Political advertising

Whilst political advertising is not permitted on Council land or road reserves, the Hume Planning Scheme (HPS) outlines that a planning permit is not required on private property provided such political advertising meets the criteria outlined in HPS 52.05-10 as follows:

A permit is not required to display the following signs:

• A sign with an advertisement area not exceeding 5 square metres publicising a local educational, cultural, political, religious, social or recreational event not held for commercial purposes. Only one sign may be displayed on the land, it must not be an animated or internally illuminated sign, and it must not be displayed longer than 14 days after the event is held or 3 months, whichever is sooner. A sign publicising a local political event may include information about a candidate for an election.

Signage outside these parameters may require a Planning Permit which will be required before the signage is displayed. The above applies to private land only (approval of private land holders would be required).

Failure to comply with the above will result in a Planning Infringement Notice being issued. Please note that Planning Infringement Notices are issued to both the owner/s of the land and the candidate to the amount of between $1046 and $2091 per sign. It is your responsibility to advise the owner/s of the property and ensure they are aware of their obligations regarding the signage requirements specified above, particularly the requirement to remove any signage within 14 days of the election.

Many signs do require a Building Permit. The Building Act 1993, Section 16 and the Building Regulations 2018 require that a Building Permit is required for any sign that exceeds 1.0m in height above ground level if located within 3.0m of any street alignment (property) boundary of the allotment on which it is proposed to be erected.

If a sign is to be located or set back on an allotment a distance further than 3.0m from any street alignment (property) boundary, a Building Permit will be required if the sign exceeds 8.0m in height and if the sign has a display area exceeding 6m2.

Building Permits must be issued prior to the erection of a sign. The penalties for non-compliance are up to 500 penalty units ($90,870) in the case of an individual and 2500 penalty units ($454,350) in the case of a company.

For further information about the construction of signs, please contact Council’s Planning and Building department on 9205 2200.

Any signage found to be situated on Council property will be removed, and any political advertising signage on Council’s road reserves will be removed in accordance with the Road Management Act 2004 (Section 66) (1) (b).

Please note that under the Road Management Act 2004 (Section 66) (1) (b) the penalty is 3 penalty units ($629.00) noting that 10 penalty units is the maximum that can be awarded by the Court.

The Road Register lists all road within the Hume Municipality and is available online at:
www.hume.vic.gov.au/Residents/Roads-Parking-and-Transport/Roads-and-Transport

Any sign erected within a municipal place, as defined under the Hume General Local Law No. 1, 2023, without a permit will result in the issue of an infringement notice of $523.00 pursuant to Clause 28(1) of that Local Law.

For further information please contact the Council’s Technical Services team on 9205 2200.

VicRoads is required to meet obligations with respect to road safety within the arterial road network. VicRoads should be contacted prior to any installation of any signage on the road reserve where VicRoads is the coordinating Authority.

VicRoads have power under the Road Management Act 2004 to remove anything placed unlawfully without prior consent on the arterial road network.

The Register of Public Roads within Hume with VicRoads as the coordinating road authority are listed at: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

For further information regarding the VicRoads road reserves please contact VicRoads on 13 13 78

Candidates are advised that you must apply for and be in receipt of any relevant permits to display any A-Board or hold a street stall within Council Road Reserves (which includes the footpath).

Council’s General Local Law will apply and any advertising signage (including political signage) found placed on a road reserve or in a municipal place may attract a penalty of $523.00 per offence or a maximum that can be awarded by the Court of $4,182.00.

For further information please contact the Council’s City Laws team on 9205 2200.