Sign: installation rules

Verified 30 April 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry in charge of urban planning

One sign allows customers to identify the operating space of a company (e.g. a shop). The sign must respect the rules oflocation, dimensions andnight lighting. Its installation also requires a prior authorization in some cases. In addition, the temporary signs different rules apply to those who report particular events.

Permanent sign: general case

What's that?

One sign is an inscription, form or image affixed to an immovable relating to an activity carried out therein. In other words, the sign is an external 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.).

The sign is an element of the goodwill as well as customers.

Please note

The sign is not required for the company, contrary to the name/company name.

What's the difference with a pre-sign?

One pre-sign is an inscription, shape or image indicating the proximity of a building where a specific activity is carried out.

As for the sign, the pre-sign designates the various visuals promoting a company, with the difference that the pre-sign is not not affixed to the building where the activity is carried out. It is positioned before the sign itself.

As a rule, the pre-sign takes the shape of an advertising panel settled at the entrance of cities or before major crossroads. It can indicate the proximity of a shopping center, a petrol station or a campsite, for example.

Please note

The pre-sign is the subject of a specific regulations.

A sign must be composed of sustainable materials (e.g. wood, slate). It must be kept in good condition of cleanliness, maintenance and operation by the merchant.

The sign must not interfere traffic, signaling and road safety.

The rules of implantation and dimensions are different according to the type of sign:

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Sign located on a facade

Sign parallel to the wall

The sign hanging flat on a wall or parallel to a wall is said to be “ apply ’ or ‘ blindfold ».

It must respect the following conditions :

  • It must not exceed the limits of the wall and those of the gutter.
  • It must respect a protrusion maximum of 25 cm.
  • It shall not exceed 1 m when settled on a canopy or marquise (glazed canopy).
  • It must not rise above the railing or the grab bar of a balcony or bay. Its thickness must be less than or equal to 25 cm.

Furthermore, the combined surface area of the signs affixed to the facade of the building in which the activity is carried out is limited to one of the following surfaces :

  • When the surface of the commercial facade is less than 50 m2, the cumulative area is limited to 25% of the surface of the facade.
  • When the surface of the commercial facade is greater than 50 m2, the cumulative area is limited to 15% of the surface of the facade.

However, it may be derogated on this cumulative area for the following cultural establishments and activities:

  • Cinema establishments
  • Live performance establishments
  • Plastic arts education and exhibition institutions
  • Cinematographic shows
  • Live shows
  • Teaching and exhibition of visual arts.

Awnings and canopies are not taken into account in the calculation of the combined surface area of the signs.

Sign perpendicular to the wall

The sign hanging perpendicular to the wall is said to be “ in flag ».

It must respect the following conditions :

  • It must not exceed the height of the wall.
  • It should not be settled in front of a window or balcony.
  • It must not be constituted with respect to the wall of a protrusion greater than 1/10e the distance between the two street alignments within the limit of 2 m.

Moreover, the cumulative area signs affixed to the facade of the building in which the activity is carried out shall be limited to one of the following surfaces :

  • When the surface of the commercial facade is less than 50 m2, the cumulative area is limited to 25% of the surface of the facade.
  • When the surface of the commercial facade is greater than 50 m2, the cumulative area is limited to 15% of the surface of the facade.

However, it may be derogated on this cumulative area for the following cultural establishments and activities:

  • Cinema establishments
  • Live performance establishments
  • Plastic arts education and exhibition institutions
  • Cinematographic shows
  • Live shows
  • Teaching and exhibition of visual arts.

Awnings and canopies (glazed awnings) are not taken into account when calculating the combined surface area of the signs.

Sign placed on a roof or terrace

The reported activity occupies half or less of the building

The sign must be made in cut letters or signs, without being positioned on a back panel unless it serves to conceal the base supports. The height of these panels should not exceed 50 cm.

The height of the sign is limited:

  • For a facade of a height less than or equal to 20 m, the maximum height of the sign is 1/6e the height of the facade within the limit of 2 m.
  • For a facade of a height greater than 20 m, the maximum height of the sign is 1/10e the height of the facade within the limit of 6 m.

The cumulative surface area of the signs on the roof of the same establishment may not be more than 60 m2. However, it may be derogated on this cumulative area for the following cultural establishments:

  • Cinema establishments
  • Live performance establishments
  • Plastic arts education and exhibition institutions.
The reported activity occupies more than half of the building

The sign must be made in cut letters or signs, without being positioned on a back panel unless it serves to conceal the base supports. The height of these panels must not exceed 50 cm.

The height of the sign is limited:

  • For a facade of a height less than or equal to 15 m, the maximum height of the sign is 3 m.
  • For a facade of a height greater than 15 m, the maximum height of the sign is 1/5e the height of the facade within the limit of 6 m.

The cumulative surface area of the signs on the roof of the same establishment may not be more than 60 m2. However, it may be derogated on this cumulative area for the following cultural establishments:

  • Cinema establishments
  • Live performance establishments
  • Plastic arts education and exhibition institutions.

Sign sealed on the ground or settled directly on the ground, more than 1 m

A company can only settle the groundonly one sign along each of the streets bordering the building where the activity is carried out. The sign must be placed at minus 10 m from nearby bays.

The sign can be settled on panels of all shapes resting on one or more feet, flags made of fabric or rigid materials, totems, kakemonos, masts, as well as various objects such as swimming pools, cars, balloons, etc.

The sign must not be located at a distance of less than half their height above ground level of a property boundary. In addition, two signs can be joined back to back if they report activities on neighboring funds and if they are of the same dimensions.

The surface of the sign is limited depending on where it is settled:

  • Outside a built-up area, the maximum area is 6 m2
  • In an agglomeration of less than 10 000 inhabitants, the maximum area is 6 m2
  • In an agglomeration of more than 10,000 inhabitants, the maximum area is 10.5 m2.

Please note

The maximum surface of 10.5 m2 applies only to signs set up from 2 november 2023.

Signs settled before this date must be compliance to comply with these new dimensions by 2 November 2027.

In addition, the height of the sign is limited according to its width:

  • When the width is greater than or equal to 1 m, the maximum height is 6.50 m
  • When the width is less than 1 m, the maximum height is 8 m.

To calculate the surface of the signs, it is necessary take into account the surface of the entire panel, that is to say including supervision. On the other hand, when the sign is affixed to street furniture, it is only the surface of the poster or screen that must be taken into account.

Please note

The tobacco shops benefit from a special scheme in terms of signage. It must be posted there on 2 signs following:

  • Traditional sign called carrot : it is represented by a diamond, or red, or tricolor of colors blue white red. It must comply with the models submitted to theInpi: titleContent. It must be fixed outside the tobacco office. It may be provided with a lighting device non-flashing. Only the red diamond may bear the words tobacco.
  • Sign glued to the front of the tobacco office: the only word tobacco may be registered. The name of the establishment and the representation of the carrot may also be registered.

The installation of a sign may require obtaining a prior authorization issued by the mayor. Signs are never subject to prior declaration, contrary to advertisements and pre-signs.

Signs requiring prior authorization

The installation of a sign is subject to prior administrative authorization when carried out in one of the following locations:

Please note

Prior administrative authorization is also required for the installation of laser beam signs.

Documents to be provided for the application for authorization

Before settling his sign, the registrant must make an application for authorization by means of cerfa form n°14798.

Application for prior authorization of new installation, replacement, modification of a device or material supporting a sign, pre-sign or advertising

The information to be provided varies according to whether the sign is located on a private property or on the public domain.

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Private property

The application for authorization must mention the following information :

  • 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 boundaries and bays of buildings located on the neighboring funds
  • Indication of the number and nature of devices already settled in the field
  • A situation plan of the terrain, a graded ground plan and a graphic representation of the graded device or equipment in three dimensions
  • Situation of the sign
  • View of the building or place concerned with and without the sign
  • Assessment of its integration into the environment.

Please note

The request for authorization to settle a laser beam sign must also include a descriptive notice mentioning in particular the power of the laser source, the characteristics of the beam or beams and the description of the effects produced.

Public domain

The application for authorization must mention the following information :

  • Identity and address of the registrant
  • Location of the sign
  • Nature of the device or material (advertising, sign, pre-sign) as well as its graphic representation rated in three dimensions
  • Indication of the distance of the planned installation from the bays of the buildings situated on the neighboring bottoms
  • Situation of the sign
  • View of the building or place concerned with and without the sign
  • Assessment of its integration into the environment.

Please note

The request for authorization to settle a laser beam sign must also include a descriptive notice mentioning in particular the power of the laser source, the characteristics of the beam or beams and the description of the effects produced.

Sending of the request for authorization

The application for authorization shall be drawn up in 3 copies and presented by the company carrying out the reported activity.

The request must be addressed to the town hall the place where the sign 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 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 application and 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.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

From 1er July 2026, authorization may be carried out by means of a new paperless procedure. The record will be updated accordingly.

Affixing or causing to be affixed a sign without prior authorization shall be punished by €7,500 of 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 leader as a natural person may be held personally criminally liable, even if the company 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 ₪(EI) since it does not have a legal personality, only the manager is liable to criminal sanctions.

FYI  

In some municipalities, the installation of a sign 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.

Possible agreement of the owner

When the trader rents a commercial premises in which he carries out his activity, the owner (lessor) of the immovable can't forbid it to put up a sign. Consequently, no authorization from the owner is required to affix a sign.

However, there are clauses of commercial lease or the co-ownership by-law if it exists, may validly lay down certain conditions to the laying of a sign. This may involve respecting the characteristics of the building and its aesthetics and therefore subject to the agreement of the syndicate of co-owners, meeting in general assembly.

One illuminated sign are the subject of a specific regulations. They are off between 1 hour and 6 hours, when the reported activity has ceased.

When an activity ceases or begins between midnight and 7 a.m., the signs must be switched off no later than one hour after the establishment ceases to operate and may be switched on one hour before the activity resumes.

The mayor may authorize exemptions at these times of extinction during exceptional events.

FYI  

Only pharmacies and emergency services can settle flashing signs.

When the company ceases its activity, it must disassemble the sign within a period of 3 months which follow cessation.

On the other hand, the sign can be preserved if it is of historical, artistic or picturesque interest.

Temporary sign

One sign is an inscription, form or image affixed to an immovable relating to an activity carried out therein. In other words, the sign is an external sign visible and affixed to an establishment (e.g. name of the company and its logo). It allows to report the presence of the operating space and to specify its purpose (restaurant, tobacco, hotel, clothing, optics, etc.).

The sign is said temporary when used to report one of the following events :

  • Exceptional cultural or tourist events of less than 3 months
  • Exceptional operations of less than 3 months (local festivals, fairs, fairs, sporting events, etc.)
  • Public works or real estate operations of subdivision, building, rehabilitation, if the sign is settled for more than 3 months
  • Rental or sale of business, if the sign is settled for more than 3 months.

Even temporary, the sign must be kept in good condition of cleanliness, maintenance and operation by the company carrying out the activity it reports.

Temporary signs can be settled 3 weeks before the start of the event or operation which they report and must be withdrawn at the latest a week after the end of the demonstration or operation.

Please note

The rules of implantation and dimensions are different depending on the type of sign.

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Sign located on a facade

Sign parallel to the wall

The sign hanging flat on a wall or parallel to a wall is said to be “ apply ’ or ‘ blindfold ».

It must respect the following conditions :

  • It must not exceed the limits of the wall and those of the gutter.
  • It must respect a protrusion maximum of 25 cm.
Sign perpendicular to the wall

The sign hanging perpendicular to the wall is said to be “ in flag ».

It must respect the following conditions :

  • It must not exceed the height of the wall.
  • It must not be constituted with respect to the wall of a protrusion greater than 1/10e the distance between the two street alignments within the limit of 2 m.

Sign placed on a roof

The cumulative surface area of the signs on the roof of the same establishment may not be more than 60 m2, with the exception of the following establishments:

  • Cinema establishments
  • Live performance establishments
  • Plastic arts education and exhibition institutions.

Sign sealed on the ground or settled directly on the ground, more than 1 m

A company can only settle the groundonly one sign along each of the streets bordering the building where the activity is carried out. The sign must be placed at at least 10 m from nearby bays.

The sign can be settled on panels of all shapes resting on one or more feet, flags made of fabric or rigid materials, totems, kakemonos, masts, as well as various objects such as swimming pools, cars, balloons, etc.

The sign must not be located at a distance of less than half their height above ground level of a property boundary. In addition, two signs can be joined back to back if they report activities on neighboring funds and if they are of the same dimensions.

The maximum surface area of the sign is limited to 10.5 m when it is settled for more than 3 months and reports public works, a real estate transaction or the rental/sale of a business.

Please note

The maximum surface of 10.5 m2 applies only to signs set up from 2 november 2023. Signs settled before this date must be compliance to respect this new dimension before 2 November 2027.

Please note

To calculate the surface of the signs, it is necessary take into account the surface of the entire panel, that is to say including supervision. On the other hand, when the sign is affixed to street furnitureHowever, it is only the surface of the poster or screen that must be taken into account.

The installation of a sign may require obtaining a prior authorization issued by the mayor. Signs are never subject to prior declaration, unlike advertisements and pre-signs.

Signs requiring prior authorization

Prior authorization is required for the following brands:

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Sign settled on a building

The temporary sign is subject to prior authorization when it is settled on a building.

Sign settled on a building or in certain locations

The temporary sign is subject to prior authorization when settled in one of the following locations:

Sealed or settled sign on the ground

The installation of a temporary sign on the ground is subject to prior administrative authorization when carried out in one of the following locations:

Documents to be provided for the application for authorization

Before settling his sign, the registrant must make an application for authorization by means of cerfa form n°14798.

Application for prior authorization of new installation, replacement, modification of a device or material supporting a sign, pre-sign or advertising

The information to be provided varies according to whether the sign is located on a private property or on the public domain.

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Private property

The declaration must mention the following information :

  • 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 separative boundaries and bays of buildings located on the neighboring land
  • Indication of the number and nature of devices already settled in the field
  • A situation plan of the terrain, a graded ground plan and a graphic representation of the graded device or equipment in three dimensions
  • Setting up the temporary sign
  • View of the building or place concerned with and without the temporary sign
  • Assessment of its integration into the environment.

Public domain

The declaration must mention the following information :

  • Identity and address of the registrant
  • Location of the temporary sign
  • Nature of the device or material (advertising, sign, pre-sign) as well as its graphic representation rated in three dimensions
  • Indication of the distance of the planned installation from the bays of the buildings situated on the neighboring bottoms
  • Setting up the temporary sign
  • View of the building or place concerned with and without the temporary sign
  • Assessment of its integration into the environment.

Sending of the request for authorization

The application for authorization shall be drawn up in 3 copies and presented by the company carrying out the reported activity.

The request must be addressed to the town hall the place where the sign 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 request for a postal receipt
  • Filed in town hall against landfill

When the advertising policy has been transferred to the President of the EPCI, the Mayor receives the request and forwards it to him within a week of its filing, for instruction.

When it has received a complete application file, the town hall/prefecture has a 2 months delay to grant or refuse the installation of the sign. It shall send its reply by registered mail. If no response has been received after this time, the installation is considered to be granted.

Who shall I contact

We have to get the agreement to the architect of the Bâtiments de France, where all these conditions are met:

  • This is a temporary sign settled for more than 3 months
  • Reporting:
    • public works or real estate operations of subdivision, construction, rehabilitation, rental and sale
    • or the renting or selling business
  • and settled in one of the following locations:
Architect of the Buildings of France

Ministry of Culture

Pour en savoir plus

Warning  

From 1er July 2026, authorization may be carried out by means of a new paperless procedure. The record will be updated accordingly.

Affixing or causing to be affixed a sign without prior authorization shall be punished by €7,500 of 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 leader as a natural person may be held personally criminally liable, even if the company 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 ₪(EI) since it does not have a legal personality, only the manager is liable to criminal sanctions.

FYI  

In some municipalities, the installation of a sign 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.

Possible agreement of the owner

When the merchant rents the commercial premises in which he carries out his activity, the owner (lessor) of the immovable can't forbid it to put up a sign. Consequently, an authorization from the owner to affix a sign is not necessary.

However, there are clauses of commercial lease or the co-ownership by-law if it exists, may validly lay down certain conditions to the laying of a sign. This may involve respecting the characteristics of the building and its aesthetics and therefore subject to the agreement of the syndicate of co-owners, meeting in general assembly.

One illuminated sign is a sign in which a light source specially provided for this purpose participates.

The luminous signs are the subject of a specific regulations. The temporary illuminated signs are subject to the same nighttime extinction obligations as permanent signs. They must be off between 1 hour and 6 hours, when the reported activity has ceased.

When an activity ceases or begins between midnight and 7 a.m., the signs must be switched off no later than one hour after the establishment ceases to operate and may be switched on one hour before the activity resumes.

The mayor may authorize exemptions at these times of extinction during exceptional events.

Who shall I contact

FYI  

Only pharmacies and emergency services can settle flashing signs.

FAQ