Advertisement consent for your signage

Fascia signs, projecting ("blade") signs, hanging signs, illuminated signs and window graphics generally need separate advertisement consent from the council, distinct from your planning permission or building warrant. Some small, non-illuminated signs have deemed consent and don't need an application, but the size and illumination thresholds are easy to misjudge — check before the sign-writer arrives.

Putting up a sign without the required consent is a breach the council can require you to remove at your own cost, and illuminated signs without consent are treated more seriously because of light pollution and road-safety rules for anything visible from a highway.

Watch out for

• Assuming "deemed consent" covers an illuminated sign — illumination is usually the trigger that takes a sign out of the automatic allowance and into a full application.
• Ordering and fitting the sign before the consent decision comes back, then having to alter or remove it if the council refuses or asks for changes.
• Not checking whether the building is listed or in a conservation area — those add stricter rules on size, materials and illumination for signage.

Sources

• GOV.UK — Advertisements checked 2026-09-02
• mygov.scot — Planning permission checked 2026-09-02

See also

• Check you have the right planning use class
• Listed building & conservation area consent
• Building warrant / building regulations approval