Unauthorised Signs Policy

Objectives:

• to limit the proliferation of unauthorised signs on highway land across the county
• to provide guidance and support to officers enforcing this policy
• to ensure that any costs incurred by the Council, as part of enforcing this policy, are recovered (where applicable)
• to ensure that a consistent approach to unauthorised signing is applied across the county

Key Influences:

• Highways Act 1980
• Traffic Management Act 2004
• Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016
• Town and Country Planning Act 1990
• Equalities Act 2010

Dorset Council has the power to remove any items, including signs, placed within the highway that are considered a nuisance or a danger to highway users (including causing a danger by obstructing view) under section 149 of the Highways Act 1980. If the sign constitutes a danger to highway users, the sign may be removed under section 149 even if it is not in direct contravention of this policy.  

It is also an offence under section 132 of the Highways Act 1980 to “affix a sign, picture or letter onto the surface of the highway, a tree, structure or works in or under the highway”.

The owner would be liable for a fine and the Highway Authority could remove the sign. The sign cannot be destroyed or sold unless a Court Order is first obtained under section 149 of the Highways Act 1980, as above.

This policy covers any sign placed within the highway, apart from the standard highway signs as detailed in the Traffic Sign Regulations and General Directions 2002 and placed by or with consent of the Highways Authority.  

The criteria for enforcement action can be seen in the Unauthorised Signing – Removal Guidance document.  

A small-scale charity event is one that is organised by a charity, organisation, school, parish or town council, etc. and that has a duration of no more than 2 days and one that is not expected to attract more than 500 people per day. It may be religious, educational,  cultural, political, social or recreational in nature and it may involve fund raising, but it its primary purpose should be charitable and not commercial.

Inclusions:

• applies to unauthorised signing placed on the highway (including verges, footpaths, paved areas, footway and other pavements) and/or attached to highway furniture
• signs for commercial purposes (e.g. sale of goods advertising or housing developments)
• signs for events which are purely for private purposes (e.g. birthdays) where the sign is deemed to represent a danger to highway users

Signs for temporary events which are purely advertising and provide no traffic direction information (although exceptions may be made for large scale events where significant traffic congestion is expected and advanced notification is helpful).  

Exclusions:

• signs associated with small-scale charity events are unauthorised, but the Council will usually exercise discretion not to enforce as long as the signs do not create a danger to highway users and are erected no sooner than 2 weeks before the event and removed within 48 hours of the event finishing
• other unauthorised signs erected on the highway such as A-Boards, are dealt with separately under the A-Boards Policy
• direction signs for approved temporary events are dealt with under the Temporary Event Signs Policy
• signing on private property, including privately owned shopping centres

Unauthorised signs will not be permitted on the highway and may be removed without notice and stored.  

The originator of the sign will be contacted (where contact details are known) to let them know that the sign has been removed. They will be told that they can pick up the sign within 7 working days.   

Where there is a continuous breech of this policy, the Community Highways Manager may authorise court action (please refer to: Unauthorised Signing - Removal Guidance).

Related documents:

• Unauthorised Signs Guidance and Requirements
• Highways Act 1980
• Town and Country Planning Act
• Equalities Impact Assessment Screening Record

Measures of effectiveness:

• number of complaints/comments relating to unauthorised signs
• number of enforcement actions required to deal with unauthorised signs
• efficiency of cost recovery for dealing with unauthorised signs  

This policy was last reviewed in 2021.

The next review date is 2024.