Advertising boards on roads and pavements can obstruct people, especially those with sight or mobility difficulties.
Our guidance aims to balance business needs with public safety. It explains when advertising boards are allowed on the highway without affecting safety. A PDF of the guidance can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
Page contents
- Report a problem with an advertising board
- Guidance for advertisers
- Guidance for public and advertisers
Report a problem with an advertising board
If you find advertising that does not comply with the guidance, or would like to clarify if advertising would be allowed, please report the issue to us on FixMyStreet. Select 'Hazards and obstructions' and 'Sign board or advertising board'.
If you think there is a risk to public safety, and it is an emergency situation, please call us on 0300 200 1003.
Guidance for advertisers
Do I need a licence to place an advertising board on the pavement?
Traders do not need a licence to place an advertising board on the highway, but they must follow the conditions in this guide.
What am I allowed to put out?
Advertising boards displayed in accordance with the conditions contained in the guidance will be acceptable to Surrey County Council.
Guidance for public and advertisers
Why do we (Surrey County Council) need to monitor this?
It is important that the number, size and positioning of advertising boards are regulated. If not, they can create hazards for highway users, particularly those with impaired vision, mobility problems, the elderly or those with young children.
What happens if the conditions aren't met?
We are committed to working with businesses and where there is no immediate danger to the public, and will work with them to ensure the conditions are met.
If any items are placed in breach of the conditions in the guidance, or the owner refuses to comply, we are able to remove them without notice. In general, the following matters will be taken into account when determining how to best direct our resources for removing advertising boards which don't meet our conditions:
- the amount of public complaint
- the number and extent of obstructions
- the level and type of pedestrian use, and the width of the available footway, and
- the views and concerns of pedestrian and disabled access groups
The removal procedure is described in section 4 of the guidance (PDF).
For further information see recovering property removed from the highway, and our online form for reclaiming the removed advertising board. We will keep items removed from the highway for one month. After this time, they may be disposed of.
What duties and powers do we have to remove signs or other obstructions?
As part of the Highways Act 1980, we have a duty to protect the rights of the public to use and enjoy the highway. There is also a duty to prevent obstruction as far as possible. We have a further duty to defend against unlawful encroachments on any roadside, pavement or grass verge within the highway.
There are also powers, under Common Law, which can be used by a highway authority to remove obstructions.
Files available to download
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Advertising on the highway guidance (PDF)
A practical guide for businesses and highway users.