Advertisements
Outdoor Advertisements
You may need to apply for planning permission if you want to display outdoor advertisements. Some adverts are excluded from planning control, or benefit from 'deemed consent'.
You should always seek advice from us before starting any works.
Why do Outdoor Advertisements need to be controlled?
The Planning Department is responsible for the day-to-day control of outdoor advertisements in Liverpool.
We do this for reasons of public safety. We are also concerned with amenity: advertisements can affect the appearance of a building or structure on which they are placed, or can affect the appearance of the area in which they are displayed.
We want to make sure that outdoor advertisements enhance the way the environment looks.
What is an advertisement?
Advertisements can be all sorts of things. They are designed to give information or show messages to people passing by. The most common forms are:
- advance signs alongside the road;
- fascia signs and projecting signs on shops;
- menu boards at restaurants and cafes;
- notices announcing the visit of a travelling fair;
- pole signs at petrol filling stations;
- poster hoardings; and
- signboards at factories.
Advertisements may be permanent or temporary. The length of time an advert is to be displayed may affect whether or not it will require planning consent from us.
Advertisements are divided into three groups. These are:
- Adverts which are deliberately excluded from the planning authority's control;
- Adverts which benefit from deemed consent; and
- Adverts which always require consent.
The 'standard conditions'
All outdoor advertisements must comply with five standard conditions as outlined in the Regulations. They must:
- be maintained in a clean and tidy condition;
- be maintained in a safe condition;
- be removed carefully where required by the planning authority;
- have the permission of the owner of the site, or any other person with an interest in the site on which they are displayed (this includes the Local Highway Authority where appropriate);
- not obscure, or stop the reading of official road; rail; waterway or aircraft signs, or otherwise make hazardous the use of these types of transport.