Council workers in Adelaide's federal electorate of Boothby are taking down election campaign posters put up in breach of local government rules.

The Local Government Association (LGA) this week warned political parties they had 24 hours to remove the signs before councils would be authorised to move in.

Staff from the Marion, Mitcham and Holdfast Bay councils have now begun removing posters in Boothby, a safe Liberal seat currently held by retiring MP Andrew Southcott on a margin of 7.1 per cent.

Posters promoting major and minor parties were put up right across Adelaide and outlying areas over the weekend, with some appearing the day before the election had been called.

That drew criticism from independent senator Nick Xenophon who accused those responsible of cheating, and also prompted the LGA to issue its warning.

Some of the posters have since been taken down by campaign volunteers.

The LGA said election campaign signs were not allowed to be put up until 6:00pm on Monday, after the election writs are issued.

It said most councils could issue expiation notices to those responsible for putting up the signs.