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Outdoor advertising<h2 class="sectHeading">Application criteria</h2><p> Your sign may be 100% pre-approved if it follows the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Outdoor%20Advertising%20and%20Signage%20By-law%20No%205801%20of%202001%20First%20Amendment%20By-law%202013.pdf" target="_blank"> rules in the by-law</a>. Make sure you know what you can and can't do with a sign. For instance, a 0,2 m² sign on a fence for the purposes of selling a house is pre-approved, but moving the sign to a nearby pole is not approved without <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/doing-business-in-the-city/signage-and-advertising/real-estate-signage">an application</a>. </p><p>The criteria for an application differs depending on the type of sign and where it will be placed within the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Maps%20and%20statistics/Outdoor_Adv+Signage_By-Law_-_Gen_Areas_of_Control_2002-08-08.pdf">areas of control</a>. A poster for a church fete is treated differently from a billboard. The rules governing a sign on a non-profit organisation might be more relaxed than those on a commercial business, however, an application is still required to be submitted. . </p><h2 class="sectHeading">Signage application exemptions</h2><p>Some types of outdoor advertising are not regulated by the City and do not require you to apply for an outdoor advertising permit.</p><h4>These include:</h4><ul><li>any sign displayed inside a sports stadium that can’t be seen from the outside – you can apply to advertise in the DHL Stadium;</li><li>any sign displayed inside a roofed shopping centre or inside an arcade that can’t be seen from the outside;</li><li>any sign that is displayed inside a building that can’t be seen from the outside;</li><li>road traffic signs which are provided for by legislation and <a href="https://www.transport.gov.za/web/department-of-transport/home" target="_blank">The South African Road Traffic Signs Manual<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>;</li><li>any national flag hoisted on a suitable flagpole as long as nothing is added to the design of the flag and no advertising material is added to the flag pole;</li><li>authorised <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/doing-business-in-the-city/signage-and-advertising/tourism-signage">tourist destination signs</a> as defined by the Roads Traffic Manual;</li><li>community information or educational boards without commercial content;</li><li>any sign required to be displayed by law including electoral law or an Act of Parliament, provincial law or by-law; or</li><li>safety prohibitions, directives or warnings.</li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">Outdoor signage: general, first and third party</h2><p>You will need to submit a general, first and third party application if you are considering erecting any of the following:</p><ul><li>Third-party billboard </li><li>Flat, projected and projecting signs </li><li>Locality-bound freestanding and composite first-party sign </li><li>Locality-bound farm sign </li><li>Service station sign </li><li>Sky sign </li><li>Roof sign </li><li>Verandah, balcony, canopy, supporting columns, pillars and posts </li><li>Boundary wall, fence and construction site signs </li><li>Aerial sign </li><li>Transit sign </li></ul><div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic"> <i class="info citycard">​​</i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Advertising-and-signage/General-first-and-third-party-signage/Apply-for-outdoor-advertising-and-signage">Apply for outdoor advertising and signage</a></p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Temporary signage</h2><p>The following temporary signs follow a different application process:</p><ul><li>newspaper headline posters on poles; </li> <li>banners, flags and balloons; </li><li>campaign and event posters; </li><li>directional property marketing; </li><li>loose portable signage on City-owned land; and </li><li>signage for a temporary event. </li></ul><div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic"> <i class="info citycard">​​</i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Advertising-and-signage/Temporary-signage/Apply-for-a-swivel-lamp-pole-banner">Apply for a swivel lamp pole banner</a><br><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Advertising-and-signage/Temporary-signage/apply-for-campaign-or-event-posters">Apply for campaign or event posters</a><br><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Advertising-and-signage/Temporary-signage/apply-for-loose-portable-signs">Apply for loose portable signs</a><br><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Advertising-and-signage/Temporary-signage/apply-for-newspaper-headline-posters">Apply for newspaper headline posters</a><br><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Advertising-and-signage/Temporary-signage/apply-for-temporary-development-boards">Apply for temporary development boards</a><br><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Advertising-and-signage/Temporary-signage/apply-for-temporary-event-signs">Apply for temporary event signs</a></p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Real estate signage</h2><p>If you sell, market, let, lease or auction properties in Cape Town, you will need to have a permit for any directional boards you place on City-owned land. This includes a <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/doing-business-in-the-city/signage-and-advertising/real-estate-signage">signage application</a>, for property marketing agents and auctioneers as well as signage for private sellers.</p><h2 class="sectHeading">​​​​​​​​​​General enquiries</h2><p>You can contact an <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/EHM_District_Offices_Contact_List.pdf" target="_blank">EHM District Office </a>near you for advice and general enquiries about outdoor advertising.</p>GP0|#f9c9a333-4116-45cd-b780-8b43d1e225bc;L0|#0f9c9a333-4116-45cd-b780-8b43d1e225bc|Outdoor advertising;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#3c0189a9-43d4-4ee1-bfa1-7e0ffbd3704b;GPP|#ce2f744d-a7d0-4f70-9e09-6cef4e0b7eb4;GPP|#e88ff549-973f-4e3c-a46c-cfbe61bd6a24Any signs placed outdoors in public areas need to be approved by the City first, unless falling in pre-approved categories.0

 

 

Environmental and Heritage Management: District Offices Contact List and Map992591GP0|#8c7d6035-e7ea-4e28-a6e6-082bc1988a7e;L0|#08c7d6035-e7ea-4e28-a6e6-082bc1988a7e|Contact list;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2022-05-08T22:00:00Z
Outdoor Advertising and Signage By-law General Areas of Control Map5533470GP0|#816346e9-401b-4120-ab33-f8b010e35cd1;L0|#0816346e9-401b-4120-ab33-f8b010e35cd1|Map;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#2ee73080-1b32-4320-889d-034e60d31b3a;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e;GP0|#d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284;L0|#0d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284|By-law;GPP|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea12002-08-07T22:00:00Z
Outdoor Advertising and Signage First Amendment By-law512742GP0|#d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284;L0|#0d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284|By-law;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e;GP0|#ef51c989-391a-435e-96a1-0535f4eab240;L0|#0ef51c989-391a-435e-96a1-0535f4eab240|By-law amendment2013-08-27T22:00:00Z
Outdoor Advertising and Signage Policy1367615GP0|#ecf0e702-25db-4c12-bbc2-be85db2304fd;L0|#0ecf0e702-25db-4c12-bbc2-be85db2304fd|Policy;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2013-08-27T22:00:00Z
Property Marketing Boards: List of Prohibited Routes Across Cape Town642235GP0|#af8a3963-d9e4-485f-ac84-7f8e7d3eff34;L0|#0af8a3963-d9e4-485f-ac84-7f8e7d3eff34|List;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2024-02-26T10:00:00Z

 

 

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