Advertisements and Shop Signs

The Advertisement Regulations are complex but for shops and small businesses the following rules apply:

Advertisements on business premises:

An application for advertisement consent is not required to display a new sign, or alter an existing sign such as a fascia sign above a shopfront providing the following criteria are met:

• The advertisement must relate to the goods or services available at the premises (i.e. not a commercial advertising hoarding where space is let out)
• The letters, figures or symbols must be less than 0.75m in height.
• The highest point of the sign must be less than 4.6m above ground level.
• The highest point of the sign must be below the bottom of the first floor window on the wall where the advertisement is.
• It must not be illuminated (separate restrictions apply for illuminated signs)
• Where the advertisement is displayed on a shop, the sign must only be on the wall of the shop that has a shop window in it.

Illuminated signs:

An application for advertisement consent is not required to display an illuminated sign providing the following restrictions are complied with:

• The premises must not be in a conservation area.
• The illumination must be restricted to internally illuminated letters or symbols on an unlit background, or "halo" lit letters or symbols.
• The illumination must not be flashing
• The sign must not be made up of exposed cathode tubing (i.e. neon signs)
• The sign must not have more than 1 fascia panel and one projecting at right angles.
• Where the advertisement is displayed on a shop, the sign must only be on the wall of the shop that has a shop window in it.
• The sign must be at least 2.5m high at its lowest point.
• If the sign is a fascia panel, it must not extend more than 0.25m out from the wall.
• If the sign is projecting, it must not exceed 0.25m between the two sides.

Forecourt Advertisements:

Advertisement Consent is not required to display some advertisements on the private forecourt of a business premises providing the following criteria are met:

• The signs must be at ground level
• The TOTAL area of all the forecourt advertisements combined must not exceed 4.5 Sq.m on each forecourt.
• The signs must not be illuminated.

These allowances only apply to private forecourts, if the sign is to be on part of the highway, such as a pavement, you will require a licence from the Highway Authority. Further information on highway licences can be viewed here.

Important Notes:

Even if Advertisement Consent is not required, if your property is a listed building in some circumstances listed building consent may be required.

Before displaying any sign you are strongly advised to contact us with a drawing of your proposals to seek confirmation that you will not need to make an application.

Shopfronts:

Planning Permission is always required for the installation of a new shopfront, or the material alteration of an existing shopfront.

Particular care should be taken in the design of shopfronts in listed buildings or within a Conservation Area.

Outdoor Advertisements

Express consent is required for the majority of outdoor advertisements, including shop signs and poster boards. For example all illuminated adverts require consent. There are however, certain exceptions. You should contact the Planning Department to find out whether you will require consent for your proposed adverts.

How to Make an Application

Further information on making a planning application is available.