Planning Reminder On Outdoor Signage Rules

June 5, 2015

The Department of Planning are reminding the public of some of the specifications of the Advertisements Regulation Act 1911 which regulates the exhibition of outdoor signs and advertising in Bermuda.

“The Act controls the placement, content and certain design elements of signs. For example, it dictates that a “For Sale” sign can be erected on land that is for sale; a sign on a building can display the business name and indicate the general character of the business; and a sign can advertise a municipal election,” a spokesperson said.

“However, the Act prohibits certain types of advertising, such as signs that protrude above the roofline of a building or which are ‘inner illuminated’. Additionally, it restricts advertising to the land or building to which the sale or meeting or entertainment relates.

“The Act defines “advertisement” as any sign, boarding, building, structure, bill, poster or notice used or intended to be used for advertising.The Act defines “land” as including houses, buildings, walls, rocks, trees, poles and structures on land and land covered by water.

“The public should be aware that any advertising signs erected on land owned by the Bermuda Government and controlled by either the Department of Parks or the Department of Works & Engineering is not permitted and will be removed.

“Advertising signs displayed on these strips of land will be removed by either a Parks or Works & Engineering crew, this includes East Broadway and Palmetto Road, whether advertising a charitable event or not.

“The control of advertising signs incorrectly erected on private land will be addressed by the Department of Planning. This applies to free-standing signs, flutter flags, neon signs and over-sized signs attached to buildings.

“We encourage any business or any private land owner who is considering putting up outdoor signage and advertising, or wishes to check compliance of their existing signs, to visit the Department of Planning’s website to view the guidelines and the Act in its entirety.”

“Both the Corporation of Hamilton and the Corporation of St. George can license land for the exhibition of advertisements. Individuals are advised to approach those bodies directly should they wish to do so.

“To report a sign erected on park property, contact the Parks Department at 236-5902. On weekends, please call 599-5902.To retrieve a sign removed from park property, contact the Parks Department receptionist at 236-5902 to arrange collection from the Parks Department at the Botanical Gardens.

“To report a sign erected on government land, contact the Chief Engineer at 297-7863.To retrieve a sign removed from government land contact the Marsh Folly depot, Marsh Folly Road at 292-7454 to arrange a time when it would be convenient to collect the sign.

“To report a sign erected on private property, contact the Enforcement Officer at 297-7634. For more information regarding signage and advertising visit here.”

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Comments (5)

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  1. Just a matter of time says:

    “Advertisements Regulation Act 1911″ 1911? Seriously? The 19th Century was just 11 years prior! Can we come up to the 21st Century please? Maybe that’s what is holding us back as well in how we sell ourselves as an island overall. All of these antiquated laws. I realize we don’t have to look like Times Square but some more wiggle room at least from our present conservative and stuffy restrictions. 1911 was a very different and quiet era and certainly did not anticipate our 2015 high cost of living. People are currently trying to make a living the best way they can in this pressure cooker environment we have and some relaxation of these laws are needed. This law needs to be updated to current conditions asap.

  2. Querry says:

    Will Jeff Sousa have to remove his oversize OBA sign across from Marketplace in Southampton?

    • Zevon says:

      What, the legal sign he has up at his own business? That one?

  3. wondering says:

    Bermuda is a joke sometimes. This is akin to the offence of ‘wandering abroad’ that was only repealed in the late 1990s or early 2000s.

    Wandering abroad was a charge bought against slaves who were caught wandering outside the parish for which they were registered. Take a look at any media in the 1980s early 1990s and see how many vagrants were charged for this crime (the law obviously updated to exclude the term slave or any reference thereof).

    Saying all that to say this…..

    I agree with the first poster. We sell ourselves as this quaint Victorian little country with the mindset to put a left handed persons hand in scalding water to deter them from writing with that hand.

    Come up to the 21st century Bermuda

  4. Frank says:

    Its about time they start enforcing the law. The sandwich boards thru Hamilton and around the island look so tacky and oh ya the are illegal. Someone start doing there job out there and stop turning a blind eye.