Advertising signs | Sunshine Coast Council

An advertising device is any permanent structure, device, sign, or the like, intended for advertising purposes. It includes any framework, supporting structure or building feature as part of the advertisement.

Advertising devices may be temporary, mobile or permanent. They are commonly called signs, although they can be a structure, a flag or other type of device.

Council regulates advertising devices to ensure public safety and to maintain the local amenity.

Temporary signs

Council’s local law regulates temporary signs or moveable advertising devices. This can include real estate and election signs. It also includes temporary signs on public land like temporary roadside banners.

Read our information pack about managing roadsides.

Roadside signs

An agreement between the Department of Transport and Main Roads and council allows certain local laws to be applied on all roads in the region.

Read about advertising devices on council and state controlled roads.

For advertising signs on power poles, refer to Energex.

Read our fact sheet about portable electronic billboards and variable message signs.

Permanent advertising signs

Permanent advertising devices, such as structures and signs, are regulated by the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014. Examples of permanent signs include:

a free-standing sign attached to the ground by posts or a frame
a sign connected to the top of a building or part of a shop awning
a sign painted on a flat surface like a wall or fence

Permanent signs are classified as operational work under the planning scheme. They are also regulated under the Building Regulation 2021, schedule 1 section 6.

Do I need approval for my sign?

You may need to lodge an application for your sign to carry out operational work and building work. This depends on the size, type and location of the signage proposed.

Building work approval to construct your sign

Schedule 1 of the Building Regulation 2021 allows for installation of signs on private property without a building work approval, providing the sign is:

detached from a building; and
no higher than 2m; and
no wider than 1.2m; and
is safe and structurally compliant with the Building Code of Australia.
For example, it must be able to withstand prescribed wind speeds.

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

engage a private 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.

Operational work approval for your sign

Advertising signs may need approval from council for:

displaying a new advertising sign
changing the type of sign, for example from static to electronic
changing the intensity of the activity, for example adding extra signs to an existing sign

Step 1: Check if your advertising sign is self-assessable under the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014. If you comply with criteria in the Advertising Devices Code, you are not required to submit an application to council.

Step 2: If your advertising sign is not self-assessable, you will need to lodge an operational work application council.

The assessment criteria for this application will relate to the zoning of the site. For example, larger signage is acceptable in commercial zones, but not in residential or rural zones.

Step 3: If your advertising sign does not comply with the criteria, contact council for further information.

Third party advertising devices are generally not supported by the planning scheme. These are signs advertising activities or products which are not related to the business or location where the sign is attached.

Fees apply for an operational work application.