The rules around the placement of signs can be complex and various permissions and permits may be necessary. Please use the following links for details of the Council Signboards in Public Places Policy and the Public Places Bylaw. Specific information on various types of signage can be found below.
Building and planning permissions
Planning approval
Signs on your property may require a resource consent where the signage does not comply with the City Plan. You should speak with a City Planner to clarify the situation.
Building approval
No formal building approval is required for signs that:
- Are fixed flush to a wall and do not project more than 300mm from the wall.
- Are painted directly on to a building.
An application for an exemption from a building consent is required for small signs which are less than two square in area and if free standing are less the metres from the ground to the top of the sign.
Signs which exceed the above criteria will require a building consent application.
Special cases
Signs on trailers
Advertising signs fixed to trailers are only permitted when the trailer is being towed behind a vehicle or is parked on the property of the business premises being advertised. If the trailer is parked on the side of the road it will require a resource consent for each and every parking site.
Signs on vehicles
Advertising signs on vehicles in public places, generally require permission as a 'commercial activity'. However, the following vehicles are exempted from this requirement:
- passenger services vehicles
- business vehicles.
Mobile ‘sandwich boards’
The maximum size allowed is 1200mm vertical and 600mm horizontal. No permit is required but both the owner and the carrier must ensure that the board does not cause any danger to pedestrians.
Offensive signs
Offensive or inappropriate signs are dealt with by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you wish to lodge a complaint with them you will need to provide:
- A copy of the advertisement if possible (photograph of a sign)
- The location of the sign and closeness to any school or the central business district
- Your specific concerns about the sign.
Other advertising in public areas
(Signs, flags, flagpoles, satellite dishes, advertising blimps or helium balloons.)
It is important to check the zoning of the site on which you wish to locate your sign, flagpole or advertising, as different zonings allow different heights, size of lettering, size of signs and total amount of signage.
Signs on heritage buildings and in the central city zone where the building is adjacent to an important open space, require resource consent.
In general the following points need to be observed:
- Advertising is to be related to the site, except in most industrial business zones.
- Captive balloons including blimps and helium balloons may require resource consent.
- Signs should not involve movement.
- Signs should not be illuminated by intermittent or flashing light sources.
- Signs should not be located so as to obscure or to confuse the interpretation of any traffic signals or controls.
- Check the rules governing the position of signs, particularly if it is proposed to be attached to a building.
- On sites adjoining a state highway or an arterial road with a speed restriction of 70km per hour or over there are additional restrictions on the number of signs per site, the height of lettering and their location.
