…………………….
LOCAL
MUNICIPALITY
BY-LAWS FOR THE CONTROL OF
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING
2
BY-LAWS FOR THE CONTROL OF OUTDOOR ADVERTISING IN THE
…………………..LOCAL MUNICIPAL AREA
________________________________________________________________
______________
INDEX
PART A: INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
1. DEFINITIONS
2. SCOPE OF THESE BY-LAWS
3. DESIGNATION OF AREAS
PART B: PROVISION APPLICABLE TO ALL ADVERTISING SIGNS
4. AMENITY AND DECENCY
5. SAFETY
6. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
7. MAINTENANCE
8. POSITION
9. ILLUMINATION
PART C: TYPES OF ADVERTISING SIGN AND CONDITIONS OF THEIR ERECTION OR
DISPLAY
10. ELECTRONIC BILLBOARDS
11. SUPER BILLBOARDS
12. GANTRY BILLBOARDS
13. LARGE BILLBOARDS
14. SMALL BILLBOARDS AND TOWER STRUCTURES
15. ADVERTISEMENT ON STREET FURNITURE
16. BANNERS
17. FLAGS
18. SUBURBAN ADVERTISING SIGNS
19. ESTATE AGENTS’ BOARDS
20. TEMPORARY DIRECTION INDICATORS FOR SHOW HOUSES
21. ADVERTISEMENTS FOR SALE OF GOODS OR LIVESTOCK
22. AUCTION POSTERS
23. POSTERS
24. PROJECT BOARDS
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25. DEVELOPMENT ADVERTISING SIGNS
26. CONSTRUCTION SITE ADVERTISING SIGNS
27. STREET NAME ADVERTISING SIGNS
28. SECURITY ADVERTISING
29. PRODUCT REPLICAS AND THREE DIMENSIONAL ADVERTISING SIGNS
30. SKY SIGNS
31. ROOF SIGNS
32. FLAT SIGNS
33. PROJECTING SIGNS
34. BALCONY OR UNDERAWNING ADVERTISING SIGNS
35. SIGNS PAINTED ON WALLS AND ROOFS
36. WINDOW SIGNS
37. FORECOURT ADVERTISING SIGNS
38. RESIDENTIAL OR COMMUNITY ADVERTISING SIGNS
39. ON-PREMISES BUSINESS ADVERTISING SIGNS
40. TOWER, BRIDGE AND PYLON ADVERTISING SIGNS
41. ADVERTISEMENTS FOR SPONSORED ROAD TRAFFIC PROJECTS
42. ADVERTISING SIGNS AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
43. SERVICE FACILITY ADVERTISING SIGNS
44. TOURISM SIGNS
45. AERIAL ADVERTISEMENTS
46. TRAILER ADVERTISING SIGNS
47. PAMPHLETS
48. PROHIBITED SIGNS
PART D: GENERAL PROVISIONS
49. APPROVAL BY MUNICIPALITY
50. REFUSAL, WITHDRAWAL OR AMENDMENT OF APPROVAL AND APPEAL
PROCEDURE
51. ERECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ADVERTISING SIGNS
52. TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
53. ENTRY AND INSPECTIONS
54. OFFENCES
55. RESPONSIBLE PERSONS
56. REMOVAL OF SIGNS OR ADVERTISING HOARDINGS
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57. SERVING OF NOTICE
58. REPEAL OF PREVIOUS BY-LAW
PART A: INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
1. DEFINITIONS
In these by-laws, unless the context indicates otherwise, any word or expression
defined in the South African /manual for Outdoor Advertising Control, has the
same meaning when used in these By-laws, and -:
“advertisement” means any visible representation of a word, name, letter, figure,
object, mark, symbol, abbreviation, light, or any combination thereof with the
object or transferring information, which is visible from any street or public place,
but it does not include a road traffic sign;
“advertisement for sale of goods or livestock” means and advertisement
announcing such a sale on land or premises not normally used for commercial
purposes and may include an advertisement announcing auctions of household
goods on residential properties, or livestock or game on farms;
“advertisement for sponsored road traffic projects” means an advertisement
relating to the sponsoring of a specific project aimed at the provision of road
services, the promotion or road safety or the management and conservation of
roadside environments;
“advertisement on street furniture” means a poster which does not exceed 2,2
square metres in area, which is attached to street furniture and which has been
approved by the municipality;
“advertiser” means the person or organization whose product or service is being
advertised, or whose name or image is mentioned or promoted in an
advertisement;
“advertising” means the act or process of notifying, warning, informing, making
known or any other act of transferring information in a visible manner;
“advertising sign” means any screen, fence, wall, device or any other physical
structure or object erected to display an advertisement or which is in itself an
advertisement or used to display an advertisement;
“advertising structure” means any physical structure erected to display an
advertisement;
“aerial advertisement” means an advertisement that is exhibited, displayed or
performed in the air with the aid of balloons, searchlights, aircraft or similar
means;
“approved” means approved by the municipality and “approval” has a
corresponding meaning;
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“arcade” means a pedestrian thoroughfare whether or not located at ground level
passing wholly or partly through a building or buildings and to which the public
normally has regular and unrestricted access;
“arterial road” means a road which in the opinion of the municipality functions as
a main carrier of traffic within an urban area;
“animated” means the visibility or message of an advertisement is enhanced by
means of moving units, flashing lights or similar devices, or that an advertisement
contains a variable message;
“area of advertisement” means the area in square metres of the smallest
rectangle that will encompass the extreme limits of the advertisement or
combined advertisement, together with any material or colour forming an integral
part of the background of the advertisement or used to differentiate the
advertisement from the structure or building against which it is placed;
”areas of maximum control” means natural area, rural areas and urban of
maximum control.
“balcony or under awning advertisement” means an advertisement –
(a) affixed flat onto or painted on a parapet wall, balustrade or railing;
(b) affixed flat on or painted on a fascia;
(c) affixed flat or painted on the fascia or a roof structure without walls;
(d) affixed to or painted on a pillar, column or post supporting a roof structure
without walls;
(e) painted or printed on the fabric of a blind;
“banner” means a piece of cloth (or similar material) maximum 6m², upon which
an advertisement is displayed in such a manner as to be fully legible in windless
conditions, attached to one or more ropes, poles or flag staff projecting vertically,
horizontally or at an angle, or attached to builds or to special structures, but
excludes banners carried as part of a procession;
“billboard” means any screen or board larger than 4,5m², supported by a free
standing structure, which is to be used or intended to be used for the purpose of
posting, displaying or exhibiting an advertisement and which is also commonly
known as an advertising hoarding. The main function of a billboard it to advertise
non-locality bound products, activities or services;
“bit” means the basic unit for measuring the length of advertising messages and
may consist of letters, digits, symbols, logos, graphics or abbreviations. For the
purposes of these regulations bit values shall be calculated as follows:
Words of up to eight letters, inclusive 1,0 bit
Words of more that eight letters 2,0 bits
Numbers of up to four digits, inclusive 0,5 bit
Numbers of five to eight digit 1,5 bit
Symbol or abbreviation 0,5 bit
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Large logos and graphics 2,0 bit
“candela” means a unit of luminance as determined from time to time by the
International Commission on Illumination.
“centre of economic activity” means an enterprise or a group of enterprises
outside of urban areas and which may include farm stalls, services facilities,
accommodation facilities, food services, industries and cottage industries, as well
as shops and other commercial facilities.
“clear height” means the minimum vertical distance from the ground, road or
surface level, as the case may be, to the advertisement.
“charge determined by the municipality” means the appropriate charge either
fixed as set forth in these by-laws or reviewed and determined annually by the
municipality;
“combination advertising sign” means an advertisement compromising a
number of smaller, individual advertisements, usually displaying different
products or services, placed next to each other on a single structure specifically
designed to accommodate more than one advertisement.
“construction site advertising sign” means an advertisement affixed flat
against or on top of a fence or wall forming the boundary of a construction site;
“direction sign” means a sign indicating the way to any place, undertaking or
activity for the purpose of advertising or attracting public attention as
contemplated in the definition of “advertisement”
“development advertising sign” means an advertising sign describing
(including pictorial representation of) the type of development being carried out
on a construction site;
“education institutions” means any primary or secondary or tertiary education
institution;
“electronic billboard” means a billboard which has an electronically controlled,
illuminated display surface which allows all or a portion of the advertisement to
be changed animated or illuminated in different ways;
“engineer” means an engineer registered in terms of the Engineering Profession
of South Africa Act, 1990 (Act No. 114 of 1990);
“entertainment area” means an area the main purpose of which is to be used
as a park, sports field, barbecue area or for other recreational purposes;
“erf” means an erf, stand, lot, plot, agricultural holding or similar land entity
registered in a deed registry;
“exhibition” means any exhibition of public interest that a recognized show or
other association, state department or institution presents where there is more
than one exhibitor, excluding show houses and exhibitions promoted by
companies or individual institutions that wish to introduce their products to the
public;
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“estate agents’ board” means an advertisement that are temporarily displayed
to advertise the fact that land, premises, development or other forms of fixed
property are for sale or to let and includes a private seller;
“flag” means a piece of cloth (or similar material) upon which an advertisement
is displayed and which is attached to a single rope, pole of flag staff projecting
vertically in such a way that its contents are normally not readable in windless
conditions. Flags exclude:
(a) national flags that do not carry any advertisement in addition to the design
of the flag or flag staff, and
(b) flags carried as part of a procession;
“forecourt” means an outdoor area forming a functional part of a building
housing an enterprise, and may include the area of a filling station where the
pumps are situated, or a terrace in front of a restaurant, enclosing fences, walls,
screens or similar structures, excluding sidewalk areas in front of business
premises intended for pedestrian circulation;
“forecourt advertising sign” means an advertising sign on a forecourt of
business premises, being an advertisement displayed in such forecourt to draw
attention to commercial services, goods for sale or other services available at the
premises, but does not include a combination advertising sign at a filling station
or roadside service area;
“free standing sign” means a sign that stand on its own or has its own support
and is not attached to any building or does not form part of or is not an integral
part of an architectural element or structure;
“flashing sign” means a sign in which a symbol, figure, message or illustration
intermittently appears and/or disappears and/or is illuminated with light of varying
colour or intensity;
“flat sign” means any sign which is affixed to any external wall of a building
used for commercial, office, industrial or entertainment purposes, but excluding a
parapet wall, balustrade or railing of a veranda or balcony of any such building,
which at no point projects more than 300mm from the surface of such a wall and
which may consist of a panel or sheet or of individual numbers, letters or
symbols;
“freeway” means a national road that has been designated as a freeway by an
appropriate road traffic sign in terms of the National Road Traffic Act;
“functional public advertisement” means an advertisement displayed only for
announcement or direction of the functions of municipalities or parastatal bodies
that cannot be displayed under any other class of advertisement;
“gantry billboard” means a billboard fixed to an overhead structure, usually
spanning a road;
“gore” means the area immediately beyond the divergence of two roadways,
bounded by the edges of those roadways;
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“height” means the maximum vertical distance from the ground, road surface, or
surface level to the top of the advertising sign;
“height zone” means a “zone” indicating restrictions as to the height of
buildings;
“illuminated” in relation to an advertisement means that it has been installed
with electrical or other power for the purpose of illuminating it, either continuously
or intermittently;
“large billboard” means any billboard ranging in size from 18m² to 36m² in area
of advertising sign;
“large electronic billboard” means an advertising sign that is an electronic
billboard larger than 18 square metres in area;
“light not intended for illumination” means a flashing, flickering or continuous
light source, beam of light or a number of such sources or beams, aimed or
moved in such a manner as to attract attention, without being primarily for the
purpose of illuminating an area or object;
“locality bound” means an advertisement displayed on a specific erf or
premises and referring to an activity, product, service or attraction located,
rendering or provided on that erf or those premises or inside that building;
“m” means metre;
“mm” means millimeter;
“mobile or transit sign” means an advertisement attached to or displayed on a
vehicle vessel or craft on land, or water or in the air.
“municipal area” means the jurisdiction area of the municipality;
“municipality” means the (…………. Local Municipality )”or any officials,
committee or employees of the municipality to whom any of its power under
these By-laws has been delegated to, in terms of the provisions of Part 3, section
59 of the Local Government: Municipal System Act 32 of 2000;
“National Road Traffic Act” means the National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act 93
of 1996);
“natural area” means an area of the rural or non-urban environment which is in
unspoilt natural state or is of high scenic value, and includes, but is not limited to
national parks, game reserves, nature reserves, marine reserves, wilderness
areas, areas of extensive agricultural and scenic areas;
“on-premises business advertising sign” means an advertising sign aimed at
identifying and locating business enterprises and industries, and excludes a
residential or community advertising sign,
“owner” in relation to an advertisement means the person who owns the
advertising structure, or will own the advertising structure, or will own the
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structure once it has been erected, or any person who has a right to or share in
the ownership of the advertising structure;
“outdoor advertising” means the act or process of notifying, warning, informing,
making known or any other act of transferring information in a visible manner and
which takes place out of doors;
“performing arts” means any live entertainment and/or performances
performed by artists or entertainers;
“Permanent sign” means a sign that may be displayed for a maximum of five
years or any other period approved by the municipality;
“policy” means the by-laws for the Control of Outdoor Advertising, the South
African Manual for Outdoor Advertising Control (SAMOAC), the relevant Town
Planning Scheme applicable in the municipal area, the application of the National
Building Standard Act,1977 (Act 103 of 1997), Council resolutions and the
relevant department policy and/or guidelines.
“poster” means any placard announcing or attracting public attention to any
meeting, event, function, activity or undertaking or to the candidature of any
person nominated for election to parliament, the local government or similar body
or to a referendum;
“product replica or three-dimensional advertising sign” is a replica or device
used for advertising that may be free-standing or attached to a structure, and
includes an inflatable object that is not an aerial advertisement;
“project board” means any sign displaying the involvement of a contractor or
consultant in a construction project;
“projected sign” means any sign projected by cinematograph or other
apparatus, but does not include a sign projected onto the audience’s side of a
drive-in cinema screen during a performance;
“projecting sign” means any advertising sign which is affixed to a main wall of a
building which is used for commercial, office, industrial or entertainment purposes
and which project more than 300mm from the surface of the main wall and is
affixed at a right angle to the street line.
“public place” means any road, street, thoroughfare, bridge, subway, foot
pavement, footpath, sidewalk, line, square, open space, garden, park or enclosed
space vested in the municipal area;
“pylon sign” means any sign whether stationery or actuated, displayed on or
forming an integral part of pylon, mast, tower or similar structure other than a
building or an advertising hoarding;
“residential or community advertising signs” includes a variety of small
notices and advertising signs displayed on premises used for residential –
orientated purposes and for community services, and include advertising signs in
urban areas and also places of residence in natural and rural areas, but are
limited to-
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(a) identification, direction and warning signs with regard to residence, for
examples-
(i) names of houses, flat complexes, farms and smallholdings;
(ii) signs such as “beware of the dog”, “no parking” and “close the gate”;
(iii) signs indicating the nature of or main activity on farms and
smallholdings;
(b) signs showing the name or nature of the business, practice or enterprise or
the owners or practitioners of small business, enterprise in urban residential
premises and buildings constructed or used for community purposes or
premises on urban, but not rural, smallholdings;
(c) signs showing the name and nature of the facility or of the proprietor or
partners, on small scale accommodation facilities;
(d) signs showing the name and nature of the institution, the names of
practitioners and nature and extent of services on community services and
institutions, such as religious, cultural, educational and recreational
institutions and medical institutions related to those purposes;
“road island” means an area demarcated on a roadway by means of painted
lines, stones, kerbs or by other means with the intention of preventing vehicles
from standing or being operated in that area;
“road median” means the area separating traffic lanes on a roadway;
“road reserve” means the full width of a national, provincial or existing public
road, and includes roadways, shoulders, and sidewalks and the air space above
such roadways, shoulders and sidewalks and all other areas within the road
reserve boundary;
“road reserve boundary” means the proclaimed boundary forming the outer
edge of the road reserve;
“roadside service area” means an area with direct access from a national road
in which facilities and services such as petrol and diesel sales, restaurants, fast
food outlets, toilets, playgrounds and picnic spots may be provided for motorists;
“road traffic sign” means any road traffic signs as defined in the National Road
Traffic Act and the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1996 (Ordinance 21 of 1996);
“roadway” means a roadway as defined in the National Road Traffic Act;
“roof sign” means a sign on the main roof of a building lower than the height
zone of a building and which building is used or partly used for commercial,
office, industrial or entertainment purposes;
“rotating sign” means a sign which rotates about any axis;
“rural area” means an area forming a transition between urban areas and
unspoilt natural areas and includes intensive agricultural, subsistence agriculture
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and peri-urban small holdings of a predominantly rural nature and with relatively
low population densities;
“SAMOAC” means the South African Manual for Outdoor Advertising Control
compiled and published by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
in conjunction with the Department of Transport, April 1998;
“security advertisement” means an outdoor advertisement for neighbourhood
watch, farm watch and similar schemes, and an advertisement containing the
name, address and telephone number of a security company contracted to
protect the premises on which the advertisement is displayed;
“services facility advertising sign” means an advertising sign at a filling station
or roadside rest and service area;
“shoulder” means the shoulder of a national road, provincial road or existing
public road as defined in the National Road Traffic Act, the Road Traffic
Ordinance or the relevant Town Planning Scheme.
“sidewalk” means a sidewalk of a national road, provincial road or existing public
road as defined in the National Road Traffic Ordinance or relevant Town
Planning Scheme.
“sidewalk poster or notice” means a temporary advertisement attached to an
electrical light standard within a road reserve to advertise public and charitable
events, functions, occasions, meetings or campaigns of a religious, educational,
cultural, political, social, sporting or recreational nature, and includes a poster
displayed for an election or referendum campaign;
“sign” means any devise or article with writing, letters, numbers or illustrations
on it, or non-physical sign projected on buildings or any other structure or in the
air with the aid of modern technology (e.g. laser beams), which device, article or
non-physical sign is visibly displayed in any way whatsoever from a street or
public place for the purpose of advertising, providing information, or attracting the
public to any place for the purpose of advertising, providing information, or
attracting the public to any place, public display, article or merchandise for sale,
and the surface or structure of such device, article or non-physical sign is
attached to or forms part of a building, or is fixed to the ground or to a pole, tree,
screen or boarding, or is displayed in any other way, excluding information on the
commodities that are exhibited;
“sky sign” means a very large sign between 75m² to 300m² on top of a
skyscraper in a metropolitan area that is erected or placed on the same level as
or above the gutters, parapets or any other part of the roof of a building, or that
extends from the gutters, parapets or any other part of the roof of a building,
excluding a sign that is painted on the roof of a building;
“small billboard” means billboard smaller than 18 square metres in area of
advertisement;
“sponsored road traffic project” means a project specifically intended for the
benefit of road users involving the provision of road services, the promotion of
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road safety or the management and conservation of road environments, agreed
to between the municipality and the sponsor of the sponsored road traffic project;
“street furniture” means public facilities and structures which are not intended
primarily for advertising and includes seating benches, planters, sidewalk litter
bins, pole mounted bins, bus shelters, sidewalk clock and drinking fountains, but
excludes road traffic signs, traffic lights, street lights or any other road-related
structures;
“street name advertising sign” means a pole-mounted advertising sign that
may be illuminated, that is displayed in combination with a street name sign;
“streetscaping” or “ streetscape” means the coherence between street
furniture and other features on a national road, provincial road or existing public
road;
“suburban advertising sign” means a pole mounted location advertising sign at
the entrance to a town or suburb that carries an advertising sign beneath the
road traffic sign bearing the name of the town or suburb;
“super billboard” means a massive billboard larger than 36m²;
“storey” means that space within a building which is situated between one floor
level and the next floor level above or ceiling or roof above;
“street” means any street, road or thoroughfare shown on a general plan of
township, agricultural holding or any other division of land or in respect of which
the public have acquired a prescriptive or other right of way and which vests in
the municipality;
“temporary sign” means a sign that may be displayed for a maximum of 14
days or any other period approved by the municipality;
“the person” means a lessor, lessee, a legal or illegal occupant or a
usufructuary of private, state or Municipal land on which a sign was or is being
erected and/or displayed, or the individual in whose name the land on which a
sign was or is being erected and/or displayed, as the case may be, is registered
in the Deeds Office, and if the municipality is unable to determine the identity of
the owner, an individual who is entitled to the benefit of the erection and/or
display and/or use of the sign or who enjoys such benefit, or the person’s
authorized agent, “the person” in the above context includes both a natural and a
legal person;
“tourism sign” means a road traffic sign having a trapezoidal shape and white
on brown colour, the main objective of which is to inform and guide tourists in the
final stages of their journeys;
“tower, bridge and pylon advertising sign” means a billboard affixed to or
painted on a tower, bridge or pylon that is not used primarily for advertising
purposes;
“tower structure” means a structure used for advertising in a parking area of a
shopping centre and at an important transport node such as an airport, railway
station or bus or taxi station;
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“traffic sign” means a road traffic sign contemplated in the National Road Traffic
Act or a rail traffic sign or signal;
“trailer advertising” means any transport trailer that is used for the purpose of
advertising;
“urban area” means a human settlement with a population of more than 2500
people.
“urban areas of maximum control” include, but are not limited to, natural open
spaces and urban conservation areas, interface of natural landscape with built-up
areas, bodies of water, rivers, ridges, forests, open recreational areas,
characteristic vistas, heritage sites or building, special tourist areas, skylines,
residential areas, and visual zones along freeways in urban areas, unless the
municipality, after obtaining a strategic environmental assessment designates
areas along such freeways as areas of partial or minimum control;
“urban areas of minimum control” are areas which require minimum control
such as areas of concentrated economic activity where business is the main
focus, commercial districts, central shopping centre, central office precincts,
commercial enclaves and shopping centres in industrial areas and industrial
parks, entertainment district or complexes and prominent transport nodes
excluding nodes of an exceptional historical architectural value;
“urban areas of partial control” are areas characterized by a greater degree of
integration and complexity of land use which require a lesser degree of control,
such as high density residential areas, in transition and residential areas where
office and commercial encroachment have taken place and low density suburbs,
small commercial enclaves in residential areas, suburban shopping centres and
office parks, ribbon development along main street, educational institutions,
sports field or stadia, commercial squares, government enclaves and
smallholdings of an urban nature with a higher population density than rural small
holdings;
“vehicular advertising” means advertising on self-driven vehicles which are
normally driven on land or water and which are normally moving.
“vehicle” means a motor vehicle as defined in the National Road Traffic Act or
the Road Traffic ordinance;
“verandah” means a structure in the nature of a roof attached to or projecting
from the façade of a building and supported along its free edge by columns or
posts;
“visual zone” refers to a zone considered to be an area of maximum control,
visible from an urban freeway, extending a distance of 250 metre in any direction
from the freeway reserve boundary, but which excludes all visually isolated space
which cannot be seen from such a freeway;
“window signs” means signs of which the area is permanently painted on or
attached to the window-glass of a building;
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“zone” has the meaning assigned to it in the relevant Town Planning Scheme of
the municipality, that is revised from time to time, and “use zones” has the same
meaning.
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2. SCOPE OF THIS BY LAWS
(1) These by-laws are designed to regulate outdoor advertising on or visible
from roads within the municipal area, whether or not such sign is erected on
private property.
(2) Unless these by-law provide specifically that the approval of the
municipality is required for a particular advertising sign, such approval is not
required, but all of the conditions of these by-law applicable to that type of
advertising sign must be complied with.
3. DESIGNATION OF AREA
(1) The municipality may-
(a) Designate areas outside of urban areas as either natural areas or rural
areas;
(i) urban areas of maximum control;
(ii) urban areas of partial control;
(iii) urban areas of minimum control.
PART B: PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL ADVERTISING SIGNS
4. AMENITY AND DECENCY
(1) No sign shall in the opinion of the municipality-
(a) be detrimental to the environment or the amenity of a human living
environment by reason of size, shape, colour, texture, intensity of
illumination, quality of design or materials or for any other reason;
(b) be in its content objectionable , indecent or suggestive of indecency or
prejudicial to the public morals; or
(c) unreasonably obscure, partially or wholly, any sign owned by another
person previously erected and legally displayed.
5. SAFETY
(1) No advertisement or advertising sign shall, subject to the discretion and
approval of the municipality or the appropriate roads authority
(a) constitute a danger to any person or property;
(b) be so placed or contain an element which distracts the attention of
drivers in a manner likely to lead to unsafe driving conditions;
(c) be illuminated to the extent that it causes discomfort to or inhibits the
vision of approaching pedestrians or drivers;
(d) be attached to a road traffic sign or signal, combined with a road traffic
sign or signal (unless specifically provided for in the South African
Road Signs Manual), obscure a road traffic sign or signal, create
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confusion with a road traffic sign or signal, interfere with the
functioning of a road traffic sign or signal or create a road safety
hazard in the opinion of the municipality or the appropriate roads
authority;
(e) obscure a pedestrian’s or driver’s view of pedestrians, road or rail
vehicles and features of the road, railway or pavement such as
junctions, bends and changes in width;
(f) project over a pedestrian or cycle circulation route, unless the clear
height of such sign exceeds 2,4m;
(g) obstruct fire escape or means of egress to fire escapes;
(h) be placed closer than the minimum clearance with regard to overhead
power lines as prescribed by any law;
(2) Signs or advertisements positioned along roads and specifically targeting
the road user shall be concise and legible and shall comply with the
following requirements:
(a) Street numbers indicating specific premises shall have a minimum size
of 150mm and a maximum size of 350mm.
(b) No massage shall be spread across more that one sign or sign panel.
6. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
(1) Any sign-
shall subject to the satisfaction and approval of the municipality:
(a) be neatly and properly constructed and executed and finished in a
workmanlike manner;
(b) not be detrimental to or have a negative aesthetic impact on the urban
design’ streetscapes or the character of the surrounding area by way
of the design of the structure or device
(c) have a neat appearance and shall consist of durable materials in
accordance with the function, nature and permanence of the
advertisement, sign or structure and materials such cloth, canvas,
cardboard, paper or synthetic cardboard should be used only when
essential to the nature and function of a particular sign;
(d) not deface building facades with electrical services provisions and other
accessories;
(e) be rigidly and securely attached, supported or anchored in a safe
manner and so that unwanted movement in any direction is
prevented;
(f) be capable of effectively securing, supporting and maintaining not less
that twice its mass with the addition of any force to which the sign may
be subjected, including wind pressure;
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(g) wherever necessary in accordance with the nature of the sign and when
attached to brickwork, masonry or concrete, be securely and
effectively attached thereto by means of bolts securely embedded in
such brickwork, masonry or concrete or passing through the same
and secured on the opposite side;
(2) Any advertiser or contractor shall-
(a) not use water soluble adhesive, adhesive tape or similar material to
display or secure any sign or advertisement elsewhere than on a
billboard, board or any structure provided for this purpose;
(b) have all exposed metalwork of any sign painted or otherwise treated to
prevent corrosion and all timber treated to prevent decay; and
(c) have measure taken to prevent the entry of water into and the
accumulation of water of moisture on or in any sign or any part of its
supporting framework, brackets or other members.
(3) All glass used in signs shall-
(a) other than glass tubing used in neon and similar signs, be safety glass
at least 3mm thick;
(b) glass panels used in signs shall not exceed 0,900m² in area, each
panel being securely fixed in the body of the sign, structure or devise
independently of all other panels
(4) Every illuminated sign and every sign in which electricity is used shall –
(a) have power cables and conduit containing electrical conductors
positioned and fixed so that they are not unsightly in the opinion of the
municipality;
(b) be constructed of material which is not combustible;
(c) be provided with an external switch in an accessible position whereby
the electricity supply to the sign may be switched off; and
(d) be wired and constructed in accordance with and subject to the
provisions of the Council’s Electricity Code of Practice.
(5) Damage to property
(e) No person shall, in the course of erecting or removing any sign,
advertisement structure or device, cause damage to any tree,
electrical standard or service or other public installation or property.
7. MAINTENANCE
(1) Any sign shall-
(a) where possible, be located at a height that discourage vandalism;
(b) be serviced on a regular basis; and
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(c) be maintained in good repair and in a safe condition and according to
the highest standards as regards quality of structure, posting and sign
writing
(2) The owner of any land or building on which sign is displayed or erected, or
to which a sign is attached, and the owner of any such sign shall be jointly
and severally responsible for the maintenance in a safe and proper
condition and for cleaning and the repainting of any such sign.
(3) The provisions of the National Building Regulations made in terms of the
National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977, shall apply
mutatis mutandis to every sign, advertising board and its supporting
structure.
8. POSITION
(1) Signs shall not, except where specifically authorized by these by –laws: -
(a) Cause any obstruction to a motorist’s view of the roadway or its
approaches, regardless of the direction the motorist is traveling;
(b) Be positioned on a road island or road median;
(c) Be suspended across a road;
(d) Be erected within or suspended above a road reserve of main arterial
roads;
9. ILLUMINATION
(1) Illumination is permitted on an advertisement only if it does not lead to
unsafe driving conditions, and where it is specifically not prohibited;
(2) The maximum luminance level as determined by the International
Commission of Illumination and provided in SAMOAC is permitted;
(3) The light source emanating from floodlights shall not be visible to traffic
traveling in either direction.
(4) Floodlighting shall be positioned to ensure effective distribution and
minimize light wastage or “spill”
(5) No person that shall erect or display any animated or flashing sign, the
frequency of the animations or flashers or other intermittent alteration, of
which disturbs the residents or occupants of any building or is a source of
nuisance to the public.
PART C: TYPES OF ADVERTISING SIGNS AND CONDITIONS OF THEIR ERECTION
OR DISPLAY
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10. ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD
(1) No person may erect an electronic billboard without first obtaining the
written approval of the municipality.
(2) An environmental impact assessment shall be required for any electronic
billboard. Such environmental impact assessment shall include visual,
social and traffic safety aspects.
(3) Any electronic billboard permitted by the municipality shall not exceed a
maximum size of 18m² and a maximum height of 7,5m.
(4) An electronic billboard must be displayed perpendicular to oncoming traffic;
(5) No electronic billboard shall be erected within a radius of 300m from the
centre of an intersection on an arterial road or within a radius of 100m from
the centre of an intersection on any lower order road in such a manner as
to be oriented towards such an intersection.
(6) No one may erect an electronic billboard in a visual zone in an area other
than urban area of partial or minimum control.
(7) No more than one electronic billboard shall be allowed on any site and an
electronic billboard shall not be erected closer than 1,5 kilometres to
another electronic billboard.
11. SUPER BILLBOARD
(1) No super billboards are allowed in the municipal area.
12. GANTRY BILLBOARDS
(1) No person may erect a gantry billboard without first obtaining the written
approval of the municipality;
(2) Gantry billboard shall only be permitted for the dual purposes of providing
space and of creating a branded entrance to specific areas identified by the
municipality and must incorporate the branding and identify elements
approved by the municipality.
13. LARGE BILLBOARD AND CUSTOM-MADE BILLBOARDS
(3) No person may erect a large billboard or custom-made billboard without
first obtaining the written approval of the municipality.
(4) At a road intersection, a maximum of only two large billboard or custom-
made billboards per intersection shall be permitted
(5) A large billboard or custom-made billboard permitted by the municipality
shall not exceed a maximum of 36m² and maximum height of 9mm from
ground level, with a clear height of 2,4m.
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(6) A large billboard or custom-made billboard shall be displayed perpendicular
to or at an angle of 30° to the direction of on-coming traffic.
(7) No large billboard or custom-made billboard shall be permitted within a
radius of 100m from the centre of an intersection of any lower order road.
(8) No more than one large billboard or custom-made billboard shall be allowed
on any site.
(9) A large billboard or custom-made billboard shall be spaced as follows:
On an urban freeway or At least 250 metres apart and at least 250
expressway or arterial road metres from any product replica or three
where a speed limit of more dimensional sign when in view of each other
than 80 km/hour has been or of such product replica or three
imposed dimensional sign and on the same side of the
road, and at least 200m from any road traffic
sign.
On an urban freeway or At least 200 metres apart and at least 200
expressway or arterial road metres from any product replica or three
where a speed limit of more dimensional sign when in view of each other
than 60 and up to 80km/hour or of such product replica or three
has been imposed dimensional sign and on the same side of a
road, and at least 100m from any road traffic
sign.
On an urban freeway or At least 120 metres apart and at least 120
expressway or arterial road metres from any product replica or three
where a speed limit of 60 dimensional sign when in view of each other
km/hour or less has been or of such product replica or three
imposed dimensional sign and on the same side of a
road, and at least 50m from any road traffic
sign.
14. SMALL BILLBOARD AND TOWER STRUCTURE
(1) No person may erect small billboard or tower structure without first
obtaining the written approval of the municipality.
(2) A small billboard or tower structure shall not exceed a maximum size of 6m²
and a maximum height of 4m and shall have a clear height of not less than
2,4m.
(3) Small billboard and tower structure shall be permitted only in urban areas of
minimum and partial control.
(4) No panel of tower structure shall exceed a maximum size 4,5m² and the
clear height of a tower structure shall not be less than 2,4m with a
maximum height of 5m from ground level.
(5) Small billboards and tower structures shall primarily be aimed at users
within the activity centre.
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(6) Small billboards and tower structures must harmonize aesthetically with
buildings and streetscape.
15. ADVERTISEMENT ON STREET FURNITURE
Street furniture signs:
(1) are not allowed in natural or rural areas.
(2) Shall not be placed so as to obstruct pedestrian movement.
(3) Shall require the specific consent of the municipality.
(4) May be illuminated but not animated.
(5) May not be displayed on a road median or road island.
(6) Shall not exceed 2,2m² in area of sign on a single.
(7) May be used for commercial advertising.
16. BANNERS
(1) A banner may be used only for-
(a) locality-bound advertising of functions or events conducted for religious,
educational, social, welfare, animal welfare, sporting, civic, cultural or
performing arts purposes or function relating to municipal, provincial
or parliamentary elections or referenda;
(b) locality-bound advertisement displaying of the name, corporate symbol
and nature of enterprises;
(c) Streetscaping urban areas such as pedestrians malls and gateways.
(d) Non locality-bound advertising of functions or events at locations
specified by the municipality.
(2) A banner is not permitted in a natural area.
(3) Banners mentioned under (1)(c) and (d) shall not be displayed without the
written approval of the municipality, subject to such conditions, as the
municipality may deem expedient.
(4) Every person to whom permission has been granted in terms of subsection
(1)(d) for the display of an advertisement on a banner shall ensure that the
following requirements are complied with:
(a) banners may be permitted at intersections in urban areas as defined in
terms of municipal policy;
(b) not more than four(4) banners per identified road intersection shall be
displayed in respect of one function or event and for the purpose of
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this subsection an “intersection” means all four corners of the
intersection excluding the median;
(c) not more than one banner per corner of the intersection shall be
displayed;
(d) every banner shall be attached to or suspended between poles to be
provided by the applicant;
(e) every banner shall be so attached as not to interfere with or constitute a
danger to passing vehicular or pedestrian traffic; and
(f) no banner shall be displayed for more than two weeks before the date
of the function or event advertised, nor shall any such advertisement
be permitted to remain in position for more than one day after the
conclusion of such function or event;
(g) No banner shall exceed a maximum size of 6m² and a maximum height
of 2m.
(h) A banner must bear an official stamp or sticker from the municipality,
which displays the expiry date prominently, and may not be displayed
without such a stamp or sticker.
(i) The advertising of commercial products, services or events by means of
a banner is prohibited.
(j) A banner for the advertising of live entertainment, or performing arts
functions, or events is permitted subject to specific consent of the
municipality and provided that the wording and / or logo used to
advertise the venue of such function or event shall be less
conspicuous than the name of the entertainer or performance artist
and may not exceed 20% of the banner.
(5) The municipality may enter into a concession agreement with a private
institution in respect of the control of banners mentioned under (1)(c) and
(d), subject to the provisions of these by-laws;
17. FLAGS
(1) A flag may be used only once for-
a) locality – bound advertising of functions or events conducted for
religious, educational, social, welfare, sporting, civic, natural or
performing arts purposes, or functions, or events relating to
municipal, provincial or parliamentary elections or referenda;
b) locality-bound advertisements displaying of the name, corporate
symbol and nature of enterprises;
c) street scaping urban areas such as pedestrian malls and
gateways;
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d) non-locality bound advertisements, or campaigns, or events at
locations specified by the municipality;
(2) Flags mentioned in (1)(a),(c) and (d) above shall not be displayed without
the written approval of the municipality,
(3) A flag is not permitted in a natural area;
(4) The lowest point of a flag displayed in terms of (1)(d) may not be lower
than two-thirds of the vertical length of pole.
(5) A flag may not be attached in such a manner as to interfere with or
constitutes a danger to passing pedestrians or traffic.
(6) A maximum of only ten (10) flags shall be permitted per shopping centre;
(7) The municipality may enter into a concession agreement with a private
institution in respect of the control of flags mentioned under (1)(c) and (d),
subject to the provisions of these by-laws;
18. SUBURBAN ADVERTISING SIGNS
(1) No suburban advertising sign shall be displayed without the written
approval of the municipality, subject to such conditions, as the
municipality may deem expedient.
(2) A suburban advertising sign must be rectangular, and must be not more
than 0,4 metres in height and not wider than the suburb name sign. It
must be less conspicuous than the suburb name sign.
(3) A suburban advertising sign may not bear colour that may cause
confusion with road traffic signs and may not be illuminated or animated.
(4) Suburban advertising signs must comply with the requirements of the
suburb name GL2 sign as prescribed in the National Road Traffic Act.
19. ESTATE AGENTS BOARDS
(1) An estate agents’ board may not contain information other than the words
“for sale”, “to let” or “sold”, “sole mandate” and the name, logo, and
telephone number of the selling or letting agents.
(2) An estate agents’ board is permissible in any area, but not more than one
such board per estate agent may be erected on any erf and not more
than three agents may display their boards simultaneously on the same
erf.
(3) An estate agents’ board may only be a single board or two duplicate
boards joined together.
(4) The maximum size of an estate agents’ board shall be-
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Natural and rural areas 2,0m²
Urban areas of maximum or partial 0,55m²
control
Urban areas of minimum control 2,8m²
(5) An estate agents’ board must be attached to the boundary fence of the
property concerned or displayed within the boundaries of premises.
(6) An estate agents’ board must be removed not later than 30 days after
conclusion of a contract of sale or lease of the property in question.
(7) No illumination or animation of estate agents’ board is allowed.
20. TEMPORARY DIRECTION INDICATORS FOR SHOW HOUSES
(1) Only an estate agent, who is a registered member of the recognized
Estate Agent’s Board or institutes, may display direction indicators for
show houses;
(2) Direction boards indicating the position of a property (known as “trail
blazer boards”), shall be subjected to the following:
(i) direction signs to show houses may be displayed over weekends
only from Friday 10h00 until Monday morning 10h00 and in the case
of public holidays from 6h00 to 18h00 on the public holiday;
(ii) each face of a sign shall not be larger than 600mm x 600mm;
(iii) the selling or letting agent shall not display more than 15 signs per
show or property, irrespective of the number of routes to the show
house or property of which such signs may be double-sided;
(iv) no signs shall be displayed on the N4/11 National Road;
(v) direction signs shall:
a. not be displayed on the middle island of all roads;
b. be displayed within a maximum distance of 20 metres from an
intersection;
c. be displayed at a minimum distance of 5m from such
intersection, 2m from edge of kerb, with a maximum height of
one metre; provided that only one indicator (per direction) per
estate agent shall be permitted.
(vi) signs shall use only an arrow to indicate the direction of the show
premises;
(vii) only the estate agents’ name and the words “ show house/skouhuis”
shall appear on the signs;
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(viii) the selling or letting agent shall register with the municipality or the
appointed agent of the municipality before being allowed to erect
signs in the municipal area;
(ix) a registration fee as determined from time to time by the
municipality is payable annually;
(x) the selling or letting agent who disregards any of the restrictions
forfeits the registration deposit and the agent, his/her principal
and/or agency will be considered unregistered
(xi) no signs shall be placed on traffic circles, traffic medians, traffic
islands, traffic lights, road traffic signs, power masts, trees, pillars,
fencing, electrical substations, bridges or any similar structures;
(3) The municipality may, without prior notice to anybody, remove any
temporary advertisement in respect of the sale or letting of removable
property, which is erected in contravention these by-laws, and the person
who displayed the advertisement or permitted or allowed it to be
displayed, will be responsible for the costs of removal.
(4) The municipality may withdraw/cancel a registered agents’ right to display
direction boards if, in the opinion of the municipality, the registered agent
fails to comply with provision of these by-laws.
21. ADVERTISEMENTS FOR SALE OF GOODS OR LIVESTOCK
(1) Only one advertisement for sale of goods or livestock per sale shall be
allowed.
(2) The size of such an advertisement may not exceed two square metres in
natural or rural area or an urban area of maximum or partial control, and
2,8 square metres in an urban area of minimum control, and no part of
the advertisement shall be higher than three metres above the ground.
(3) Such an advertisement may be displayed only on the premises or
property where the advertised sale is to take place, or be attached to the
boundary fence of such a property or premises.
(4) No illumination of such an advertisement shall be allowed.
(5) Such an advertisement may be erected no earlier than one day before the
sale in question and must be removed not later than one day after such
sale, and advertisements of a permanent nature are not allowed.
22. AUCTION POSTERS
(1) Auction posters shall not be larger than 900mm x 600mm.
(2) Auction posters require specific consent of the municipality.
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(3) Auction posters shall only be displayed for 7 days prior to and including
the date of the auction.
(4) Only one auction poster per street block is allowed, with a maximum of
six signs per auction per urban area.
(5) No auction poster shall be displayed on a road intersection but shall be
placed at least 50m from the intersection.
(6) Auction posters shall not be erected on tarred or paved surface.
(7) Auction posters shall not be higher than 1m and shall not cause an
obstruction or pose a danger to pedestrian- or other traffic.
(8) Auction posters shall use an arrow to indicate the direction of the auction.
(9) The auctioneer’s name, the word “auction” and details of the auction must
appear on the signs.
(10) A copy of the relevant court order with the case number must accompany
the application for consent.
(11) The case number must be clearly displayed in characters of not les than
50mm in height at the bottom of the signs.
(12) All information on the poster shall have a minimum letter size of 50mm
(including the lower case letter size).
(13) No signs shall be placed on traffic circle, traffic medians, traffic islands,
traffic lights, road traffic signs, power masts, trees, pillars, fencing,
electrical substations, bridges or any similar structures.
23. POSTERS
(1) a poster may be displayed only in an urban area of partial or minimum
control;
(2) no person may erect a poster without first obtaining the written approval
of the municipality;
(3) A poster may only be displayed on a structure which is provided for the
express purpose of pasting or affixing the poster or notice, and may not
be attached or affixed to a road traffic sign or a signal, wall column or post
of a veranda or balcony, electricity box, tree or bridge.
(4) A poster may not be illuminated or animated.
(5) Only one poster may be displayed per post or standard, except that in the
case of election or referendum, not more than three posters per post or
standard shall be allowed.
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(6) The name of the institution, body or organization, the date of the function
or event and the venue thereof must appear on each poster.
(7) A poster may not exceed a size of 600mm x 1m in area.
(8) Anyone displaying a poster advertisement must pay a deposit to the
municipality. Should the advertiser not conform to the above, the deposit
would be used to enable the municipality to remove the advertisement. If
the owner concerned removes the advertisements as prescribed, deposit
would be refunded.
(9) A poster, except for an election or referendum poster, must bear an
official stamp or sticker from the municipality which displays the expiry
date prominently, and may not be displayed without such a stamp or
sticker.
(10) A parliamentary, provincial or municipal election or referendum poster,
may not be erected before the date on which the notice or proclamation in
the Government Gazzette or provincial gazette announcing the election or
referendum is published and must be removed not later than 7 days after
the date of the election or referendum.
(11) A poster, except for an election or referendum poster, may not be erected
more than 14 days before the relevant event and must be removed not
later than three days thereafter.
(12) Posters may not be displayed on the road reserve or road reserve
boundaries of freeways, national roads or provincial roads.
(13) The advertising of commercial products, services or events by means of a
poster is prohibited.
(14) The advertising of live entertainment or performing arts functions or
events is permitted subject to specific consent of the municipality and
provided that the wording and or logo use to advertise the venue of such
function or event shall be less conspicuous than the name of the live
entertainer or performing artist and may not exceed 20% of the poster.
24. PROJECT BOARDS
(1) A project board must be approved by the relevant developer or employer,
and may display only:
(a) a description of the building or structure being erected or other
work or activity being carried out;
(b) the name and the company symbols or logos of the contractors or
consultants;
(c) the branches of their industry or profession;
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(d) a description of the development being carried out;
(2) Only one combined project board listing contractors and consultants shall
be allowed per street front of a site.
(3) A project board shall not exceed 1,5 square metres in area of
advertisement per consultant or contractor, and may not exceed a total
area of 9 squire metres;
(4) A project board may be erected on a road reserve, only if there is
insufficient space on the development site, but a board concerning road
construction may be positioned in any road reserve.
(5) A project board may not be illuminated or animated.
(6) A project board may be displayed only while the relevant works are
actually taking place on the site and until such time that an occupation
certificate has been issued.
25. DEVELOPMENT ADVERTISEMENT SIGNS
(1) No person may erect a development advertising sign board without first
obtaining the written approval of the municipality.
(2) A development advertising sign board must be approved by the relevant
developer or employer, and may display only:-
(a) a description of the building or structure being erected or other
work or activity being carried out;
(b) a description of the development being carried out;
(c) where relevant, details of the name, address and telephone
number of the developer or the agent of the developer.
(3) Only one advertising sign describing the type of development shall be
allowed.
(4) An advertising sign describing a type of development may not exceed
three metres in height. It may not exceed 6.0 square metres in area of
advertisement in an area of maximum control and 12 square metres in
any other area.
(5) Development advertising signs may be illuminated but not animated.
(6) A development advertising sign may only be displayed for a maximum
period of one year after the date of approval of such development, after
written approval of the municipality has been obtained.
26. CONSTRUCTION SITE ADVERTISING SIGNS
(1) A construction site advertising sign is permitted in all areas of control.
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(2) No person may erect or display a construction site advertising signs
without first obtaining the written approval of the municipality, unless the
advertising sign does not exceed 6,0 square metres in size.
(3) Construction site advertising signs may be erected only for the duration of
the relevant construction works.
(4) Construction site advertising signs may not exceed a vertical dimension
of 3,0 metres and a total area of advertisement of 18 square metres.
(5) Construction site advertising signs may be illuminated but not animated.
27. STREET NAME ADVERTISING SIGNS
(1) A street name advertising sign shall be permitted only in an urban area on
a road other than a freeway.
(2) A street name advertising sign, which omits the street name shall not be
permitted.
(3) No one may erect a street name advertising sign without first obtaining
the written approval of the municipality.
(4) Where illuminated, the illuminated portion of the advertisement must be
above the level standard pole-mounted traffic lights and may not extend
over the road surface.
(5) A street name advertising sign may be erected only at an intersection and
may be erected on a road reserve or road median.
(6) Only four street name advertising signs will be permitted per intersection.
(7) The street name advertising sign shall comply with the requirements for
the street name GL1 sign as prescribed in the National Road Traffic Act.
28. SECURITY ADVERTISEMENTS
(1) A security advertisement must refer only to the existence and operation of
a commercial security service, burglar alarm system, neighbourhood
watch or similar system or scheme and may only be displayed on the
premises where such security service is rendered.
(2) A security advertisement may not exceed 0,25 square metres in area of
advertisement, except a farm advertisement, which may not exceed 1,5
square metre in area of advertisement. All such advertisements may not
exceed a height of three metres above ground level.
(3) In an urban area, only one security advertisement per street boundary of
the premises on which such security service is rendered may be erected
and must be firmly affixed to the building, boundary wall, fence or gate on
the street frontage or within the boundaries of the erf.
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(4) A security advertisement on a farm may be displayed at the intersection
of a national road or provincial road with a private access road or at the
entrance property. Only one advertisement per farm or holding shall be
allowed. The advertisement may be erected within a road reserve other
than a freeway, but not on a road –island or median
(5) A security advertisement may not be illuminated or animated.
29. PRODUCT REPLICAS AND THREE –DIMENSIONAL SIGNS
(1) A product replica and three –dimensional advertising sign shall be
permitted in a shopping centre or other commercial or in an entertaining
or industrial area situated in an area of partial or minimum control.
(2) The highest point of a free-standing product replica or three-dimensional
advertising sign above ground level shall not exceed 4 metres in an urban
area of partial control and 7,5 metres in an urban area of minimum
control.
(3) A product replica or three-dimensional advertising sign may only be
displayed within the boundaries of the site, and may only be displayed at
the premises where the business is conducted.
30. SKY SIGNS
(1) No person shall erect or display a sky sign or cause or allow a sky sign to
be erected or displayed in the municipal area.
31. ROOF SIGNS
(1) No one may erect a roof sign without first obtaining the written approval of
the municipality.
(2) A roof sign shall be permitted in areas of partial and minimum control.
(3) Only locality-bound roof signs shall be permitted.
(4) The bottom of the roof sign shall not be more than 120mm above the
closest portion of the roof beneath it.
(5) The main axis of a roof sign shall be horizontal
(6) A roof shall not exceed areas set out below:
Height of sign above the Maximum area of sign
ground
<6m 2m²
6m < 9m 4m²
9m < 12m 8m²
12m < 18m 12m²
18m+ 18m²
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(7) A roof sign shall not exceed 300mm in thickness.
(8) Roof signs shall, if required by the municipality be placed so as not to
form part of the skyline of buildings.
(9) A roof sign shall not extend beyond the roof of the building in any
direction.
32. FLAT SIGNS
(1) Flat signs shall only be allowed in urban areas of minimum, partial and
maximum control and at centres of economic activity in rural and natural
area of maximum control, but shall be limited to buildings utilized for
commercial, industrial, or entertainment purposes and larger
accommodation facilities.
(2) Only locality bound flat signs shall be allowed.
(3) An environmental impact assessment regarding the visual, social and
traffic safety aspects shall be required for any flat sign in excess of 36m²
33. PROJECTING SIGNS
(1) Projecting signs shall only be allowed in urban areas of minimum, partial
and maximum control, but shall be limited to buildings utilized for
commercial, industrial, or entertainment purposes and larger
accommodation facilities.
(2) Only locality bound projecting signs shall be allowed in the municipal
area.
(3) Only one projecting sign shall be allowed per enterprise façade.
34. BALCONY OR UNDERAWNING ADVERTISING SIGNS
(1) A balcony or under awning advertising signs may be erected only on
premises used for commercial, office, industrial or entertainment
purposes.
(2) In the case of an advertisement contemplated in paragraph (a), (b) or (c)
of the definition of “balcony or under awning advertising sign”-
(a) no advertising sign may project at any point more than 100
millimetres from the surface to which it is affixed;
(b) no advertising sign may exceed a vertical dimension of 750mm and
a horizontal dimension of 2400mm;
(c) no advertising sign may extend above or below of beyond any
extremity of a parapet wall, balustrade, railing, beam or fascia;
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(3) In case of an advertising sign contemplated in paragraph (d) of the
definition of “balcony or under awning advertising sign”
(a) the advertising sign must be painted on or affixed flat onto the
supporting column, pillar or post;
(b) no advertising sign may extend beyond any extremity of the column,
pillar or post;
(c) an advertising sign affixed flat onto a non-rectangular supporting
structure must be curved to fit the form of such a structure;
(d) only one advertising sign per column, pillar or post is allowed;
(4) A balcony or under awning advertising sign may be suspended above a
sidewalk or road reserve and no part of such advertising sign shall be
less than 2,4m above the surface of the sidewalk or ground level
immediately below it.
(5) No illuminated advertising sign or advertisement designed to reflect light
may be attached to or displayed on a splayed or rounded corner of a
balcony at a street intersection, unless the bottom of the advertising sign
is at least six metres above the street immediately below it.
35. SIGNS PAINTED ON BUILDINGS, BOUNDARY WALLS AND ROOFS
(1) Signs painted on buildings, boundary walls and roofs shall be permitted
only in urban areas of partial and minimum control.
(2) Signs painted on the façade of a building shall not cover more than 20%
of such façade of the building, boundary wall or roof of the enterprise to
which such sign pertains.
(3) Not more than one sign per enterprise shall be allowed while no more
than one locality-bound sign per building, boundary wall or roof shall be
allowed.
(4) Signs painted on the façade of a building shall be allowed only at a
position below the lower edge of any visible second-floor window.
36. WINDOW SIGNS
(1) Window signs are permitted in all urban areas of control and at centres of
economic activity in natural and rural areas of maximum control.
37. FORECOURT ADVERTISING SIGNS
(1) A forecourt advertising sign may be displayed only in an urban area. In
any other area, it may only be displayed in a centre of economic activity;
(2) A forecourt advertising sign may not be displayed in a road reserve and
may not interfere with pedestrian circulation.
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(3) A forecourt advertising sign may not be animated.
38. RESIDENTIAL OR COMMUNITY ADVERTISING SIGNS
(1) A residential or community advertising sign may be affixed flat or painted
on a gate or wall, or on a pole mounted advertising sign or an
advertisement with supporting structures forming a visual structure
around the sign panel.
(2) In the case or the name of a proprietor or practitioner, one advertising
sign per premises is allowed, that may not exceed the following sizes:
provided that where there is more than one entrance to the same
premises on different road frontages, two advertising signs may be
displayed, each on a different frontage:
Consent use Permissible size
Guest house 1,5m x 1,5m
Home business 420mm x 300mm
Day mothers / play group 420mm x 300mm
Pre-school 1,5m x 1,5m
(3) In the case of a residential or community advertising sign, a name or logo
of a sponsor of the advertising sign may not be displayed except on the
name of a farm or smallholding. The sponsor advertisement may not
exceed one third of the total advertisement area.
(4) A residential or community advertising sign may be displayed only on the
premises to which it refers, or on the boundary wall, fence or gate of such
premises;
(5) A farm or smallholding name sign must be displayed next to the entrance
of the access road thereto or affixed to the gate at the entrance of such
access road. Where more than two farms or smallholdings share an
unnumbered or private access road, a direction traffic sign must be used
to indicate the access road;
(6) A free standing residential or community advertising sign is allowed only
where it is not aesthetically or practically acceptable to attached a sign to
a building or boundary wall, fence or gate, and may not be erected in a
road reserve;
(7) A residential or community advertising sign may not be animated, and
may be illuminated only in an urban area. It must harmonise with the
buildings and other structures on the premises as to materials, colour,
texture, form, style and character.
39. ON-PREMISES BUSINESS ADVERTISING SIGNS
(1) An on-premises business sign must be locality bound and shall only
provide information on the name and nature of the enterprise, the brand-
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name and nature of goods sold or produced and the nature of services
provided and the name of the proprietor(s) or practitioner(s).
(2) An on-premises business sign may be a combination sign for a variety of
businesses in the same locality and may also be free-standing.
(3) An on-premises business sign shall only be displayed if:
(i) signs affixed to the building may not be noticed by passing
pedestrian or motorists due to the position of the building;
(ii) it is not structurally possible or visually feasible to affix appropriate
signs to a building;
(iii) the sign is needed to locate the entrance to business premises or
the private access road to a business;
(4) An on-premises business sign requires the specific consent of the
municipality and/or the relevant road authority.
(5) In the case of a combination sign, -
(a) the design must harmonise with the architecture of the particular
building or other adjacent building or structures;
(b) message on individual panels of the sign must be concise and
legible;
(c) the content of individual panels of such a sign must be harmonious
in terms of form letter types and colour.
(d) Combination signs must be harmonious in terms of form, letter types
and colour.
(e) Combination signs shall be designed and located so as not to create
a traffic safety hazard.
(6) Only one on-premises business sign shall be allowed per enterprise,
unless there is more than one entrance on different road frontages, in
which case two will be allowed, one per frontage.
(7) In an area of maximum control the sign shall be a maximum of 6m² in
area and 7,5m in height.
(8) In an area of partial or minimum control, the sign shall be a maximum of
12m² in area and 7,5m in height.
(9) A height increase to 10m can be considered subject to a height restriction
relaxation in terms of the relevant Town Planning Scheme as amended
from time to time.
(10) The name or logo of the sponsor of the on-premises business sign may
be displayed if it refers to product or services available at that specific
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enterprise, but shall not occupy more than one third of the total area of
the sign.
(11) An on-premises business sign may be placed closer to the road reserve
boundary than the ruling building line, subject to a building line relaxation
being obtained in terms of the relevant Town Planning Scheme as
amended from time to time.
(12) An on-premises business sign may be illuminated.
(13) An on-premises business sign shall not be animated in areas of maximum
control.
(14) An on-premises business sign shall not obstruct the view from any
adjacent building.
40. TOWER, BRIDGE AND PYLON ADVERTISING SIGNS
(1) No person may erect or display a tower, bridge or pylon advertising sign
in a natural area, or an urban area of maximum control, or over a freeway
in any area.
(2) No one may erect or display a tower, bridge or pylon advertising sign in
an urban area of partial or minimum control without first obtaining the
written approval of the municipality, or if necessary the written approval of
the South African National Road Agency.
(3) The maximum area of advertising sign on tower, bridge and pylon
advertising signs per structure shall not exceed 36 square metres.
(4) The clear height of pylon advertising sign may not be less than 2,4m.
(5) The clear height of bridge sign shall not be less than 6m.
(6) A sign shall not project more than 300mm from the main supporting
structure.
(7) No person may erect or display a tower, bridge or pylon advertising sign
that is illuminated or animated except in an urban area of minimum or
partial control, and then only if-
(a) it is not a safety hazard;
(b) it does not cause undue disturbance;
(c) the source of the illumination is concealed from oncoming traffic;
(8) No person may attach an advertisement to pylon unless the pylon is
independently supported without the aid of guys, stays, brackets or other
restraining devices, and is property secured to an adequate foundation in
the ground,
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(9) The sign shall form an integral part of the design of the structure.
41. ADVERTISEMENT FOR SPONSORED ROAD TRAFFIC PROJECTS
(1) A sign for sponsored road traffic projects may contain the name and the
details of the project and the name(s), logo(s) and massage(s) of the
sponsor, which shall not exceed 20% of the area of the sign.
(2) A sign for sponsored road traffic projects requires the specific consent of
the municipality.
(3) A sign for sponsored road traffic projects shall not exceed 4,5m² in area
of sign and the total height of the sign shall not be more than 3m above
ground level.
(4) The municipality may approve conditionally, or unconditionally, or reject
proposal for sponsored road traffic projects at its discretion;
(5) No advertisement for a sponsored road traffic project may be combined
with or be attached to a road traffic signs;
(6) No road traffic sign, or symbol used in any road traffic sign, may be used
in an advertisement for a sponsored road traffic project.
(7) An advertisement for a sponsored road traffic project may not be
animated.
42. ADVERTISING SIGNS AT EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
(1) No person may erect a free-standing advertising sign at an educational
institution without first obtaining the written approval of the municipality.
(2) A free-standing sign at educational facilities and at institutions may
indicate the name and nature of the facility or institution and the name of
sponsor/s.
(3) A maximum total sign area of 18m² is allowed, provided that this area
may be divided into panels of equal size, form and construction
incorporated into one individual combination free-standing sign.
(4) Only one individual free-standing sign shall be permitted per vehicle
entrance.
(5) Illumination of free-standing signs at educational facilities and at
institutions will only be allowed with the specific consents of the
municipality.
(6) Free-standing signs at educational facilities and at institutions shall not, in
the discretion of the municipality, in any way detrimentally affect the
residential character and amenity of the neighbourhood or any other
amenities of the area and/or the surroundings.
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(7) Only small billboard and tower structure which are “internally orientated”
shall be permitted at educational facilities and at institutions.
43. SERVICES FACILITY ADVERTISING SIGNS
(1) No person may erect a service facility advertising sign without first
obtaining the written approval of the municipality.
(2) A service facility advertising sign may refer only to the name or logo of a
business providing a service, and the type of service provided;
(3) A service facility advertising sign must be locality-bound and may be
erected or displayed only in service facilities adjacent to and directly
accessible from national, provincial or urban roads at which the
advertisement is directed. Only one such advertising sign per direction of
traffic flow will be allowed;
(4) No service facility advertising sign may exceed the following dimensions:
Natural areas and urban freeways 10mm in height and 3m in width
Other urban areas 7m in height and 2m in width
Rural areas 20m in height and 6m in width
(5) The municipality may stipulate requirements for the positioning of the
advertising sign;
(6) A service facility advertising sign may not be animated, and illumination is
allowed only while the services concerned are being provided;
(7) No advertisement shall be allowed in a roadside service area except a
service facility advertising sign permitted under these by-laws, unless
used for internal direction and orientated and aimed at motorist within the
facility;
(8) No person may erect a service facility advertising sign within a road
reserve without the approval of the municipality;
(9) No person may erect a service facility advertising sign in the road median
or on an island.
44. TOURISM SIGNS
(1) No person may erect a tourism sign without first obtaining the written
approval of the municipality.
(2) Tourism signs are permitted in all areas of control;
(3) Tourism signs may be displayed within all road reserve, except road
medians and road island;
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(4) Tourism signs must have a distinctive white and brown colour and must
use symbols according to the specifications in terms of the Road Traffic
Signs Manual and the Road Traffic Act (Act 93 of 1996);
(5) Only one tourism sign may be erected at only the nearest intersection to
the tourist facility within urban areas, subject to (6);
(6) No tourism sign is permitted at an intersection with a major arterial road
as classified by the relevant roads authority;
(7) Tourism signs shall be erected by the municipality or by any other
relevant authority at the cost of the applicant.
45. AERIAL ADVERTISEMENTS
(1) No person shall display an aerial advertisement in a natural or a rural
area.
(2) An aerial advertisement may not be illuminated or animated, except that
an airship may be illuminated;
(3) With the exception of a moored airship, an aerial advertisement may be
displayed only in daylight hours;
(4) No aerial advertisement shall be displayed for a period exceeding two
weeks in any calendar year;
(5) Any requirement or conditions prescribed by the Department of Civil
Aviation must be adhered to.
46. TRAILER ADVERTISING
(1) Trailer advertising, whether stationery or not, it not permitted in the
municipality area.
47. PAMPHLETS
(1) The distributing company shall register with the municipality before
allowed to distribute pamphlets.
(2) A registration fee as determines from time to time by the municipality is
payable annually.
(3) The distributing company shall upon registration provide a list of client
that intends to advertise by means of the distribution of pamphlets in the
municipal area.
(4) Pamphlets may only be distributed in post boxes at residential dwelling
units or parked vehicles at demarcated parking spaces.
(5) No one may distribute pamphlets to motorists in the moving traffic within
public roads.
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48. PROHIBITED SIGNS
(1) Any sign type not covered by these by-laws shall be regarded as an
illegal sign unless the specific consent of the municipality has been
obtained;
(2) No person shall erect or display any of the following signs or causes or
allow any such sign to be erected or displayed:
(a) any animated or flashing sign the frequency of the animation or
flashes or other intermittent alterations of which disturbs the
residents or occupants of any building or is a source of nuisance to
the public;
(b) any swinging sign;
(c) any moveable or transit sign, or trailer advertising sign whether
stationery or not;
(d) any poster pasted onto supporting columns, pillars or any poster
pasted otherwise than on a hoarding legally erected for the purpose
of accommodating such poster;
(e) super billboards;
(f) sky signs;
(g) the distribution of pamphlets at road intersections;
(h) any sign to be suspended across a street;
(i) street pole ads for advertising of commercial products, services or
events by means of pavement posters and notices attached to
electrical light poles;
(j) combination industrial signs within road reserves;
(k) advertising signs on land situated in an area of maximum control,
except where otherwise provided for in terms of these by-laws;
(l) any permanent sign of which the maximum display period has
expired;
(m) gantry billboards, except the gantry billboards erected in terms of
Section 12(8).
PART D: GENERAL PROVISIONS
49. APPROVAL BY MUNICIPALITY
(1) Any application for approval required by these by-laws must be made by
completing the prescribed application form and lodging the completed
form with the application fee determined by the municipality from time to
time;
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(2) The municipality may refuse to consider an application where the relevant
form has not been completed properly or the relevant fee has not been
paid;
(3) An application in terms of subsection (1) must be signed by the owner of
the proposed structure or device upon which the advertising sign will be
displayed and by the owner of the land on which it is to be erected or
displayed, or by the agent of such persons authorized in writing, and must
be accompanied by any additional information or documents requested
by the municipality;
(4) The municipality, when granting approval for any advertising, or structure
upon which an advertisement is to be displayed in an urban area, must
make its approval conditional on the applicant also obtaining the approval
of any other relevant authority;
(5) The municipality may grant approval subject to conditions, which must be
complied with by the owner of the advertisement, the owner of the
structure upon which an advertisement is to be displayed, the person or
persons who erect or display it, the owner of the land on which it is
displayed or erected and any occupier or other person in charge of such
land;
(6) Where the municipality has granted approval for the erection or display of
an advertisement, the advertisement may not be moved or re-erected nor
shall any alteration be made to the electric wiring system thereof, except
for the purpose of maintenance, without first obtaining the further written
approval of the municipality;
(7) Approvals granted in terms of these by-laws may be renewed after expiry
of the period for which the approval was granted by-
(a) making application for such renewal to the municipality;
(b) lodging the application form with the renewal fee determined by the
municipality;
(8) The municipality may reject an application for renewal of an approval that
does not comply with subsection (7);
(9) Where an approval has so lapsed, application may be made afresh on
compliance with subsections (1), (2) and (3);
(10) The owner of the land on which an advertising sign is erected or
displayed in terms of an approval obtained under this by-laws, must retain
certified copies of all documentation relating to the application and the
approval issued by the municipality and any renewal thereof for as long
as the advertising sign is erected or displayed, and must present it to any
person authorized by the municipality on request. The owner of the
advertising sign, if not also the owner of the land, must provide the owner
of the land with certified copies of all relevant documentation;
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(11) Approvals granted by the municipality in terms of these by-laws shall be
additional to, and not in substitution of, consent or approval required by
any other law;
(12) The municipality may withdraw any approval given under this by-laws
where the relevant advertising sign does not or ceases to comply with
these by-laws, or a condition imposed in such approval has not been
complied with,;
(13) In respect of temporary advertisements applied for in terms of Section 16,
17 and 23 welfare organizations organizing large community events has
an economic benefit for the municipal area, may by means of written
application to the municipality, only pay 50% of the prescribed
applications fees and the applicable deposit.
50. REFUSAL, WITHDRAWAL OR AMENDMENT OF APPROVAL AND APPEAL
PROCEDURE
(1) The municipality may refuse, withdraw or amend at any time an approval
if in the opinion of the municipality-
(a) It will be or becomes detrimental to the environment or the amenity
of the neighbourhood by reason of size, intensity of illumination,
quality of design or materials or for any other reason;
(b) It will constitute or became a danger to any persons or property;
(c) It will obliterate or obliterates other signs, natural features,
architectural or visual lines of civic or historical interest.
(d) It will be in its content objectionable, indecent or suggestive of
indecency or prejudicial to the public morals;
(e) It will be or becomes illegal as a result of the changing urban
structure.
(2) Appeal procedure
(a) Any person may appeal to municipality against any decision of the
municipality in terms of these by-laws, given by an official of the
municipality under delegated powers within 30 days of receipt of
notice of such decision;
(b) Such appeal shall be made by lodging a notice setting out the
nature and grounds of the appeal within the period contemplated in
subsection (a) with the municipality.
(c) The municipality shall hear the appeal including any oral or written
submission from either party, and inform the applicant of its
decision, which shall be final, and the reasons therefore.
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(3) The criteria for the final decision of the municipality will be based on the
guidelines and requirements and conditions in terms of municipal policy.
51. ERECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ADVERTISING SIGNS
(1) The provisions of the National Building Regulations made in terms of the
National Building Regulation and Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act 103
of 1977) shall apply mutatis mutandis to every sign, advertisement
hoarding and its supporting structure;
(2) The municipality may, if in its opinion an emergency exists, instead of
serving a notice, itself carry out or appoint a contractor to carry out the
removal of sign or do other work which it may deem necessary and may
recover the cost thereof from the owner of the sign or owner of the land
on which it is displayed or erected;
(3) No person shall intentionally, in the course of erecting or removing any
sign, advertising hoarding, poster or banner cause any damage to any
tree, electric standard or service or other municipal installation or
property;
52. TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
(1) Any advertising sign that was erected or displayed on the date of
commencement of these by-laws that is prohibited by these by-laws, and
is not an advertising sign for which the municipality may grant approval,
must be removed within 90 days of such date of commencement;
(2) Where an advertising sign has been erected or displayed on the date of
commencement of these by-laws, which, in terms of these by-laws, may
not be so erected or displayed without the approval of the municipality or
other authority, the owner of the advertising sign must apply to the
municipality or the other authority, as the case may be, for such approval,
within 90 days of such date of commencement, failing which the
advertising sign must be removed forthwith. No such application may be
made in respect of an advertising sign contemplated in subsection (1).
(3) If approval for an advertising sign contemplated in subsection (2) has
been refused, the owner must remove it within 30 days of receipt of
notification of such refusal. Where such a notification has been posted by
registered post, the owner will be deemed to have received it eight days
after posting thereof;
(4) All approved signs already in existence on the publication of these by-
laws shall within a period of one (1) year after such promulgation, be
removed or corrected to comply with the said by-laws.
53. ENTRY AND INSPECTION
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(1) The municipality shall be entitled, through its duly authorized officers, to
enter into and upon any premises, at any reasonable time for the purpose
of carrying out any inspection necessary for the proper administration and
enforcement of the provisions of these by-laws.
54. OFFENCE
(1) Any person who:
(a) contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of these by-laws;
(b) contravenes or fails to comply with any requirement set out in a
notice issued and served on a person in terms of these by-laws;
(c) contravenes or fails to comply with any conditions imposed in terms
of these by-laws;
(d) knowingly makes a false statement in respect of any application in
terms of these by-laws;
shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not
exceeding R……. or, in default of payment, to imprisonment for a period
not exceeding twelve months, and in the case of a continuing offence to a
fine not exceeding R……. for every day during the continuation of such
offence , and for a second or subsequent offence shall be liable on
conviction to a fine not exceeding R………. per day or in default of
payment, to imprisonment for a period nor exceeding three months.
55. RESPONSIBLE PERSONS
(1) If any person charged with an offence referred to in section 53, relating to
any sign, advertising or poster:
(a) it shall be deemed that such person either displayed such sign,
advertising hoarding or poster or caused or allowed it to be
displayed;
(b) the owner of any land or building on which any sign, advertising
hoarding or poster was displayed, shall be deemed to have
displayed such sign, advertising hoarding or poster, or caused or
allowed it to be displayed;
(c) any person who was either alone or jointly, with any other person
responsible for organizing, or was in control of any meeting, function
or event which a sign or poster relates, it shall be deemed to have
displayed every sign or poster displayed in connection with such
meeting, function or event to have caused or allowed it to be
displayed;
(d) any person whose name appears on a sign, advertising hoarding or
poster shall be deemed to have displayed such sign advertising
hoarding or poster unless the contrary is proved.
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56. REMOVAL OF SIGNS OR ADVERTISING HOARDINGS
(1) If any sign or advertising board is displayed so that in the opinion of the
municipality it is detrimental to the environment or to the amenities of the
neighbourhood, or otherwise in contravention of these by-laws, the
municipality may serve a notice on or may instruct the owner of the sign
or advertising hoarding to remove such sign or advertising board or carry
out such alteration thereto or do such work as may be specified by the
relevant official of the municipality within a specified time;
(2) If a person fails to comply with a request referred to in subsection (1), the
municipality may remove such a sign or advertising board;
(3) The municipality shall in removing a sign or board contemplated in
subsection (1), not be required to compensate any person in respect of
such sign or advertising hoarding, in any way for loss or damage resulting
from this removal;
(4) Any cost incurred by the municipality in removing a sign or advertising
board, in terms of subsection (2) or in doing alterations or other works in
terms of this section will be recovered from the person contemplated in
subsection (1), if a deposit has been paid in respect of such sign or board
the cost may be deducted from the deposit;
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), (2), (3) and (4) above,
the municipality itself shall, without serving any notice, carry out the
removal of such sign or advertising board;
(6) The municipality shall charge a poundage for such signs that were
removed in terms of this section;
(7) A poundage fee mentioned in subsection (6) shall be payable to the
municipality per sign per working week (Monday to Friday) or part of the
week;
(8) The municipality shall destroy such signs that were removed in terms of
this section, within one week after such removal, should the owner of
such sign fail to claim such sign or pay the poundage in terms of
subsection(6).
(9) The actual expense the municipality incurred during the removal of signs
in terms of this section shall be payable by the owner of such signs to the
municipality.
57. SERVING OF NOTICE
Where any notice document is required by these by-laws to be served on any
person, it shall be deemed to have been properly served personally on him or on
any member of his household apparently over the age of sixteen years or at his
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place of residence or on any person employed by him at his place of business, or
if sent by registered post to such person’s residential or business address as it
appears in the records of the municipality, or if such person is a company, if
served on an officer of that company at its registered office or sent by registered
mail to such office.
58. REPEAL OF PREVIOUS BY-LAWS
The by-laws in respect of the Advertising Signs, promulgated in the Provincial
Gazette Extraordinary … by Notice …. of …. is hereby repealed.