DRAFT GUIDELINES ADVERTISING SIGNAGE ON ROAD RESERVATIONS GENERAL April 2017 F17/39949 Version 2.1
1. Introduction Footpaths were traditionally designed for pedestrian traffic; however as the City has developed there has been an increased commercial demand on this community asset, including the placement of advertising signage. The City of Hobart is committed to working with traders to manage and maintain quality retail and commercial areas but also must consider the amenity of the area, accessibility and the streetscape appearance for the whole community. 2. The Guidelines A person may place advertising signage on the public footpath in front of their business, provided the design of the signage and placement of the signage complies with the guidelines below: 2.1 What signs are allowed? Signboards that meet the following design guidelines: No larger than 1050mm high by 650mm wide; A double sided opening sandwich board type with the two sides securely connected at the top and rigidly held open by a solid strut fixed in place against the inside of each side of the signboard; When placed, the bottom of the signboard must be no more than 20mm above the footpath surface, and; The legs of the sign must not protrude beyond the extremities of the signboard faces. An example of a conforming signboard design is shown in Figure 1, below: 0.65m 1.05m Figure 1 Example of Conforming Signboard Placement In special circumstances where signboards can be placed such that they are not causing a hazard to pedestrians or are in danger of falling over in high winds an alternative design may be permitted by the General Manager. Advertising Signage on Road Reservations Accessible Footpath Zones April 2017 Page 1
2.2 Where can signs be placed? The signboard is to be placed: On the area of footpath directly outside the premises owned or occupied by the person seeking to place the signboard which is bordered by the boundaries of the premises and the road; Only one sign board per premises is to be placed on the footpath unless an additional signboard is approved by the General Manager for corner sites, and; As close as practical to the face of the building to the reasonable satisfaction of the General Manager. Signboards will generally not be permitted on footpaths where less than: 1.2m of clear footpath width remain (on low pedestrian volume footpaths / or non commercial areas); 1.8m of clear footpath width remains (on busy footpaths / or commercial areas), and; 2.4m of clear footpath width remains (on high volume footpaths in commercial areas). Figure 2, below, shows the typical clear pedestrian width to be retained in the Hobart CBD and Sullivans Cove. Advertising Signage on Road Reservations Accessible Footpath Zones April 2017 Page 2
Figure 2 Clear Footpath Width Guide Hobart CBD Sullivans Cove Battery Point Signboards are not to be left on footpaths when the business is closed; Only those premises with a ground floor direct frontage to the public footpath may place a signboard on the footpath; At commercial arcades, up to two signboards advertising multiple businesses may be placed on the public footpath in front of the common area of the arcade, provided the signboards are manufactured, owned and managed by the Body Corporate, arcade owner, or equivalent representative body, and; Signboards may not be placed on a footpath adjacent to an accessible parking space, a bus zone or taxi rank. Advertising Signage on Road Reservations Accessible Footpath Zones April 2017 Page 3
An example of a conforming signboard design placed on a footpath is shown in the Figure 3, below: Figure 3 Example of Conforming Signboard Placement 2.3 What signs are not allowed? Signboards that do not comply with one or more of the Design or Placement guidelines. These signboards may only be placed after obtaining a licence issued under the Highways By Law permitting that placement. When considering whether or not to issue a licence, the General Manager would consider matters including whether the design is suitably resistant to collapse and overturning in strong winds, whether the design assists pedestrians with disabilities avoid protrusions, and whether the placement of the sign is an obstruction to pedestrians and other road users. An Occupation Licence for a non-compliant signboard, should it be issued, would be charged at the annual fee as published in the Council s fees and charges booklet. Signboards that fail to comply with either the By-Laws or the permit conditions of any licence issued for that signage, are to be removed on request. Signboards that are not removed on request may be removed from the footpath by a Council officer. Traders may be prosecuted for failing to comply with the By-Law or permit conditions after receipt of one written notice. 3. Accessible Footpath Zones Special Arrangements By June 2018, the City of Hobart aims to transition from the current arrangements where signboards are placed against the building line, to a best practice approach where the building line is kept clear of obstructions to assist the equitable movement of pedestrians with disabilities. As part of this transition, certain streets (typically where the streets have been reconstructed and rebuilt) will be declared as Accessible Footpath Zones, and on these streets all signboards will require an occupation licence. No fee will be charged for occupation licences for compliant signboards on these streets. As at April 2017 streets that have been designated as Accessible Footpath Zones are as follows: Liverpool Street (from Elizabeth Street to Murray Street); Morrison Street (from Elizabeth Street to Murray Street) Advertising Signage on Road Reservations Accessible Footpath Zones April 2017 Page 4
Salamanca Place (from Gladstone Street to Montpelier Retreat) Effective post construction, and; Sandy Bay Road (from Byron Street to Russell Crescent) Effective post construction. Other streets may be added to the schedule of Accessible Footpath Zones as they are reconstructed or rebuilt. Specific guidance for the placement of Advertising Signage on streets that are Accessible Footpath Zones is outlined in the document Advertising Signage on Road Reservations Accessible Footpath Zones. 4. Enquiries Should you have any questions, please contact Council s Senior Engineer Roads and Traffic on telephone 6238 2128. Alternatively, enquiries can be made via email to coh@hobartcity.com.au. Advertising Signage on Road Reservations Accessible Footpath Zones April 2017 Page 5