election and 15 days after.

Though the county tries to focus on compliance over citation, violators of the sign ordinance can face fines of up to $1,000.

Jodi Gardner, county spokeswoman, said the "county generally sees very good compliance in regards to the removal of signs following an election."

"There is a 15-day period following an election by which the signs are to be removed and, overall, most of the signage is removed by this deadline."

Signs can be placed 60 days prior to an election. That means signs for the Nov. 4 General Election can go up about two weeks after signs for the runoff must come down.

"It's just one of those things that goes with the times," said Tammy Wright, director of Keep Forsyth County Beautiful. "I don't know of any community that doesn't deal with it. It's just par for the course."