Signs

You may need a building consent, and/or a resource consent  or permission from the Transport Team for any sign that:

• is more than 1.8 metres high
  
• has a surface area bigger than two square metres 
  
• is mounted on a wall or verandah 
  
• is located on one site but advertises a different activity, product or service (e.g. a billboard)
  
• is being erected on road reserve or private property

Find out more at www.building.govt.nz - check if you need consents. 

You need a permit for all signs, whether they’re on public or private land or buildings. 

Having a community sign no longer requires a permit, please ensure you comply with the sign requirements below.

Promote the community and local groups while maintaining the overall look of an area and ensuring public safety when placing signs around Porirua City.

Community Sign Requirements

8.1 Community signs are permitted for the purposes of promoting any forthcoming event, community organisation and providing community information without advertising for other goods or services. Community signage must:

(a) no face of the sign exceeds 6 square metres in surface area; and

(b) the top of the sign does not exceed 3 metres in height above the supporting ground level.

8.2 Signs cannot be placed or displayed:

8.3 All community signs must comply with section 6.7

2020 Signs Bylaw Policy Document

Approved locations

A number of locations throughout Porirua City have been pre-approved for community sign display. The sites have been chosen with a view to:

• Assist community groups to achieve a high level of exposure.
• Protect important underground utility services.
• Minimise damage to grass and road reserve areas.
• Prevent hazards for road and pedestrian traffic.
• Maintain the good appearance of the city. 

• Map - Electioneering/Advertising Signs and Hoardings - Public Display Sites (434KB pdf).

Real estate signs do not require a permit but must meet the following requirements: 

10.1 Real estate signs are permitted for the purpose of advertising for sale, lease, rent or auction the whole or part of land or premises. Any real estate sign must:

a. be displayed on the property to which it relates.

b. be free standing or attached to the wall or fence of the property to which it relates. Not on the berm in front of the property.

c. be removed within 30 days of the ‘sold’ or ‘leased’ notification being placed on the sign.

d. not exceed a height of two metres above ground level.

e. not exceed a surface area of two square metres (e.g. up to 1.4 metres in height and 1.4 metres in width).

f. not be placed in a manner so as to create a hazard or obstruction for members of the public.

g. Not have more than one (1) temporary sign on any land or premises (being a sign advertising that land or premises for sale, auction or lease) for each real estate agency involved in the sale, auction or leasing of that land or premises.

10.2 Where a property does not have direct road frontage real estate signage may be displayed as close as practical outside the property to which it relates.

10.3 Directional real estate signage is to be put out and removed on same day of the auction or open home.

10.4 Real estate flags or banners may be displayed on a stationary vehicle during the time of an open home or onsite auction, so long as neither the flag or banner nor any supporting structure protrudes from the side of the vehicle.

10.5 All real estate signs must comply with section 6.7.

If any agents wish to have the sign conditions modified for any particular site then please complete the application form below for approval

Download the Signs Bylaw 2020 document

The following is information on the displaying of sandwich board advertising signs and flags on public footpaths and in public areas in reference to the Signs Bylaw 2020

Sandwich Board means a two-sided sign that is self-supporting, portable and temporary.

Flag means a portable sign intended for the purposes of advertising or to attract attention which is made from fabric, textile or cloth, such as a teardrop flag or flag banner.

11 PORTABLE SIGNS

11.1 A person may display one (1) portable sign on the footpath outside a business for the purpose of advertising the services and products of that business. Portable signage must:

11.2 Where a sandwich board is used it must not exceed 0.9 metres in height and 0.6 metres in width.

11.3 Where a flag is used it must not exceed 2.2 metres in height and 0.7 metres in width.

11.4 All portable signs must comply with section 6.7

Sandwich Board Signs & Flags must meet a minimum standard

It is important that your sandwich board sign is of a professional design, appearance and construction standard.

Council Inspectors will remove and impound non-complying signage that is displayed in breach of conditions.

Download the Signs Bylaw 2020 document

Election signs are referenced in the Local Electoral Act 2001 and Council’s election signs policy – which must be complied with.

Local Electoral Act 2001

All election material, including signs and hoardings, must show an authorisation statement (being one of the following: a residential or business address; an email address; a post office box number; a phone number; a link to a page on an Internet site, if the page contains 1 or more of the other contact details specified). Not to do so is an electoral offence. Refer section 113 Local Electoral Act 2001.

Council’s election signs policy

Permits

You can apply for a permit to place election signs on public sites listed in the Signs Bylaw 2020 by emailing the following info to us:

• Candidate Name:
• Address:
• Contact number for candidate:
• Email address:
• Name and contact number of any nominated contact person (if applicable):
• Number of signs required:
• Sign dimensions:
• Construction details:
• Method of erection and/or display:
• Additional info:
• Attached Photo, copy or sketch of the sign which shows the exact wording:
• Approved site required:
• The name of the ward or electorate in which the candidate is standing for election.

Note: a permit is not required for signs placed on private land, but we can help check if your sign complies with our Bylaw (including that it is more than 50 m away from any intersection).

For standard sized signs no fee is payable. Where a building or resource management consent has to be obtained, a fee may be incurred.

Size

The maximum permitted face surface area of any sign is 3 m2. (approximately1700 mm x 1700 mm).

The maximum height of any free-standing sign is 1.8 m above ground level.

Placement

Signs can only be installed on Council approved public sites.

Signs advertising a candidate standing for election to a ward position may be displayed within the boundaries of that ward only in approved locations, including private property.

Signs advertising a candidate who is standing for a position other than a ward position (i.e., candidate for mayoralty, Wellington Regional Council etc.) may be displayed throughout the city in approved locations, including private property.

Only one single-faced sign per candidate is permitted at any approved public site (no ‘V’ signs).

A person must not display any signage on or connected to a vehicle (vehicle includes any car, truck, bus, van, tractor, trailer, bicycle, motorcycle and any other device similar in appearance or description to those vehicles) that is parked on a road or a public place, if the FAQs – Porirua City Council elections, 8 October 2022 principal function of the vehicle is to display advertising.

Additional restrictions apply to the display of signs on or facing any state highway. In these cases additional approval from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency may be required.

Time

The maximum period of time during which a sign, poster or placard may be displayed is nine weeks leading up to the date of the election i.e. from 12.00 am, Saturday 6 August 2022. The removal of all signs, posters and placards is by 12.00 midnight on the day immediately preceding election day (7 October 2022). Further information

Further information relating to Council's signs Bylaw

A list of approved sights can be found here

Signs on Waka Kotahi land

If you wish to place signs on Waka Kotahi land, you must comply with NZTA bylaws, specifically the New Zealand Transport Agency (Signs on State Highways) Bylaw 2010. This Bylaw states that signs must comply with the following:

All signs proposed to be placed on Waka Kotahi land must be approved by Waka Kotahi. Consent can be obtained via emailing: EnvironmentalPlanning@nzta.govt.nz

Note: this Bylaw does not cover signs placed on private land, alongside state highways. These are covered by the Porirua City Council District Plan, and Signs Bylaw detailed above.