Advertising device approval
Apply for approval to display your advertising device. Transfer, amend, cancel or restore an approval.
About advertising devices
It includes a structure or part of a building, if its primary purpose is to support the sign, structure or device.
Advertising devices include:
Advertising devices don't include:
Regulating advertising devices
Advertising devices are regulated by the Advertising Devices Local Law 2021.
Your advertisement device may be:
- prohibited for display
- generally inappropriate for display
- allowed for display if it meets specific advertising requirements during self-assessment
- allowed for display subject to Council approval.
Some advertising devices are prohibited under the Advertising Devices Local Law 2021. They include:
- bunting and streamers
- fly poster signs
- inflatable signs
- vehicle signs (standing)
- high-impact electronic display signs, such as electronic or LED billboards (in certain locations).
It’s an offence to install, erect or display a prohibited device. You can’t request approval for a prohibited advertising device.
You should explore alternative advertising devices. If you can’t find another option, you can book a pre-lodgement meeting to discuss your situation.
Your advertising device may be categorised generally inappropriate under the Advertising Devices Design and Assessment Rule.
You can still apply for a full assessment. However, if the device is generally inappropriate, you will need to demonstrate there are special circumstances for having the device.
Additional fees apply for assessment of a generally inappropriate advertising device.
You should consider other advertising devices that are more likely to be approved.
If you can’t find a suitable alternative, and you would like to discuss your proposal further, you can book a pre-lodgement meeting.
Self-assessable advertising devices can be displayed without applying for Council approval.
You must ensure the device complies with the Permitted Advertising Devices Designation.
Your device must also meet the compliance requirements in the Advertising Devices Technical Standards if it will have illumination and/or electronic display components.
Full assessment
A full assessment is always required if the property has a constraint such as a Heritage overlay or the sign includes a high-impact electronic display component greater than 4 square metres.
Election and referendum signs
An election sign is a temporary adverting device advocating for or against the election of a candidate or candidates, or a registered political party in respect of a:
- Commonwealth Government election campaign
- State Government election campaign
- Brisbane City Council election campaign.
A referendum sign is a temporary advertising device advocating for or against a Bill of the Queensland Government or the Commonwealth Government or a question the subject of a writ that affects the Constitution of the Commonwealth or the Constitution of Queensland.
These signs include election and referendum signs with an electronic display component, and a mobile vehicle election or referendum sign.
Election signs and referendum signs that meet the requirements prescribed in the Permitted Advertising Devices Designation are permitted advertising devices and do not require Council approval.
Check if you need approval
Follow our step-by-step process to find out if you need advertising device approval.
Use City Plan online interactive mapping to find out the zoning at the location where you want to display the device.
Select the property zone in the drop down to find out the advertising device’s environment classification.
Use Part 3 of the Advertising Devices Design and Assessment Rule to confirm the type of device you're proposing.
Select the type of advertising device in the drop down.
The environment will determine the application type required.
You must apply for approval for an advertising device on a heritage place, even if it's permitted in the applicable environment. Level 2 fees will apply, except where the application is from a Qualifying Type 1 Religious or Charitable organisation as listed or defined in the Schedule of Fees and Charges.
Proposals for new signage at sites on the Queensland Heritage Register need approval from the Queensland Government. You must submit a Heritage Exemption Certificate with your advertising device approval application.
Proposals to upgrade or replace existing signage may be exempt from providing a Heritage Exemption Certificate where they comply with General Exemption Certificate requirements.
How to apply
If you’re applying for multiple devices, you can lodge:
- one application for multiple devices on one property
- one application as an advertising package for multiple devices on a large development
- separate applications for multiple devices on multiple properties.
Prepare the following documents in Word, PDF or JPG format:
- accurate site plans showing the location of all existing structures and proposed signage
- device design and construction details (either photos or drawings showing size, shape, etc.).
If you're not the owner of the premises where your advertising device will be displayed, you also need to upload a completed owner's consent form.
The application form may require additional documents, depending on the type of advertising device.
You must pay the application fee and annual permit fee for each device when submitting your application.
You can make a payment by Visa or Mastercard.
Complete the online form to apply for advertising device approval.
Full assessment
You’ll receive an initial response within 30 working days. We’ll let you know:
- the next steps and timeframes involved depending on the complexity of your application
- contact details for the person handling your application.
You can apply to Council for a review of the decision if:
- you're given an approval that’s subject to conditions
- your application is refused.
You must do this within 20 working days from the date the decision notice is given to you.
Use the online application form to request a review.
An approval holder can apply to transfer an approval to someone else.
If you’re the owner, manager or controller of land or premises on which an advertising device has been installed, erected or displayed, you can also apply to transfer an approval when:
- the advertising device has been installed, erected or displayed without your consent
- you have withdrawn or revoked your consent for the installation, erection or display of the advertising device
- the person granted the approval is no longer permitted to occupy or use the land or premises on which the advertising device has been installed, erected or displayed.
When applying to transfer an approval, you must include sufficient details about the transferee. If the approval holder or the transferee are not the owner of the land, you must also include an owner’s consent form.
A fee applies to transferring an approval.
An approval holder can apply to make an amendment to an existing approval, including conditions or the built form.
However, you can't aply to amend an existing approval if the amendment involves a change to the sign’s built form. For this, you need to submit a new application for advertising device approvval.
When applying to make an amendment, you must include sufficient details about the proposed amendment. If the approval holder is not the owner of the land on which the device is displayed, you must also include an owner’s consent form.
A fee applies to amending an approval.
Building work must be completed within one year of receiving an advertising device approval. An approval holder can apply for one extension for a period of up to 6 months.
When applying for an extension, you must:
- apply at least 15 business days before the date the building work was due to be completed
- provide a reason for the extension request
- include photos of the building work completed to date.
A fee applies to extending an application.
An approval holder can apply to cancel an approval.
If you’re the owner of land or premises on which an advertising device has been installed, erected or displayed, you can also apply to cancel an approval when:
- the advertising device has been installed, erected or displayed without your consent
- you have withdrawn or revoked your consent for the installation, erection or display of the advertising device
- the person granted an approval is no longer permitted to occupy or use the land or premises on which the advertising device has been installed, erected or displayed.
The advertising device must have been removed or ceased use/operation when applying for a cancellation.
If the approval holder is not the owner of the land, you must include an owner’s consent form with the application.
An approval holder can apply to restore a lapsed approval.
You must apply within 60 business days of the end of the term of the approval, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Fees
You must pay advertising device fees when you submit your applicaton.
The fee for a full assessment is calculated as: application fee + assessment fee (per sign) + approval fee (per device) = total fee.
If the device is a generally inappropriate device, an additional fee applies.
Application fees for a full assessment are categorised as Level 1 or Level 2, depending on the type of advertising device.
Level 3 fees are charged for all new and any existing Level 2 signs that use more than 4 m2 of electronic display components to convey third-party advertising content.
Third-party advertising content is an advertisement that promotes:
- the name, logo or symbol of a company, organisation or individual that does not own or substantially occupy the premises or building on which the sign is displayed
- a product or service not supplied at, or primarily available from, the premises on which the sign is displayed
- an activity or event that does not occur on the premises on which the sign is displayed.
Estimate your fees
Select the type of advertising device in the drop down to find the fee level applicable.
Advertising device fees
| Description | Unit | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-lodgement advice/report – in office | Each service | $461.15 (incl. GST) |
| Pre-lodgement advice/report – onsite | Each service | $775.55 (incl. GST) |
| Application fee | Each application | $38.75 |
| Assessment fee – approved (Level 1) or temporary | Each device | $297.45 |
| Assessment fee – approved (Level 2) | Each device | $1,030.50 |
| Assessment fee – approved (Level 3) | Each device | $4,236.45 |
| Generally inappropriate assessment – Level 1 | Each sign additional to assessment fee | $198.05 |
| Generally inappropriate assessment – Level 2 | Each sign additional to assessment fee | $299 |
| Generally inappropriate assessment – Level 3 | Each sign additional to assessment fee | $409.15 |
| Approval fee – annually renewable advertising device – Level 1 | Each device per year | $88.90 |
| Approval fee – annually renewable advertising device – Level 2 | Each device per year | $176.55 |
| Approval fee – annually renewable advertising device – Level 3 | Each device per year | $353.25 |
| Approval fee – temporary advertising device | Each device per month or part thereof | $27.05 |
| Change an application | Each device | $137.80 |
| Amend an approval | Each device | $285.95 |
| Transfer a licence | Each application | $112.85 |
| Extension of time to complete building works under the Advertising Devices Local Law 2021 | Each application | $176.55 |
Fee exemptions
The following devices and organisations are exempt from fees:
-
advertising devices placed or held on a Council footway to advocate for a particular cause or issue, not involving the promotion of a particular product, company or organisation
-
Qualifying Type 1 Religious or Charitable organisations, Type 2 Essential Welfare or Community Service organisations and Type 3 Not-for-profit Community organisations as listed or defined in the Schedule of Fees and Charges. This only applies where the device doesn’t contain any third-party advertising.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can get advice before you apply for an advertising device approval.
Organise a Council pre-lodgement meeting if you have a complex device proposal or to identify potential issues with your application.
Yes, if you haven't completed building work within one year of receiving advertising device approval, you can request one extension of up to 6 months.
You must:
- submit your request at least 15 business days before the date the building work was due to be completed
- provide a reason for the request
- supply photos of the building work completed so far
- pay the relevant fee using Visa or Mastercard.
To submit your request, complete the Advertising Device Approvals Application online form.
Yes, you can apply to make an amendment to an existing approval, provided the amendment does not involve a change to the sign’s built form.
You must:
- provide sufficient details about the amendment
- supply an owner’s consent form (if you don’t own the land on which the advertising device is displayed)
- pay the relevant fee using Visa or Mastercard.
To apply, complete the Advertising Device Approvals Application online form.