Outdoor advertisements
You may need to apply for planning permission if you want to display outdoor advertisements. Some adverts are excluded from planning control, or benefit from 'deemed consent'.
You should always seek advice from us before starting any works.
Why do outdoor advertisements need to be controlled?
We are responsible for the control of outdoor advertisements.
We do this for reasons of public safety. We are also concerned with amenity. Advertisements can affect the appearance of a building or structure on which they are placed, or can affect the appearance of the area in which they are displayed.
We want to make sure that outdoor advertisements enhance the way the environment looks.
What is an advertisement?
The most common forms of advertisements are:
- advance signs alongside the road
- fascia signs and projecting signs on shops
- menu boards at restaurants and cafes
- pole signs at petrol filling stations
- poster hoardings
- signboards
Advertisements may be permanent or temporary. The length of time an advert is to be displayed may determine whether or not it will require planning consent.
Advertisements are divided into three groups:
- advertisements which are deliberately excluded from the planning authority's control
- advertisements which benefit from deemed consent
- advertisements which always require consent
Standard conditions
All outdoor advertisements must comply with five standard conditions as outlined in the Regulations.
They must:
- be maintained in a clean and tidy condition
- be maintained in a safe condition
- be removed carefully where required by the planning authority
- have the permission of the owner of the site, or any other person with an interest in the site on which they are displayed (this includes the Local Highway Authority where appropriate)
- not obscure, or stop the reading of official road; rail; waterway or aircraft signs, or otherwise make hazardous the use of these types of transport
Applications may only be refused on the grounds of safety and the effect on public amenity. There is a right of appeal against refusal of permission. Persons displaying advertisements without consent are committing a criminal offence and may be subject to prosecution and risk a heavy fine.
