Do You Need Permission for a Sign Board? UK Size Rules for Correx and Foamex Signs
· Shakeel Syed
Most temporary signs in England can go up without applying for permission, as long as they stay within set size limits, timings and places. This guide maps those rules to the board sizes we print, so you can pick a size that is allowed.
A residential For Sale or To Let board can be up to 0.5 m². An A1 board is 0.4996 m², so A1 is the largest standard size allowed. Local event signs can be up to 0.6 m² (A1 fits), and building site boards up to 2 m² near a road (A0 fits). Fixing any sign to a lamp post without council consent is an offence.
Which board sizes fit each rule?
The limits below come from Schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007. Signs inside these limits have “deemed consent”, which means you do not need to apply.
| Type of sign | Maximum size | Largest standard board that fits | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential For Sale / To Let | 0.5 m² | A1 (0.4996 m²) | Remove within 14 days of completion or the tenancy starting |
| Commercial property For Sale / To Let | 2 m² | A0 (1 m²) | Remove within 14 days of completion or the tenancy starting |
| Local event (religious, educational, cultural, political, social or recreational, not commercial) | 0.6 m² | A1 | Up no earlier than 28 days before; down within 14 days after |
| Building or development site board | 2 m² within 10m of a road; 3 m² further away (more if several firms are named) | A0 | Only while the work is being carried out |
| Extra contractor sign on a site | 0.5 m² per road frontage | A1 | Up to 3 months |
| One-off sale of goods or livestock on the land | 1.2 m² | A0 | Up no earlier than 28 days before; down within 14 days after |
All of these signs must not be lit, must have no part higher than 4.6m (3.6m in a conservation area or other area of special control), and lettering no taller than 0.75m (0.3m in an area of special control).
How big can a For Sale board be?
A residential For Sale or To Let board in England can be up to 0.5 square metres, or 0.6 square metres for two joined boards. Only one board is allowed per property, and the first one put up is the one that counts. It must stand on the property being sold or let, project no more than 1 metre from the building, and come down within 14 days of the sale completing or the tenancy being granted.
An A1 Correx board at 594 × 841mm is 0.4996 m², the largest A-size that fits. B1 (0.71 m²) and A0 (1 m²) are too big for a residential board. If you need a custom shape, keep the area at or below 0.5 m², for example 600 × 800mm.
What size can a school fair or church event sign be?
Signs for a local event that is religious, educational, cultural, political, social or recreational, and not run for commercial purposes, can be up to 0.6 m². They can go up no earlier than 28 days before the event and must come down within 14 days after it ends. A1 and smaller boards fit. B1 at 0.71 m² does not.
How big can a building site board be?
A board on land where building work is happening can be up to 2 m² if it is within 10 metres of a road, or 3 m² further back. If the board names more than one firm, the limit rises by 0.4 m² per extra firm near a road, or 0.6 m² further back. One board is allowed per road frontage, and it can only stay up while the work is in progress. An A0 board at 1 m² sits comfortably inside the limit. A contractor who is not named on the main board can put up their own sign of up to 0.5 m² for up to three months.
Can I cable-tie a sign to a lamp post?
Not without consent. Putting a sign on a lamp post, road sign, railing, tree or other structure on the highway without the highway authority’s consent is an offence under section 132 of the Highways Act 1980. Councils remove these signs, can recover their costs, and can prosecute. Dudley Council, for example, warns of fines of up to £1,000. Put your sign on private land with the owner’s permission instead.
What are the rules for election signs?
Signs about a pending Parliamentary or local election, or a referendum, are a separate class: they must be removed within 14 days after the close of the poll. They still need the landowner’s permission, and the lamp post rule above still applies. Many councils publish their own election sign code, so check yours before the campaign starts.
Do signs inside my shop need permission?
Usually not. A sign inside a building does not need consent if it is not lit and no part of it is within 1 metre of a window or door it can be seen through from outside. Signs in a window within that 1 metre fall under the normal outdoor rules.
When do I need to apply?
Apply to your local planning authority if your sign is bigger than these limits, will be lit, stays up longer than allowed, or you are in a listed building, conservation area or area of special control with extra restrictions. Councils can also remove deemed consent in particular areas, so a quick check with your council is worthwhile for anything unusual.
Please note: these rules are for England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own regulations with similar but not identical limits. This guide is a plain-English summary, not legal advice; your local council has the final word.
Which board for each sign?
- For Sale or To Let board on a house: A1 Correx board
- Commercial property board: B1 or A0 Correx board
- School fair, church or charity event sign: A1, A2 or A3 Correx board
- Building site board: A0 Correx board
- Contractor sign on someone else’s site: A1 Correx board
- Odd size to fit a frame (keep sale boards at or under 0.5 m²): custom size Correx board
Choosing your board
Temporary outdoor signs such as property, event and site boards are usually best in Correx: light, waterproof and easy to cable-tie to fencing. For signs inside a shop or office, Foamex looks smoother. Both are 5mm and the same price. See Correx vs Foamex and our board sizes and prices guide.
Order your boards online
5mm Correx and Foamex in A4 to A0, B1, B2 and custom sizes, from £4.70. Printed in Denton, Manchester, with UK delivery and free local collection.
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