If you are planning an outdoor sign, depending on the size, position and type of sign you have in mind, you may need to secure planning consent.

At S&S Signs & Graphics we have heard plenty of horror stories over the years where a business has spent a lot of money on their signs only to then be told that they need to remove them!

Planning permission for outdoor signage and advertisements can be a bit of a minefield. In fact, different local authorities allow different things making it hard to know where to start. For many businesses it can be frustrating and confusing. Fortunately, S&S Signs & Graphics are on hand – our experience working across South Yorkshire and the north of the UK means that we can give you some great advice!

The essentials

Wherever you are in the country, if you are advertising outside there are five standard conditions within the government’s guidelines that you should know about. Most are common sense!

Outdoor advertisements must:

1. be kept clean and tidy
2. be kept in a safe condition
3. have the permission of the owner of the site on which they are displayed (this includes the Highway Authority if the sign is to be placed on highway land)
4. not obscure or hinder the interpretation of, official road, rail, waterway or aircraft signs, or otherwise make hazardous the use of these types of transport
5. be removed carefully where so required by the planning authority.

These conditions are usually quite easy to achieve, especially with our help! We offer a professional installation service to ensure that your outdoor signs are secure, safe and look great too!

What is normally permitted?

Now that we have the standard conditions out of the way, what is normally permitted?

There are several classifications of signs, based on the location of the sign, that are usually excluded from planning authority control including:

• if the advertisement is on enclosed land (ie. a bus station or railway forecourt)
• if the advertisement is on a vehicle that is usually moving
• if the advertisements are displayed inside a building but can be seen in the shop window

If your planned signage falls into one of these categories you are unlikely to have any issues with planning consent, you can get directly in touch with us to find out more about the wide range of indoor and outdoor signs and vehicle graphics we can provide.

There are certain other classifications of signage, based on the purpose of the sign, that are also excluded from planning control. These include:

• advertisements needed by public bodies to give information or directions about services (ie. warning signs, noticeboards etc.)
• signs advertising the fact that a person, partnership or company is carrying on a profession, business or trade at those premises
• signs or notices relating to religious, educational, cultural, recreational, medical institutions
• advertisements on the forecourt of a business (ie. petrol stations or car dealerships)
• advertisements on hoardings outside temporary construction sites

If any of these are a good description of the sign you are planning please get in touch with us for some advice and a free quote.

When do I need planning permission for my signs?

If your signage doesn’t fit into any of the previous categories, you may need to acquire planning permission for any sign that’s bigger than 0.3 square metres.

As you can see, it can get pretty complicated! We would always strongly recommend that you read the government regulations and check with your local planning authority before ordering or installing your signs.

The best advice we can give is to give us a call – we provide expert advice and a free quote for your signage needs. Our knowledge can help streamline the process, allowing you to get to advertising your business as quickly as possible.