Can You Put an A-Board on the Pavement?

Government guidance on outdoor advertising says every sign needs the permission of the owner of the site it stands on, and that this includes the highway authority if the sign is placed on highway land. For most pavements, the highway authority is the council.

In England and Wales, councils can grant permission for objects on the highway, including for advertising, under section 115E of the Highways Act 1980. A board put out without permission can be treated as an obstruction, and the council can require it to be removed.

Many councils have an A-board policy, and some issue a licence or permit, often for a set period and sometimes with a fee. Conditions vary from council to council, but they commonly cover:

• how many boards each business may put out, often one
• where the board stands, usually directly against the shopfront
• how much pavement must be left clear for pedestrians, with widths of around 1.2 to 1.8 metres common in council policies
• the maximum size of the board
• public liability insurance
• bringing the board in at the end of the trading day
• keeping clear of crossings, tactile paving and street furniture

Some areas restrict A-boards more tightly or do not allow them at all, so always check the current policy for your street.

Councils look closely at A-boards because they can be a hazard for people with sight loss, wheelchair users and people with buggies. A board that stands tight to your shopfront, leaves plenty of pavement clear and is easy to see is far more likely to be approved, and far less likely to cause complaints.

A forecourt is treated differently from the pavement. Under the advertisement rules in England, a business with a forecourt can display signs about the business there without applying, provided they are at ground level, are not illuminated and do not exceed 4.6 square metres in total on each forecourt frontage.

The same guidance is clear that a forecourt does not include the area of pavement in front of business premises that forms part of the highway. If you are unsure where your land ends and the highway begins, ask your council. If you rent, you also need your landlord's permission.

An A-board is an advertisement, so the advertisement rules apply as well as the highway rules. Depending on where the board stands and your council, it may need advertisement consent as well as highway permission, and your council will tell you when you apply. Our guide to planning permission for shop signs explains how advertisement consent works.

1. Will the board stand on the pavement or on your own land?
2. Does your council have an A-board policy, licence or permit, and what does it cost?
3. Is there a size limit, and how much pavement must be left clear?
4. Do you need public liability insurance?
5. If you are in a shopping centre or rent your premises, what do the landlord's rules say?

Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own highway and roads legislation, so if your premises are there, check with your council.

Once you know what your council allows, choose a size that fits. Our aluminium pavement A-board comes in five sizes from a compact A2 up to A0, single or double-sided, from £66.00 including VAT. It folds flat, so it is easy to bring in at the end of the day. Our A-board sizes guide compares each size.