Signs on public land
The signs bylaw
says that signs cannot be placed on public property for advertising purposes.
Public property includes
- roads
- footpaths
- berms
- street furniture
- light or sign poles
Exceptions may be granted for temporary signs erected by not-for-profit organisations and for
real estate signs where
council decides that compliance with the bylaw would be unreasonable or impractical.
General requirements
The signs bylaw contains general requirements that all signs in Auckland city must
comply with, as well as rules that relate to specific zones, areas, or business types.
To find out about rules for erecting signage, check the
bylaw.
The bylaw has a number of important safety requirements. For instance, signs must not:
- obstruct the line of sight of any traffic sign or signal, corner, intersection or vehicle crossing
- contain reflective materials that may interfere with a road user's vision
- resemble or cause confusion with any traffic sign or signal
- be placed on median strips, roundabouts, traffic signals or signs, or kerb projections
- incorporate moving images, lasers or flashing/revolving lights without council approval.
It is also important that signs and their supporting structures are constructed and fixed in place so that they don't present a risk
to the public or property.
Auckland City Council may require the owner of any non-compliant or unsafe sign, or the owner of the property on which it is
located, to alter or remove the sign. If the owner of the sign or property does not comply with this requirement, council may have the
sign removed or altered at the owner's expense.
Signs erected by not-for-profit organisations
Not-for-profit organisations holding events can apply for a
dispensation to place temporary signs on sites that have
been approved by community boards. These are the same sites approved for
election hoardings. See the
list of approved sites.
A licence will allow a sign to be placed on public property for up to 90 days.
The maximum permitted size for a temporary sign is:
- height above ground level of up to 3 metres
- 1 square metre in area
A copy of the licence must be attached to the back of the sign when it is erected.
Real estate signs
You can apply for a dispensation to place a real estate
sign on public land where otherwise the sign would not be visible to the public
because
- the property is on a rear section or
- the property is down a right of way.
A dispensation will allow a sign to be placed on public property for up to 90
days.
The maximum permitted size for a real estate sign is:
- height above ground level of up to 3 metres
- 1 square metre in area
A copy of the dispensation certificate must be attached to the back of the sign when it is erected.
The sign should be placed parallel to the roadway and the address of the
property for sale must be clearly displayed on the sign.
Dispensation applications - cost and timeframe
All temporary sign dispensation applications will be processed within 48
hours of receipt of the application form and confirmation of payment. Avoid
processing delays by providing all the necessary details and supplying payment
with your application.
There is a non-refundable application fee of $115 (including GST).
Apply for a dispensation
If your proposed sign meets the criteria above and you require a
dispensation, apply online now or
download the application form below:
Temporary sign on public land application form (429k
PDF)
Pay by
- Cash or cheque (cheques made payable to Auckland City Council)
- Credit card (we will phone you for credit card details, please do not
send them).
The $115 (GST inclusive) application fee is non-refundable.
Send by
| Post |
Signs team
Private Bag 92516
Wellesley Street
Auckland 1141 |
| In person |
Ground Floor
UDC House
35 Graham Street
Auckland Central |
| Fax |
(09) 353 9668 |
| Email |
signs@aucklandcity.govt.nz |
Online application form
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Updated July 2009
