THIS CONSULTATION IS CLOSED.

Read the feedback report for more details on the feedback given.

This consultation period closed on 27 October 2021. Thank you for having your say.

For the proposed new Signs Bylaw, we received feedback from 76 individuals and 30 organisations.

Key themes included:

• majority support for all proposals, except Proposals 9 (vehicle signs) and 13A (Major Recreational Facility Zones)
• highlighting issues with illuminated signs (Proposal 14C), general rules for event signs (Proposal 3C), portable signs (Proposal 5B), posters (Proposal 6) and the rules for signs advertising commercial sexual services (Proposal 13C).
  
  

Changes made in response to feedback

As a result of your feedback, we decided on 26 May 2022 to adopt the new Bylaw with amendments to:

• clarify that election signs can be erected on a fence on the opposite side of the road to an open space zone, but not on any side boundary fence with those zones
• allow all energy trusts in Auckland (for example Entrust and Counties Power Consumer Trust) to display election signs
•  reject the proposal that would have allowed event signs to be displayed on public election sign sites without an approval
• clarify that a community event sign on private property must relate solely to the event (and not for example the event sponsors) and may be displayed only on properties local to the event
• amend the sizes of specific types of signs to align with industry standards
• allow the calculation of a poster board’s area to exclude any frame
• provide for the transfer of approvals
• improve drafting throughout the Bylaw and associated controls.
  
  

What happens next

The new Auckland Council and Auckland Transport Bylaw comes into effect from 26 May 2022.

The new Bylaw replaces the Auckland Council and Auckland Transport Signage Bylaw 2015 and the Auckland Transport Election Signs Bylaw 2013. The 2013 and 2015 bylaws no longer apply.

About the proposed new Signs Bylaw

Aucklanders use signs every day to advertise goods and services and to communicate information.

Signs can, however, also cause problems relating to:

• public safety
• nuisance
• misuse of council-controlled public places
• the Auckland transport system
• the environment.

For example, the location, the number and size of signs can affect traffic safety, obstruct pedestrians and cause visual clutter.

How we managed signs and election hoardings

We managed these problems alongside Auckland Transport using the Signage Bylaw 2015 and the Election Signs Bylaw 2013.

These bylaws applied to most signs in Auckland, including:

• freestanding
• verandah
• wall
• window
• portable
• stencil
• poster
• banner
• real estate
• event
• election
• vehicle signs.

We worked with Auckland Transport to review the Signage Bylaw 2015.

We discovered we can manage the issues caused by signs more effectively and efficiently by combining the two current bylaws into a new Signs Bylaw 2022.

What we were proposing

The new bylaw proposed to make several key changes to the current rules including:

• increasing the area where portable signs are prohibited to cover the entire city centre zone
• enable the display of election signs on places not otherwise allowed up to nine weeks prior to an election or referendum
• increasing the maximum area of flat wall-mounted signs in the heavy industry zone
• clarifying the rules so they are easier to understand, reflect current practice, remove confusion and fill perceived gaps.
  
  

What we wanted your feedback on

We wanted you to tell us what you think about the proposed new Signs Bylaw 2022.

Your feedback helps us make improvements to how we manage the problems signs can cause.

Note: No feedback was sought on rules for types of signs managed by other regulations (for example large digital billboards managed in the Auckland Unitary Plan).

When you had your say

You had the opportunity to have your say from 22 September until 27 October 2021.

Alcohol advertising used by off-licence alcohol outlets

We are committed to contributing to reducing alcohol-related harm across communities in Tāmaki Makaurau for the health and well-being of our communities.

During a review of our signage bylaw, we found that Aucklanders are interested in how their communities are exposed to alcohol advertising at off-licence alcohol outlets, such as liquor stores and bottle shops. We sought your views on this type of advertising alongside the proposed new Signs Bylaw.

We will use your views to inform an investigation into methods to reduce community exposure from this type of advertising and may use them to advocate to central government for tighter national restrictions on alcohol marketing.

These views will not be used for making the proposed new Signs Bylaw as rules for alcohol advertising are out of scope. Your views will be considered separately from the bylaw.