Advertisements
- What is an advertisement?
Legislation defines an advertisement as including:
- posters and notices
- placards and boards
- fascia signs and projecting signs
- pole signs and canopy signs
- models and devices
- advance signs and directional signs
- estate agents’ boards
- captive balloon advertising (not balloons in flight)
- flag advertisements
- price markers and price displays
- traffic signs
- town and village name-signs
- I want to display an advertisement outdoors, where can I find further guidance?
Further guidance can be found within the government’s Outdoor advertisements and signs: a guide for advertisers, which provides the basic information, however, please refer to this guidance which is within the Planning Practice Guidance website for more detailed information.
- What action can the Authority take in respect of unlawful advertisements?
The display of any advertisement without consent (where not exempt from consent or benefiting from deemed consent) is a criminal offence. The local planning authority has powers to remove or obliterate any unlawful advertisement and may also seek to prosecute offenders.
This on a case by case basis and there are a lot of factors that have to be considered, it is better to contact enforcement@southdowns.gov.uk for some informal initial advice before putting up your advertisement.
- Which advertisements can I simply just display according to the Regulations?
The following:
- One captive balloon advertisement not more than 60metres in the air for not more than 10 days a year provided it’s not in a conservation area. Balloons over 60m in the air are also subject to Civil Aviation Authority (www.caa.co.uk) controls.
- Advertisements in enclosed sites like railway stations, bus stations or sports stadiums.
- Advertisements displayed on a vehicle provided it is not static.
- Advertisements that are integral to a building elevation like names carved into stone facades.
- Price tickets or trade names of up to 0.1sqm displayed on the petrol pumps or vending machines.
- Advertisements about elections provided they are removed 14 days after close of poll.
- Advertisements required by any Parliamentary Order or Act.
- Traffic signs and particularly any traffic signs required by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
- A national flag flown on a single vertical flagpole provided there is nothing added to the flag or the pole.
- Non-illuminated adverts inside a building not within one metre of any opening through which they can be seen.
More detailed advice is available on the Planning Portal.
- Can I put an advertisement on a listed building?
Some signs that are normally permitted within the advertisements regulations require separate listed building consent if they are attached to listed buildings.