Edinburgh Sign Permit Fees & Bylaw Guide
Edinburgh, Scotland operators and businesses must follow local planning and street‑advertising rules when erecting signs on buildings, private land or the public highway. This guide explains where fees and charges are published, which council teams enforce sign and advertising controls, common compliance issues, and step‑by‑step actions for applying, paying and appealing. It summarises official application routes and what the City of Edinburgh Council requires for advertisement consent and street advertising licences. For procedural details consult the council planning and fees pages directly Advertisement controls[1].
Overview
Signage in Edinburgh is controlled under planning and street‑use regimes: advertisement consent for signs attached to buildings, and separate permissions or licences for signs on the public highway or temporary promotional signs. Fees and the specific classification of adverts are maintained by the City of Edinburgh Council; where exact fee figures are not shown on the council overview pages this guide notes that fact and points to the fee schedule for formal charges.[2]
Penalties & Enforcement
The City of Edinburgh Council enforces sign and advertising controls through Planning Enforcement and relevant transport/streets teams. The council may issue notice requirements, remove unauthorised adverts, and pursue prosecution where necessary.
- Fines and monetary penalties: not specified on the cited page for local advertisement offences; see the council enforcement pages for current penalties.[1]
- Escalation: first compliance notices and advice, followed by enforcement notices and possible prosecution; specific fine ranges or per‑day rates are not specified on the cited council summary.[1]
- Non‑monetary sanctions: enforcement notices requiring removal or alteration, temporary seizure of unauthorised materials, and court orders.
- Enforcer and complaint route: Planning Enforcement (City of Edinburgh Council) and the Streets/Transport licensing teams handle highway adverts; see Help and Support for contact pages below.
- Appeals and review: appeal routes vary by notice type; planning enforcement notices and advertisement consents follow statutory review and appeal procedures—time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited overview pages.[1]
- Defences and discretion: the council may accept retrospective applications, grant temporary licences or discretion where a reasonable excuse exists; specific statutory defences are not detailed on the general guidance page.
Common violations
- Unauthorised advertising on the public highway (posters, A‑boards).
- Signs attached to listed buildings or in conservation areas without consent.
- Large illuminated signs or projecting signs without advertisement consent.
Applications & Forms
Advertisement consent and any highway or pavement advertising licences are applied for through the City of Edinburgh Council planning or licensing portals. The council publishes a fees and charges schedule for planning applications; specific fee entries for advertisement consent should be confirmed on the official fees page. If a named council form is required it will be listed on the planning application/fees pages and the online planning portal.Planning fees and charges[2]
- Typical form: Advertisement consent application via the council planning portal or ePlanning system — check the council fees page for any application charges.[2]
- Fee: not specified on the general guidance page; consult the fees schedule link above for the current charge or select the advertisement fee when starting an application.[2]
- Submission: online via the City of Edinburgh planning portal or by contacting Planning Services as instructed on the application form.
Action steps
- Confirm whether your sign needs advertisement consent or a street advertising licence by using the council planning pages and guidance.
- Prepare drawings and location plans, and start the online application on the council planning portal.
- Pay the fee shown on the council fees page and retain the payment receipt.
- If you receive an enforcement notice contact Planning Enforcement immediately and consider a retrospective application if appropriate.
FAQ
- Do I need permission to put up a sign on my shopfront?
- Most signs require advertisement consent from the City of Edinburgh Council unless specifically exempt; check the council planning adverts guidance for exemptions.[1]
- How much does a sign permit cost?
- Specific fees for advertisement consent are set out on the council planning fees page; if a precise fee is not listed on the guidance page it will appear on the fees schedule or during the online application process.[2]
- What happens if I put up an unauthorised sign?
- The council may issue an enforcement notice requiring removal or alteration and may pursue prosecution; exact fine amounts and daily rates are not specified on the general guidance page.[1]
How-To
- Check whether your proposed sign needs advertisement consent or a street advertising licence using the City of Edinburgh planning guidance and FAQs.[1]
- Prepare a scaled plan, location plan and photographic evidence of the site; include dimensions and lighting details where relevant.
- Start the online advertisement consent application on the council planning portal and attach supporting documents.
- Pay the fee shown on the council planning fees page and monitor the application for any consultation requests or conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Always check the City of Edinburgh Council guidance before erecting signs.
- Fees and exact application steps are published on the council planning and fees pages.
Help and Support / Resources
- City of Edinburgh Council Planning
- Licences and permits (City of Edinburgh Council)
- Transport, streets and street works (City of Edinburgh Council)