STREET SIGNS &
SIGNS ON VEHICLES
STREET SIGNS in the WAITAKI DISTRICT
Businesses are reminded that there are rules within the Waitaki District regarding the placement of signs on streets and roads.
These rules have been made with the safety of road users in mind, and with the understanding that businesses need to advertise their presence.
To this end, the Waitaki District Plan allows signs on footpaths on the following conditions:
- Sandwich boards, magazine signs, merchandise displays or display stands in public places are permitted, providing that they are adjacent to the trading premises selling such items and are positioned in such a way as not to create a hazard to pedestrian traffic.
- Such structures shall be no more than 600mm in width and 1m in height and shall not extend more than 600mm off the frontage of the adjacent premises or boundary line.
- Note: Transit New Zealand bylaws apply to signs on the road reserve, on State Highways, and motorways. They require the written approval of Transit.
The majority of complaints are about signs that are more than 600mm out onto the footpath from the edge of the site.
If you wish to place a sign otherwise than is allowed, you must apply to the Council for planning consent to do so. A number of businesses have done so already.
Where businesses continue to ignore the requirements of the Waitaki District Plan, the Resource Management Act allows for court action and substantial penalties
Please remember the rules apply at all times, not only during business hours.
In fairness to all, we would ask that all signs be placed so as to comply with the requirements.
SIGNS on VEHICLES
Businesses are reminded that there are rules within the Waitaki District regarding the placement of signs on streets, roads and public places.
These rules have been made with safety of road users in mind, along with the need for businesses to advertise their presence.
To this end, the Waitaki District Plan does not allow signs displayed on vehicles parked on the roads, at any time, within the district as a general rule.
However, the following signs are a discretionary activity under the Waitaki District Plan:
- Signs affixed to vehicles or trailers, and parking in a public place, road, public property or private property so as to be visible from a public place.
- This does not apply to advertising which is painted, or attached directly, onto vehicles or trailers and incidental to the primary use of that vehicle or trailer.
- Note: Transit New Zealand bylaws apply to signs on the road reserve on State Highways and motorways. These require the written approval of Transit.
What this simply means is that any signs, other than those painted or attached directly onto the vehicle and are incidental to the primary use of the vehicle, require the consent of the Waitaki District Council. Application for this consent may be made to the Waitaki District Council on an appropriate form.
Where businesses continue to ignore the requirements of the Waitaki District Plan, the Resource Management Act allows for court action and substantial penalties.
Please remember that this rule applies at all times, not only during business hours.
In fairness to all we would ask that all signs be placed so as to comply with the requirements.
Thank you
Arthur Mahan
Compliance Monitoring Officer
February 2005