Window signs in a town centre mixed-use zone

We define window signs as those visible to the public on or within 15mm of the inside face of a window. This includes:

• etchings (carvings)
• window branding or graphics
• window promotions
• use of decals, self-adhesive vinyl stickers, posters, stencil signs and changeable message signs.

There are no size restrictions for window signs displayed above the ground floor in town centre and mixed-use zones.

​You can display signs on other windows in these zones with some restrictions.

Restrictions on ground floor window signs

Signs on ground floor windows in town centre and mixed-use zones can have different size restrictions, depending where the premises is located.

A premises on a ‘key retail street’ (a focus of pedestrian activity) can be subject to a Key Retail Frontage Control, and a premises on a ‘general commercial street’ can be subject to a General Commercial Frontage Control.

The restrictions to ground floor window signs in these zones depend on which frontage controls apply to your premises.

Find out if your property has a frontage control

You can find out if your property has a frontage control by searching for your address on Geomaps. The "Property summary" displayed on the left side of the screen will show if your property has any frontage controls.

Key Retail Frontage Control

If your property has a Key Retail Frontage Control, the ground floor window signs must not cover more than 25 per cent of the width and 25 per cent of the height of any street front window.

General Commercial Frontage Control

If your property has a General Commercial Frontage Control, ground floor window signs must not cover more than 50 per cent of the width and 50 per cent of the height of any street front window.

If your property has no frontage controls

If your property does not have a frontage control, the size restrictions depend on where your ground floor window faces.

Signs can cover up to 50 per cent of the width and 50 per cent of the height of the window when:

• your window has street frontage, or
• your window is on the front of the premises and is next to an open space zone (PDF 79.3KB).

Signs can cover up to 70 per cent of the width and 25 per cent of the height of the window when:

• your window is on a side or rear boundary next to an open space zone (and is not covered by the rules above), or
• your window faces any part of a through-site link visible from a council-controlled public place.

More information

You can find a full description of the rules in clause 10 of the Signs Bylaw 2022.