sign of the times | august 2023

An article from the Far North District Council

Property owners are being warned to check regulations before erecting roadside signs that could breach Far North District Council District Plan rules.

The council is receiving increasing complaints about the proliferation of signage in our District.

While the council acknowledges signs are an important communication tool, the District Plan states the number, size, location, and visual prominence needs to be balanced against the potential impact on infrastructure, health, and safety. 

Many landowners seem unaware of the legislation or that the council has an advertising sign application form that must be completed before signs are erected on council land. The District Plan rules apply to permanent and some temporary signage on non-council-owned land, and the council’s Road Use Bylaw manages signage on council-owned land. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency manages signage on state highways.

Owners should check the regulations and be mindful of their signs’ positive and negative impacts. 

The council recently issued an abatement notice to a landowner with 17 unauthorised advertising signs that had no relation to activities on the property on Wiroa Road next to State Highway 10. Those signs must be removed by mid-September.

We reached out to the local community group, Our Kerikeri Community Charitable Trust, for comment. Annika Dickey, Chair of the Trust, emphasized the importance of landowners and businesses understanding the regulations.

“Some individuals assume they can place any sign anywhere, while others think there are no repercussions for non-compliance, even if they know the regulations,” Annika says. “This mindset, combined with unchecked signage installations, leads to a domino effect where more and more signs are being put up – it’s become a free-for-all.

“Unregulated signage is not just an issue of aesthetics; it’s a matter of urban wellbeing. As our town evolves, the need for clear communication channels between businesses and consumers will always exist. However, this must be balanced with preserving our town’s character, safety, and public spaces.”

To download the advertising sign application form, click here, and for further information on signage regulations, email Duty.Planner@fndc.govt.nz.