The phrase "
Post No Bills" refers to many cities' laws which forbid the posting of
handbills, or any type of signs on public property. Usually, in small towns and even large cities, the easiest way to get a
lost item
found or to advertise something (like a
garage sale) is to staple
signs to the various
poles and
walls outside where people can see them as they walk by. However, this can damage the poles, and it can make the walls look ugly, and it can detract from the view of the
billboards in the area.
Often times, (at least, back in the day) these laws were protested by putting signs all over that said, simply, Post No Bills. This irony failed to amuse city governments, as there were often steeper penalties for these particular signs.