Since new signage rules came into effect at the end of last year, QLDC’s compliance staff have been talking to businesses which use sandwich boards and other footpath advertising to make sure they understand where these can be placed.

Personal visits and information leaflets are now giving way to bright pink stickers, which will be placed on non-complying signs from next week.

The stickers are the final educational tool in the Council’s compliance arsenal before businesses start receiving $300 fines for breaching the District Plan rules.

Regulatory Manager Lee Webster said the intention was to make sure footpaths were kept clear for pedestrians, reduce visual clutter in line with District Plan provisions, and take a consistent approach to enforcing the simple signage rules.

“Our staff have been out and about in Queenstown, Wanaka and Arrowtown for several months now, talking to businesses and providing written information to make sure that they understand what the rules are. We’ve been keeping a record of who we’ve talked to and we’re confident that businesses have had a long enough grace period to get used to the new rules.”

Sandwich boards and flat boards are allowed as long as they are less than 1m2, placed on private land, and are on the site where the goods and services they advertise are available.

Compliance staff will be placing pink “Illegal Sign” stickers on all signs that don’t comply with these simple rules. Businesses that choose to ignore the stickers and leave the signs out will be issued with $300 fines.

ENDS

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