If you are displaying a new advertising sign, taking over or making changes to an existing advertising sign, you will need to consider planning approvals and building approvals.

Planning approval

Your first step when displaying an advertising sign is to check if you need a planning approval.  

Council’s planning scheme guides how land can be used and developed.

Advertising signs may need planning approval for these activities:

• displaying a new advertising sign
• changing the type of sign (e.g. from static to electronic)
• changing the intensity of the activity (e.g. adding extra signs to an existing sign)
• carrying out building work (e.g. installing a freestanding sign over 2m in height from the ground).

To find out if you need to submit a development application, you can:

• lodge an enquiry with Council
• arrange a pre-lodgement meeting with Council
• engage a town planning consultant registered with the Planning Institute of Australia 
• self-assess your property details against Council’s planning scheme.

You can access Council’s planning scheme using PD Online.

Building approval

Building work for advertising signs may include signs that:

• free stand and are over 2m in height from ground level
• free stand and are greater than 1.2m in width
• form a separate structure when attached to an existing building or structure.

All building work is assessed against the building assessment provisions (including, but not limited to, the National Construction Code  and the Queensland Development Code) which set the minimum requirements for building structure, fire safety, access and egress, health and amenity, and energy efficiency.

To find out if you need building approval, you can:

• lodge an enquiry with Council
• engage a building certifier licensed with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission 
• check if the type of building work is accepted development that may not require approval under Building Regulation 2021.