Outdoor advertising: installation rules
Verified 01 July 2026 - Entreprendre Service Public / (Prime Minister), Ministry for the Environment
The installation of a advertising space must comply with conditions of location, dimensions and density. This advertising space can then be rented to a company who would like to display an advertisement to promote their business.
You install an advertising space
What is it?
The advertising is an inscription, form or image intended to inform the public or to attract its attention.
We are talking about advertising exterior when it is visible from a lane open to public traffic (road, highway, road, rail network, etc.). Thus, advertising installed, for example, inside a premises, a shopping center or in a closed station, is not concerned.
Outdoor advertising can be bright or non-bright. It can be installed on the ground or affixed to a wall, a tarpaulin or even a advertising vehicle.
FYI
Any advertisement must mention address, name of the natural person or the corporate name of the legal person who affixed it or caused it to be affixed.
Failure to do so shall be punishable by administrative fine from €1500 and a criminal fine from €7,500 (natural persons) and €37,500 (legal persons). In addition, the mayor may decide to have the advertising removed immediately.
The criminal liability of legal persons and that of their directors may be cumulated for the same acts. For example, a company as a natural person may be held personally criminally liable, even if he or she has already been convicted of the same acts.
A legal person may only be fined. The amount of the fine shall be multiplied by 5 compared to that provided for natural persons.
One individual business (EI) since it does not have a legal personality, only the manager is liable to criminal sanctions.
What's the difference with a sign and a pre-sign?
Outdoor advertising should not be confused with the following devices:
- One sign is an inscription, form or image affixed to an immovable relating to an activity carried on there. In other words, the sign is an exterior sign visible and affixed to an establishment (e.g. company name, logo or both, etc.). It allows to report the presence of the operating space and to specify its purpose (restaurant, tobacco, hotel, clothing, optics, etc.).
- One pre-sign is an inscription, shape or image indicating the proximity of a building where a specific activity is carried out. Unlike the sign, the pre-sign is not affixed to the building where the activity is carried out. It is positioned before the sign itself.
The distinction between pre-sign and advertising lies in symbol (e.g. an arrow) or distance which indicates the geographical location of a company. The pre-sign must contain this symbol or this distance so as not to be assimilated to advertising.
Definition advertising (1°) sign (2°) and pre-sign (3°)
Mandatory notices on advertisements
Administrative penalty in the absence of mandatory information on advertisements
Deletion of advertising in the absence of mandatory particulars
Criminal penalty in the absence of mandatory information on advertisements
An advertisement cannot be installed in any place. The regulations vary depending on whether its installation is envisaged in conurbation or outside of this one.
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In agglomeration
Within agglomerations, advertising is allowed.
By exception, advertising is forbidden at the following locations:
- On the trees
- In national parks and nature reserves
- On buildings classified or registered under historical monuments
- On natural monuments and in the classified or registered sites
- On plantations, transport and electrical distribution poles, telecommunication poles, public lighting installations
- Public equipment concerning road, rail, inland waterway, maritime or air traffic
- On the fences that are not blind
- On cemetery and public garden walls
- On the walls of buildings, except where these walls are blind or have at least one opening with a unit area of less than 0,50 m².
The local advertising regulations may derogate from the prohibition on the display of advertising in the following places:
- In the vicinity of historical monuments
- Within the scope of remarkable heritage sites
- In the regional natural parks
- In the registered sites
- Within 100 meters and in the field of visibility of buildings with an aesthetic, historical or picturesque character
- In thearea of accession national parks
- In the special areas of conservation and special protection areas.
In addition, the light advertising is forbidden :
- In agglomerations of less than 10,000 inhabitants not part of a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants
- On du street furniture located in the agglomerations of less than 10,000 inhabitants and in certain protected areas: regional nature parks, the accession area national parks and Natura 2000 sites
- On land vehicles.
Finally, when it is non-luminous and sealed on the ground or installed directly on the ground, advertising is also forbidden in the following places:
- In agglomerations of less than 10,000 inhabitants that are not part of a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants
- In wooded areas (woods, forests, parks) classified by a local urban planning plan located in agglomeration.
- In areas to be protected because of the quality of sites, natural environments, landscapes and their aesthetic or ecological interest located in agglomeration.
Outside built-up areas
Outside built-up areas, advertising is prohibited.
By exception, it is allowed inside the following places:
- Airports
- Stations rail and road
- Sports facilities having a seating capacity of at least 15 000
- In the immediate vicinity of shopping mall establishments exclusive of any dwelling, if local advertising regulations (RLP) authorizes him to do so.
Prohibition of advertising in certain places
Prohibition of advertising outside built-up areas
Authorization of advertising in built-up areas
Prohibition of advertising in certain places
Prohibition of non-luminous advertising and sealed on the ground or installed directly on the ground in certain protected places
Prohibition of non-luminous advertising and sealed on the ground or installed directly on the ground (al1)
Prohibition of light advertising in agglomerations of less than 10 000 inhabitants and not forming part of an urban unit of more than 100 000 inhabitants
Prohibition of light advertising on street furniture in certain places (al2)
Prohibition of light advertising on land vehicles (al5)
The installation of an advertisement must comply with rules on location, dimensions and density.
Location and dimensions
Permitted location and dimensions vary depending on type of advertising and the number of inhabitants ofconurbation in which the advertisement is installed.
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Wall-mounted non-luminous advertising
The wall advertising includes all advertisements installed on a support built prior to this installation and intended for a use other than supporting an advertisement: wall of any building, fence wall, fence or palisade of any type, arch, column. It opposes advertising that is sealed on the ground or installed directly on the ground.
Depending on the number of inhabitants in a built-up area, non-luminous wall-mounted advertisements must respect a specific size.
Place of installation | Maximum Area | Maximum height | Minimum height |
|---|---|---|---|
Agglomeration of less than 10,000 inhabitants not belonging to a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants | 4.70 m2 | 6 m above ground level | 0.50 m above ground level |
Agglomeration of less than 10,000 inhabitants located in a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants | 10.5 m2 | 7.5 m above ground level | |
Agglomeration of more than 10,000 inhabitants | |||
Outside urban areas (airport, railway station and bus station) | |||
Footprint* of sports facilities with a capacity of at least 15,000 | Limited to 20% of the total surface area of the wall | 10 m with the possibility of derogation | |
Curb of highways with heavy traffic passing through agglomerations of less than 10 000 inhabitants not belonging to an urban unit of more than 100 000 inhabitants | 4.70 m2 see 8 m2 | 6 m above ground level |
Please note
The maximum surfaces of 4.70 m2 and 10.5 m2 only apply to advertisements set up from 2 november 2023. Advertisements installed before this date must be brought into compliance to meet these new dimensions before November 2, 2027.
Advertising non-luminous must be installed respecting all following implant rules :
- Advertising may not be placed on a roof, roof terrace and may not exceed the limits of the wall supporting it and the limits of the roof sewer.
- Advertising must not constitute, in relation to the wall supporting it, a protrusion greater than 0.25 m.
- Advertising may not be placed on a wall without the removal of old advertisements in the same location, unless they are painted advertisements of artistic, historical or picturesque interest.
Please note
When ads are affixed to a vehicle serving solely as an advertising medium, all these advertisements must not cover an area greater than 12 m² per vehicle.
Dimensions of wall-mounted non-luminous advertising
Rules for the implementation of wall-mounted non-luminous advertising
Rules for the implementation of wall-mounted non-luminous advertising
Rules for the implementation of wall-mounted non-luminous advertising
Advertising surface on vehicles
Non-luminous advertising placed or sealed on the ground
The advertising sealed on the ground or installed directly on the ground differs from wall advertising in that it does not rely on any pre-existing medium. It usually rests on one or more feet specially designed for this purpose and anchored in the ground. It can be installed directly on the ground, as is the case with easels.
Depending on the number of inhabitants in a built-up area, advertisements sealed on the ground or installed directly on the ground must comply with a specific size.
Place of installation | Maximum Area | Maximum height |
|---|---|---|
Agglomeration of less than 10,000 inhabitants not belonging to a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants | Forbidden | Forbidden |
Agglomeration of more than 10 000 inhabitants or agglomeration of less than 10 000 inhabitants belonging to an urban unit of more than 100 000 inhabitants | 10.5 m2 | 6 m above ground level |
Right-of-way airports and railway and bus stations outside urban areas | ||
Right-of-way airports with an annual flow of more than 3 million people | 50 m2 | 10 m above ground level |
Right-of-way sports facilities with a capacity of at least 15 000 places and located in or outside a built-up area |
Please note
The maximum surface of 10.5 m2 applies only to advertisements set up from 2 november 2023. Advertisements installed before this date will have to be brought into compliance to respect this new dimension before November 2, 2027.
Non-luminous advertising devices on the ground are forbidden in some places:
- in wooded areas classified as PLU
- in areas to be protected because of the quality of the sites, natural environments, landscapes and their interest, particularly from an aesthetic or ecological point of view, and appearing on a local urban planning plan
- agglomerations of less than 10 000 inhabitants not belonging to a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants
- in other built-up areas, if the signs on the devices are visible from a motorway or a connecting ramp to a motorway and from an express road, bypass or public road outside the built-up area.
- on theright-of-way airports and railway stations and sports equipment where the signs on the devices:
- are visible only from a motorway or a connecting ramp to a motorway and from an express road;
- are visible only from a bypass or public road outside built-up areas and outside the right-of-way of the airports, railway and bus stations and the sports facilities concerned.
One advertising sealed on the ground or installed directly on the ground must be installed in accordance with following implant rules :
- less than 10 meters from a bay of a residential building located on a neighboring fund when it is in front of the plane of the wall containing this array.
- and at a distance of less than half its height from a property boundary
Please note
When ads are affixed to a vehicle serving solely as an advertising medium, all these advertisements must not cover an area greater than 12 m² per vehicle.
Implantations prohibited to advertising sealed on the ground or installed directly on the ground
Implantations prohibited to advertising sealed on the ground or installed directly on the ground
Advertising dimensions sealed on the floor or installed directly on the floor
Rules for the installation of advertising sealed on the ground or installed directly on the ground
Advertising surface on vehicles
Light advertising
The light advertising is an advertisement informed by a light source specially provided for this purpose. The light source may be based on neon, LEDs, light-emitting diodes, etc.
Light advertising is divided into 3 categories:
- the advertising supporting posters illuminated by projection or transparency. These devices must comply with the rules of the non-luminous advertising.
- the luminous advertising other than that supporting posters illuminated by projection or transparency.
- the digital advertising broadcast on screens that can display still images, moving images and videos. This is a sub-category of the previous one, specific rules apply to this case.
Luminous placard other than that supporting posters illuminated by projection or transparency
Depending on the number of inhabitants in a built-up area, luminous advertisements must respect a specific size.
Nature of the devices | Place of installation | Maximum Area | Maximum height |
|---|---|---|---|
Wall and floor-sealed devices | Agglomeration of less than 10 000 inhabitants not belonging to a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants | Forbidden | Forbidden |
Agglomeration of less than 10,000 inhabitants located in a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants | 8 m2 | 6 m above ground level | |
Agglomeration of more than 10,000 inhabitants | |||
Outside urban areas (airport, railway station and bus station) | |||
Wall devices in theright-of-way | Sports equipment with a seating capacity of at least 15 000 in built-up areas or 15 000 outside built-up areas | 50 m2 | 10 m above ground level with possibility of derogation |
Ground-sealed devices in theright-of-way | Sports equipment with a seating capacity of at least 15 000 in built-up areas or 15 000 outside built-up areas | 50 m2 | 10 m above ground level |
Light advertising is forbidden in agglomerations of less than 10,000 inhabitants not part of a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants. It is also prohibited, regardless of the number of inhabitants, when it is affixed to a land vehicle on the street furniture.
In addition, light advertising must comply with the following rules :
- Advertising must not exceed the limits of the wall that supports it.
- Advertising right be parallel to the wall that supports it.
- Advertising must not be affixed to a fence, unless it is installed on the right-of-way of sports equipment with a capacity of at least 15,000 seats.
- Advertising must not be affixed to a balcony or balcony railing.
- Advertising must not cover all or part of a bay, unless it is installed on the right-of-way of sports equipment with a capacity of at least 15,000 seats.
- The pre-sign right comply with technical standards set by ministerial decree, in particular concerning the average luminance thresholds not to be exceeded. This order is currently being prepared.
In addition, an advertisement located on a roof or roof terrace must be carried out using cut letters or signs concealing their attachment to the support. The height of these panels is at most 0.50 m. In this case, the advertising must not exceed the following height:
- 1/6 the height of the facade of the building and maximum 2 m when this height is less than or equal to 20 m
- 1/10 the height of the facade of the building and maximum 6 m when this height is greater than 20 m.
The luminous advertising devices sealed to the ground are forbidden in the following places:
- in wooded areas classified as MORE
- in areas to be protected because of the quality of the sites, natural environments, landscapes and their interest, particularly from an aesthetic or ecological point of view, and appearing on a local urban planning plan
- agglomerations of less than 10 000 inhabitants not belonging to a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants
- in other built-up areas, if the signs on the devices are visible from a motorway or a connecting ramp to a motorway and from an express road, diversion or public road outside built-up areas
- on theright-of-way airports and railway stations and sports equipment where the signs on the devices:
- are visible only from a motorway or a connecting ramp to a motorway and from an express road;
- are visible only from a bypass or public road outside built-up areas and outside the right-of-way of the airports, railway and bus stations and the sports facilities concerned.
The luminous advertising devices sealed to the ground shall be installed in accordance with following implant rules :
- be placed at more than 10 meters from a bay of a residential building located on a neighboring fund when it is in front of the plane of the wall containing this array
- at a distance of less than half its height from a property boundary.
Please note
Light advertising must comply with rules for nighttime extinction.
Dimensions of light advertising
Rules for the implementation of light advertising
Rules for the implementation of light advertising
Dimensions of light advertising located on a roof or roof terrace
Rules for the installation of light advertising located on a roof or roof terrace
Rules for the installation of luminous advertising devices sealed to the ground
Prohibition of digital advertising on vehicles
Digital advertising
Advertising is said digital when it is broadcast on screens can present still images, moving images, and videos.
Depending on the number of inhabitants in an urban area, digital advertisements must respect a specific size.
Place of installation | Maximum Area | Maximum height |
|---|---|---|
Agglomeration of less than 10 000 inhabitants not belonging to a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants | Forbidden | Forbidden |
Agglomeration more than 10 000 inhabitants or in an agglomeration of less than 10 000 inhabitants belonging to an urban unit of more than 100 000 inhabitants | 8 m2 | 6 m above ground level |
Right-of-way airports with an annual passenger flow of less than or equal to 3 million people and railway and bus stations outside urban areas | ||
Right-of-way airports with an annual flow of more than 3 million people | 50 m2 | 10 m above ground level with possibility of derogation for wall devices |
Right-of-way sports facilities with a capacity of at least 15 000 places and located in or outside a built-up area |
Digital advertising is forbidden when it is affixed to a land vehicle. It is also prohibited when it is affixed to street furniture (bus shelters, newsstands, poster columns...) in an urban area of less than 10,000 inhabitants and in regional nature parks in thearea of accession national parks and in the special areas of conservation and special protection areas.
In addition, digital advertising must comply with the following rules :
- Advertising must not exceed the limits of the wall that supports it.
- Advertising right be parallel to the wall that supports it.
- Advertising must not be affixed to a fence, unless it is installed on the right-of-way of sports equipment with a capacity of at least 15,000 seats.
- Advertising must not be affixed to a balcony or balcony railing.
- Advertising must not cover all or part of a bay, unless it is installed on the right-of-way of sports equipment with a capacity of at least 15,000 seats.
- Advertising must not be installed within 10 meters of a bay of a residential building.
- The pre-sign right comply with technical standards set by ministerial decree, in particular concerning the average luminance thresholds not to be exceeded. This order is currently being prepared.
In addition, digital advertising located on a roof or roof terrace must be carried out using cut letters or signs concealing their attachment to the support. The height of these panels is at most 0.50 m. In this case, the advertising must not exceed the following height:
- 1/6 the height of the facade of the building and maximum 2 m when this height is less than or equal to 20 m
- 1/10 the height of the facade of the building and maximum 6 m when this height is greater than 20 m.
The digital advertising devices sealed on the ground are forbidden the following locations:
- in wooded areas classified as MORE
- in areas to be protected because of the quality of the sites, natural environments, landscapes and their interest, particularly from an aesthetic or ecological point of view, and appearing on a local urban planning plan
- agglomerations of less than 10 000 inhabitants not belonging to a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants
- in other built-up areas, if the signs on the devices are visible from a motorway or a connecting ramp to a motorway and from an express road, diversion or public road outside built-up areas
- on theright-of-way airports and railway stations and sports facilities where the signs on the devices:
- are visible only from a motorway or a connecting ramp to a motorway and from an express road;
- are visible only from a bypass or public road outside built-up areas and outside the right-of-way of the airports, railway and bus stations and the sports facilities concerned.
The digital advertising devices sealed on the ground shall be installed in accordance with following implant rules :
- be placed at more than 10 meters from a bay of a residential building located on a neighboring fund when it is in front of the plane of the wall containing this array
- at a distance of less than half its height from a property boundary.
Please note
Digital advertising must comply with rules for nighttime extinction.
To avoid glare, digital advertising devices must be equipped with a dimming system that allows to adapt the lighting to the ambient brightness.
Calculate the surface of the advertisements
Dimensions of light advertising located on a roof or roof terrace
Rules for the installation of light advertising located on a roof or roof terrace
Rules for the installation of luminous advertising devices sealed to the ground
Dimensions and conditions for the implementation of digital advertising
Prohibition of digital advertising on street furniture (paragraph 2)
Prohibition of digital advertising on vehicles
Urban furniture
The street furniture is an installation located on a public domain outbuilding for the convenience of users (garbage cans, public benches, public transport service shelters, street names, etc.)
There are 5 categories of street furniture:
- Shelters for the public
- Newsstands and other kiosks for commercial use
- Poster columns (only announcements of shows or cultural events)
- Poster Mast
- Furniture intended to receive non-advertising information of a general or local nature, or artistic works.
It is forbidden to affix a digital advertising on street furniture (bus shelters, newsstands, poster columns...) in an urban area of less than 10,000 inhabitants and in regional nature parks in thearea of accession national parks and in the special areas of conservation and special protection areas.
Nature of street furniture | Agglomeration of less than 10 000 inhabitants not belonging to a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants | Agglomeration more than 10 000 inhabitants or less than 10 000 inhabitants forming part of a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants | Right-of-way airports with an annual passenger flow of more than 3 million |
|---|---|---|---|
Shelters for the public | 2 sqm unitary and 2 sqm + 2 sqm per whole section of 4.5 sqm of sheltered area on the ground | ||
Kiosks | 2 m² unitary 6 m² total | ||
Poster Column | No maximum surface to respect | ||
Poster Masts | 2 m² front, 2 m² back | ||
Furniture intended to receive non-advertising information | Prohibited if the unit area of the advertisement is greater than 2 m² and if the street furniture rises more than 3 m above the ground. In other cases, the total surface area of the advertisements must not exceed that of the non-advertising information. | 10.5 m² | 50 m² |
Nature of street furniture | Agglomeration of less than 10 000 inhabitants not belonging to a urban unit more than 100,000 inhabitants | Agglomeration more than 10,000 inhabitants | Right-of-way airports with an annual passenger flow of more than 3 million and right-of-way sports facilities with at least 15,000 seats |
|---|---|---|---|
Shelters for the public | Forbidden | 2 sqm unit 2 sqm + 2 sqm per whole section of 4.5 sqm of sheltered area on the ground | Not concerned |
Kiosks | 2 m² unitary 6 m² total | Not concerned | |
Poster Column | 8 m² | Not concerned | |
Poster Masts | 2 m² front, 2 m² back | Not concerned | |
Furniture intended to receive non-advertising information | 8 m² | 50 m² |
Digital advertising on street furniture must not exceed 6 meters above ground level.
Please note
In order to calculate the surface area of advertisements placed on street furniture, account must be taken of the surface area of the poster or screen that must be taken into account.
Conditions for the use of street furniture as an advertising medium
Advertising density
Advertising is subject to a density based on the length ofland unit bordering the lane open to public traffic. Thus, as soon as the maximum number of advertisements is reached, no other advertisements can be installed on the land unit.
The regulations vary depending on the length of land unit (less than or greater than 80 meters).
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Land unit less than or equal to 80 m
The land unit may comprise onlyonly one ad.
By exception, it is possible to install:
- Either 2 advertisements aligned horizontally or vertically on a support wall
- Either 2 advertisements sealed on the ground if the land unit is longer than 40 meters.
Land unit greater than 80 m
The land unit may comprise a additional advertising per 80 meters beyond the first slice.
FYI
The density rule does not apply advertisements on palisades, roofs, tarpaulins or street furniture (bus shelters, newsstands...).)
Rules on advertising density
The installation, replacement or modification of an advertising device must, in most cases, be the subject of a prior declaration to the mayor.
FYI
Advertising that requires prior authorization is not subject to the prior declaration procedure. The 2 procedures are separate and do not stack.
Advertisements requiring prior notification
The prior declaration relates to the installation, replacement or modification of following advertising devices :
- Advertisements on walls, fences or buildings
- Sealed Ads on the ground or installed directly on the floor
- Ads supported by du street furniture (bus shelters, newsstands...))
- Small-format advertisements embedded in commercial storefronts (micro-display)
- Advertising on theairport right-of-way.
relates also to the replacement or modification of tarpaulins with advertising, the installation of which was previously authorized.
Warning
The installation of a light advertising (excluding projection or transparency-informed advertising) must be the subject of a prior authorizationand not a prior declaration.
Documents to be provided for the declaration
The declaration shall be made by means of cerfa form n°16310 by the company planning to implement the advertising device with a view to its exploitation.
Prior declaration of a device or material carrying advertising or a front sign
The information to be provided varies according to whether the advertising device is installed on a private property or on the public domain.
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Private property
The declaration shall include the following items :
- Identity and address of the registrant
- Location and land area
- Nature of the device or material (advertising, sign, pre-sign)
- Indication of the distance of the proposed installation from the boundary lines and bays of buildings located on the neighboring land
- Indication of the number and nature of devices already installed in the field
- Field situation plan, a rated ground plan and the graphic representation of the rated device or material in three dimensions
Public Domain
The declaration shall include the following items :
- Identity and address of the registrant
- Location of the advertising device
- Nature of the device or material and its graphic representation rated in 3 dimensions
- Indication of the distance of the planned installation from the bays of the buildings located on the neighboring bottoms.
Please note
The declaration of the installation of an advertisement on the right of way of a airport shall be accompanied by the agreement of the airport manager and the documents establishing that it complies with the applicable safety rules.
Sending the declaration
is established in 2 copies and presented by the company that plans to exploit the advertising device.
The request must be addressed at the town hall the place where the advertisement is to be affixed, one of the following ways :
- By electronic means with request for electronic acknowledgement of receipt, when the mayor is able to ensure secure and confidential transmission
- By registered mail with a request for a postal receipt
- Filed in town hall against landfill
Upon receipt of the declaration by the mayor, the declarant may proceed, under his responsibility, to the realization of the declared project.
Warning
Placing or causing to be placed an advertisement without prior declaration shall be punished by an administrative fine of €1,500.
In some municipalities, the installation of an advertising device may give rise to the payment of the tax on outdoor advertising (TPE). The rates are published by municipal decree and are generally available on the website of the town hall.
Administrative penalty in the absence of prior declaration
Procedure for prior declaration
Airport Right-of-Way Prior declarations
New procedure by electronic means - Prior declaration
The installation of an advertising device may require obtaining a prior authorization issued by the mayor.
Please note
Advertising subject to the prior declaration procedure does not require prior authorization. The 2 procedures are separate and do not overlap.
Advertisements requiring prior authorization
The prior authorization concerns the installation of following advertising devices :
- Advertisements luminous (other than projection or transparency-illuminated posters)
- Advertisements bright on street furniture, excluding devices carrying posters illuminated by projection or by transparency
- Locations of tarpaulins with advertising
- Advertisements of exceptional dimensions related to temporary demonstrations
- Advertisements implanted on sports facilities more than 15 000 seats (only in case of derogating dimensions).
Documents to be provided for the application for authorization
The application for authorization shall be made by means of cerfa form n°16309.
The information to be provided varies according to whether the advertising device is installed on a private property or on the public domain.
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Private property
The application for authorization shall include following items :
- Identity and address of the registrant
- Location and land area
- Nature of the device or material (advertising, sign, pre-sign)
- Indication of the distance of the proposed installation from the boundary lines and bays of buildings located on the neighboring land
- Indication of the number and nature of devices already installed in the field
- Field situation plan, a rated ground plan and the graphic representation of the device or equipment rated in 3 dimensions
Public Domain
The application for authorization shall include following items :
- Identity and address of the registrant
- Location of the advertising device
- Nature of the device or material and its graphic representation rated in 3 dimensions
- Indication of the distance of the planned installation from the bays of the buildings located on the neighboring bottoms.
Depending on the type of advertising installed, it may be necessary to attach additional documents :
- For luminous advertising : the life cycle analysis of the device, its visibility from the nearest public road and the indication of the average and maximum luminance values shall also be provided.
- For a construction site tarp : the location, nature and length of the works, the location of the scaffolding, the surface area of the tarpaulin and its length of installation, the sketches or photos of the tarpaulin and the intended location, and the names and addresses of the persons (or companies) wishing to affix or have the tarpaulin affixed shall also be provided.
- For a billboard : the surface area of the tarpaulin and its length of installation, the sketches or photos of the tarpaulin and its intended location and the names and addresses of persons (or companies) wishing to apply or have a tarpaulin applied must also be provided.
- For an exceptional advertising dimension : the type of event advertised, the location of the advertisement, its surface area and length of installation, the sketches or photos of the advertisement and the intended location and the name and address of the persons (or companies) wishing to affix or have affixed the device must also be provided.
Sending the authorization request
The application for authorization shall be drawn up in 3 copies and presented by the advertising company which operates the advertisements.
The request must be addressed at the town hall the place where the advertisement is to be affixed, one of the following ways :
- By electronic means with request for electronic acknowledgement of receipt, when the mayor is able to ensure secure and confidential transmission
- By registered mail with a request for a postal receipt
- Filed in town hall against landfill
Where the advertising policy has been transferred to the President of theEPCI: titleContent, the mayor shall receive the request and shall forward it to him within one week of its submission, for instruction.
When she received a file of full application, the town hall has a 2 months delay to grant or refuse the installation of advertising. It shall send its reply by registered mail. If no response has been received after this time, the installation is considered to be granted.
In case of incomplete file, the mayor shall have delay of 1 month from the receipt of the application to inform the declarant of:
- The missing information and parts to be produced in 3 copies and to be sent to the town hall, in a 2 months delay following the notification of this mail.
- Failing production of parts in a 2 months delay following notification of this letter, the request is tacitly rejected.
- The mayor has a period of 2 months to decide on the request from the receipt of the missing documents.
Generally, authorization is issued for a maximum duration of 8 years.
Placing or causing to be placed an advertisement without prior authorization shall be punished by €7,500of fine (natural person) and €37,500 of fine (legal person).
The criminal liability of legal persons and that of their directors may be cumulated for the same acts. For example, a company as a natural person may be held personally criminally liable, even if he or she has already been convicted of the same acts.
A legal person may only be fined. The amount of the fine shall be multiplied by 5 compared to that provided for natural persons.
One individual business (EI) since it does not have a legal personality, only the manager is liable to criminal sanctions.
In some municipalities, the installation of an advertising device may give rise to the payment of the tax on outdoor advertising (TPE). The rates are published by municipal decree and are generally available on the website of the town hall.
Prior authorization luminous advertising (paragraph 3)
Penalty in the absence of authorization (I,2°)
Procedure for prior authorization
Additional documents for the authorization of luminous advertising and duration of the authorization
Additional parts for the site tarpaulin authorization (I)
Additional documents for the authorization of advertising tarpaulin and duration of the authorization
Additional documents for the authorization of an exceptional advertising device (I)
Additional documents for the authorization of derogating advertising devices on the right of way of sports equipment and duration of the authorization
New procedure by electronic means - Prior authorization
Before placing an advertisement on a building, it is mandatory to obtain the written permission of the owner from the building.
Placing or causing to be placed an advertisement without the owner's permission shall be punished by €450 of fine (natural person) and €2,250 of fine (legal person).
The criminal liability of legal persons and that of their directors may be cumulated for the same acts. For example, a company as a natural person may be subject to personal criminal liability, even if he or she has already been convicted of the same acts.
A legal person may only be fined. The amount of the fine shall be multiplied by 5 compared to that provided for natural persons.
One individual business (EI) since it does not have a legal personality, only the manager is liable to criminal sanctions.
Written authorization from the owner
Penalty in case of absence of written authorization from the owner (1°)
You rent an existing advertising space
The advertising is an inscription, form or image intended to inform the public or to attract its attention. We are talking about advertising exterior when it is visible from a lane open to public traffic (road, highway, road, rail network, etc.).
One advertising space is a place reserved for the broadcast of an advertisement. This advertising space may be bright or not bright. It can be installed on the ground or affixed to a wall, a tarpaulin or even an advertising vehicle.
The owner of an advertising location can rent this space to others (e.g. to a company) by means of a location lease agreement.
Example :
An entrepreneur wants to promote the opening of his pizzeria by advertising outside a few minutes from his business. To do this, he contacts the owner of an advertising billboard (e.g. a billboard business or an individual) and concludes a rental contract with the latter.
A rental contract must be concluded for a maximum period of 6 years. This contract is renewable by tacit renewal in periods of one year, i.e. it is renewed automatically if neither party wishes to terminate it.
The contract must be concluded in writing and include the next mention :
« A private rental contract for the purpose of advertising or install of a pre-sign shall be in writing. It shall be concluded for a period not exceeding six years from its signature. It may be tacitly renewed for periods of up to one year, unless one of the parties denounces it at least three months before its expiry.
The lessee must maintain the rented space in good maintenance condition at all times. If this obligation is not fulfilled, and after formal notice, the lessor may obtain, after a period of one month, from the judge hearing the application for interim measures, at his choice, either the execution of the necessary works, or the termination of the contract and the restoration of the premises in good condition at the expense of the lessee.
In the absence of payment of the rent, the contract is automatically terminated for the benefit of the lessor after formal notice to pay remained ineffective for one month. The lessee must return the leased site to its previous condition within three months of the expiry of the contract. »
In case of litigation, the court having jurisdiction to give judgment shall be the court within whose jurisdiction the device concerned is situated.
Who shall I contact
Advertising or pre-sign rental contracts
Competent court in case of dispute related to a rental contract for advertising or pre-sign space
The lessee, i.e. the tenant, must respect the following 2 obligations :
- Maintain the rented site in good maintenance condition : in the absence of performance of this obligation after a formal notice that has remained ineffective for 1 month, the lessor may obtain from the judge, at his choice, either the performance of the necessary works, or the termination of the contract and the restoration of the premises in good condition at the expense of the lessee.
- Pay the rents : in the absence of payment of the rent, the lessor may terminate the contract as of right after formal notice to pay remained ineffective for 1 month.
Please note
Everything litigation relating to a contract for the rental of advertising space is carried before the court of justice within the jurisdiction of which the advertisement is located. Any clause to the contrary in the contract is not valid.
Advertising or pre-sign rental contracts
Competent court in case of dispute related to a rental contract for advertising or pre-sign space
A tenant who makes payments in excess of €76 per year for the same beneficiary (in execution of a contract of lease of location) must realize a special declaration by means of form n°2061-SD.
Declaration of payments for a rental contract for advertising space
The tenant must declare the following information to the tax authorities:
- Name or company name, occupation and address
- First and last names or business name and address of the recipient of the payments (the owner of the site)
- The total amount of money that was paid to that recipient in the previous calendar year in fulfillment of the advertising space lease agreements.
The tenant must make this declaration, before 1er March of the following year the payment, to the tax office of his domicile or principal place of business.
Who shall I contact
Declaration of payments under an advertising rental agreement
Mandatory information in the payment declaration
Procedures for sending the payment declaration
Prohibition of advertising in certain places
Prohibition of advertising outside built-up areas
Authorization of advertising in built-up areas
Written authorization from the owner
Advertising or pre-sign rental contracts
Declaration of payments under an advertising rental agreement
Procedure for prior declaration
Procedure for prior authorization
Rules on advertising density
Advertising policy provided by the mayor
New electronic procedure - Authorization and Prior declaration
Ministry for the Environment