New Outdoor Advertising By-law promulgated
16 August 2024
The City of Cape Town’s Council approved the new Outdoor Advertising By-law that regulates outdoor advertising and signage in December 2023. The new by-law has now been promulgated and as such, the Outdoor Advertising and Signage By-law of 2001 as amended in 2013, has been repealed.
The now promulgated Outdoor Advertising By-law regulates outdoor advertising in a manner that facilitates economic opportunities while being sensitive to Cape Town's natural and cultural environment. Many areas within the city have unique visual, historical and cultural appeal, and this must be taken into account when permitting outdoor advertising.
'The new by-law provides more opportunities for outdoor advertising, while tightening up on the regulation and enforcement of unauthorised signs. It strikes a fine balance between outdoor advertising opportunities and its contribution to our local economy, innovation potential and job creation prospects, and the need to conserve the visual, tourist, traffic safety, environmental and heritage characteristics of Cape Town,' said the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The Outdoor Advertising By-law has been in the making since 2019. The City undertook extensive public consultation during the development and drafting of this by-law, with well over a thousand comments received from stakeholders.
The new by-law streamlines the processing of applications with more up-front approvals and larger signs allowed, as well as shorter turn-around times.
'The improvements are in line with our commitment to improving the ease of doing business with the City, reducing bureaucratic processes and providing for a number of signs that do not require applications before installation,' said Alderman Andrews.
Applications or contraventions that are in process upon promulgation of the new by-law will be finalised in terms of the Outdoor Advertising and Signage By-law of 2001, while all new applications and contraventions will now be administered in terms of the new 2024 by-law.
The new Outdoor Advertising By-law:
- addresses the new trends and technologies in outdoor advertising
- includes specific provisions to accommodate digital and electronic screens
- clarifies ambiguous language
- reduces red tape
- expands provisions for upfront or as-of-right approvals of advertising signs
- provides for sponsored murals
- supports non-profit organisations to derive an income from outdoor advertising
- enhances cost-effective regulatory compliance and enforcement
- determines the procedures and criteria when obtaining approval for outdoor advertising
- provides for an appeal process against the outcome of a decision made in terms of the by-law
- provides for fines and penalties applicable to those who contravene the by-law
'I want to remind all that no person may display any advertisement or erect or use any sign or sign structure for advertising purposes without approval in terms of the by-law. We encourage those in the outdoor advertising industry to please comply accordingly,' said Alderman Andrews.
The new Outdoor Advertising By-law is available here: https://bit.ly/3M7OBvu
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
