What is an advertisement?
The advertisement regulations cover a very wide range of advertisements and signs including:
- posters and notices
- placards and boards
- fascia signs and projecting signs
- estate agent's boards
- pole signs and canopy signs
- flag advertisements
- traffic signs
Do I need advertisement consent?
The advertisement regulations set out a number of categories where permission is not required to display certain advertisements.
You may need to apply for advertisement consent to display an advertisement bigger than 0.3 square metres (or any size if illuminated) on the front of, or outside, your property (be it a house or business premises). Therefore, you are unlikely to need consent for a small sign with your house/building name or number on it, or even a sign saying 'Beware of the dog'.
Temporary notices up to 0.6 square metres relating to local events, such as street parties and concerts, may also be displayed for a short period. There are different rules for estate agents' boards, but, in general, these should not be bigger than 0.5 square metres.
In order to ascertain whether you will require advertisement consent please refer to the Government publication Outdoor advertisements and signs - A advertisers guide. This illustrated guide aims to explain how the system of advertisement control system works and sets out the regulations relating to different types of advertisements. If you are still unclear whether you will require consent then please contact the Planning Service.
Visit our applications forms page to download advertisement consent application forms.