Most signs on a business’s own premises in Johannesburg need no permit. The City of Johannesburg’s Outdoor Advertising By-law, in force from 30 May 2018, exempts the ordinary shopfront sign within set limits. Above those limits, or anywhere that is not your own premises, a sign needs the City’s approval before it goes up. This guide sets out where the line falls, and what an application involves when your sign is over it.
The by-law covers the whole City of Johannesburg, Randburg, Roodepoort and Sandton included. Neighbouring municipalities, such as Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Mogale City, have by-laws of their own.
Signs that need no permit
Section 8 of the by-law lists the signs that are exempt from applying. For a business, the one that matters is the on-premises sign: a sign on the building you occupy, about what you do there.
- Up to 8 m², unlit. One non-illuminated sign of up to 8 m² that does not project over a public street, showing your trade or profession, your name, your address and telephone number, and your hours of business. The exemption allows one such sign per occupant.
- Up to 12 m², lit and built in. An illuminated sign of up to 12 m² incorporated in the face of the building.
8 m² is a fascia 4 m long and 2 m high, so most shopfront signs fall well within it.
Being exempt from applying is not being exempt from the by-law. Section 8(2) says an exempt sign must still comply with its other provisions, and under section 28 the City can order a sign repaired or removed at its owner’s cost.
Signs that need the City’s approval
Anything outside those exemptions needs an application, for example:
- an unlit sign larger than 8 m², or a second one for the same occupant;
- a lit sign larger than 12 m², or one that is not built into the face of the building;
- a sign that projects over a public street;
- a freestanding sign, such as a pylon or a totem at the entrance to a centre;
- a sign that advertises anything other than the business on the premises, such as a billboard.
A freestanding sign is a structure as well as a sign. Section 4(6) of the by-law requires building plans for it under the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, unless the City’s building control officer exempts it as minor building work, and section 4(11) asks for a registered engineer’s certificate that the structure is safe within seven days of it going up.
Near a motorway the rules are stricter. The by-law counts national and provincial roads as public streets, allows no sign within the prohibited areas at a motorway’s on- and off-ramps (sections 6(2)(b) and 9(w)), and has the City consider the comments of road authorities such as SANRAL and Gautrans on an application (section 4(1)(e)).
How an application works
- Pre-evaluation. An application starts with a pre-evaluation submission (section 3(4)). The City replies in writing whether a formal application would comply and would in all probability find support, though it is not bound by that reply (section 3(5)).
- The application. The formal application goes in with the documents Schedule 1 lists, among them the written consent of the owner of the sign and of the registered owner of the property. If you rent, that means your landlord’s signature.
- Public notice. You display an A1 notice in English on the site, visible from a public street, for at least 21 days, and tell every adjoining property owner in writing (section 31). No notice may be displayed between 12 December and 3 January.
- Comments and objections. Anyone may comment or object within 28 days of the notice first going up, and you may reply within 14 days of receiving a comment.
- The decision. The City decides a complete application within three months of its submission (section 32(3)). If the City asks for more information and does not have it within 60 days of asking, the application lapses (section 3(9)).
With the pre-evaluation before it, plan on several months from the first submission to the decision, and on the sign going up only after it.
What it costs
The by-law leaves the fees to the City’s tariff of charges (section 39), so ask for the current tariff when you apply.
Servaro’s check of whether your sign needs a permit is free, done at the site survey. Handling an application, from the drawings to the follow-up with the City, is quoted per job, plus the City’s own fees. Final quote after site survey.
If a sign goes up without approval
An authorised official can serve a notice to remove or repair a sign at its owner’s cost, and remove it if the notice is not followed; a sign that threatens life or property can be removed at once (section 28). The cost of removing and storing it can be recovered from the owner (section 29), and contravening the by-law is an offence (section 37).
What we do
We tell you whether your sign needs a council permit, and handle it if it does. We measure the sign against the by-law at the site survey and, where it suits the job, design it to stay within the exemptions. When a permit is needed, we prepare the drawings and photographs, gather the consents, submit the application and follow it up with the City. No one can promise the outcome: the decision is always the council’s. More on the Signage approvals page.