Content components To install signs promoting a community event on Council land, you need Council approval. To install signs promoting a community event on non-Council land, you may need Council approval but certain exemptions are available. There are different processes depending on where the sign is being installed, how many are being installed and the contents of the sign. Community event signs refer to signs by community groups (such as sports clubs, kindergartens, scouts, places of worship, RSLs, rotary clubs) to promote their events such as registration days, fetes and fundraisers.Community event signs may be funded by local businesses. These signs can include a small sponsorship component such as the business name, logo and colours. Example of sponsorship component of sign with a sponsorship banner or sponsorship frame which can take up 10% of the sign. Council land - footpaths and car parksTo install a sign on Council footpaths or car parks, you will need to apply for a Promotional Permit via the Occupy Council land form. Apply for a promotiomal permitNote, this is a separate process with different requirements to signs on other Council land and non-Council institional community use land on this page. Council land not including footpaths or car parksIf you meet the conditions for Council approval, you can apply via the Council land community signage form. After 5 business days, if you haven’t heard from us, you will receive automatic approval to install the sign.You should apply 10 days before you want to install the sign in case we need to discuss your submission. There are no fees. Apply to install a community sign on Council landIf you don’t meet the conditions, you won't be allowed to install your sign. Terms and conditions Content and format of signThe main content of the sign must be promoting the community event.The display area of the sign can be up to 5 square metres.If the sign includes any sponsorship information, it can take up 10% of the sign.All content on the sign needs to be appropriate for a general audience and not include references to gambling, alcohol, political content or sexual material. This includes any sponsorship information.The sign cannot be animated or illuminated.You will need to submit the final design of the sign when you apply. Location of signYou can install one sign at the same location the community event is taking place. However, the sign cannot be installed in any locations that will interrupt use by the community or council work.These locations include: on a playing fieldwhere it obstructs a walking trail or access pointwithin a landscaped area or garden bedwhere it obstructs the maintenance of the land.There is no guarantee that space will be available to install your sign. If there’s not enough space at your chosen location to install the sign while complying with the permit conditions, you cannot install the sign. This may occur for a range of reasons including:where the location is too smallthe space is already in use by another community event sign or by CouncilCouncil requires access to the area for maintenance or other works.By applying for a community event sign, you accept that there may be situations where the sign cannot be installed, even if a permit has been issued.TimeframesYou can display the sign for 4 weeks (28 days) before the community event.The sign must be taken down within 3 days of the event taking place. Safety and liabilityThe sign needs to be securely fixed and able to hold up to bad weather so that there is no risk of injury or property damage.The installation of the sign cannot not damage Council infrastructure or property. This includes (but not limited to) irrigation, garden beds and fencing.You must have all the relevant and/or necessary public liability insurance in place. This will cover you for any expense, claim, loss, damage, liability or injury related to the installation, occupation or removal of the sign.If the location is leased by the community group from the Council, the installtion of the sign cannot breach the lease agreement.When your sign is removed, you must return the site to how it was before the sign was installed. Non-Council landSome non-council land requires Council approval to install community event signs. However, certain exemptions allow you to install community event signs at these sites without needing any Council approval. This applies to spaces used for ‘institutonal community use’ such as educational, religious or charitable purposes.This includes: educational spaces such as schools, universities and TAFE collegesnon-council-managed childcareRSLsplaces of worship.If you want to install a community event sign on land that is categorised as ‘institutional community use’ there are 2 options.If you meet one of the Planning Scheme exemptions, you can put up your community event sign without any involvement from Council. If you don’t meet either of the exemptions, you will likely need to apply for a Planning Permit.For signs installed on institutional community use land, if they are on the same land as the event being held, they can include a sponsorship component of up to 10% of the sign. Institional community use exemptions Exemption 1: one sign which doesn't have to be at the location of the event The sign can promote community events that are educational, cultural, political, religious, social or recreational as long as they are not held for commercial purposes. Only one sign can be displayed at the same location at a time.The display area of the sign can be up to 5 square metres. The sign cannot be animated or internally illuminated.Signs for a local political event can include information about a candidate for an election.The sign can be displayed for up to 3 months but must be taken down within 14 days of the event it's promoting taking place. Exemption 2: multiple signs at the same location as the event Signs cannot be used to promote a regularly occurring event.Signs must be displayed at the same location as the event it’s promoting.A maximum of 8 signs per calendar year are allowed at the location.Signs can be displayed for no more than 28 days maximum per calendar year.Signs must be removed once the event is finished. Council removal of signs We may move or remove the sign to carry out our work.If your sign doesn’t follow the agreed conditions and we remove the sign:you may not be able to collect the signyou will not be eligible for any compensation or reimbursement for the cost of the signyou may not get approval to install community events signs in the future.Contact usFor further information regarding planning permit requirements and the planning process, you can call the Urban Planning team on (03) 9278 4888 or email [email protected].
