Advertising and campaign signs permit

Advertising boards such as A-frames and sandwich boards placed on public roads, footways or verges can pose challenges for pedestrians - especially those who are blind or partially sighted, use wheelchairs, or have prams. To ensure safety and accessibility, written permission from us is required before placing any such signage.

Requirements

You must:

• have public liability insurance of £5 million. A valid certificate must be submitted with your application and maintained throughout the permission period.
• indemnify The Highland Council against any claims arising from the placement of the sign

Placement guidelines (urban areas)

Signs must:

• be placed adjacent to the building line, at the rear of the footway
• be no larger than 750mm wide and 1m high
• be detectable by visually impaired individuals using a stick
• be stable, with no sharp edges, protruding parts, or rotating elements
• be removed when the premises are closed
• not obstruct visibility at junctions or bends, or interfere with road signs or pedestrian facilities
• not be attached to street furniture, railings, or bicycles
• maintain a minimum clear footway width:
  • 1.8m (standard)
  • 2.75m (high pedestrian areas)
  • 3.5m (pedestrianised zones)
• comply with planning and conservation policies
• be non-offensive and non-hazardous
• be limited to one sign per premises, placed within the frontage or at an agreed location

Verge signage

Generally, signs are not permitted in verges, however businesses may apply for brown tourist signs or advertising consent for signs outside the road boundary.

If neither is feasible, a single verge sign may be permitted at a location agreed by the Roads Authority.

Note: shared signage may be required where space is limited.

Application details

Permission is valid for 12 months. Note that:

• reapplication is required for renewal
• no application fee is charged
• processing time may take up to 28 days. Renewal applications should be submitted at least 28 days before expiry to avoid disruption

Enforcement and sign removal

Signs that do not meet the above conditions will be treated as unauthorised. Owners may be asked to remove them or apply retrospectively. If a sign poses a safety risk, it will be removed immediately.

Removal priorities

High priority (within 24 hours)

• Dangerous obstructions
• Visibility hazards
• Distractions to road users
• Insufficient pedestrian space

Medium priority (within 1 week)

• Fixed to Council property
• Offensive or nuisance signs

Low priority (discretionary)

• Unlikely to cause offence
• Temporary signs for short-term events
• Adequate pedestrian space maintained

Removed signs will be stored securely. Costs may be recovered, and signs not collected within 28 days will be disposed of. Repeat offences may result in immediate removal of future signs.