When is a permit required?
You have found the right design for your new logo, the colours look high-quality and the illuminated letters have already been planned. However, before your illuminated advertising can be mounted on the façade, there is often an important step to take: the approval check by the relevant authorities.
Whether in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne or in regions such as Lower Saxony or North Rhine-Westphalia, the legal requirements for outdoor advertising are clearly regulated nationwide and vary depending on location. In this article, you will learn when a permit is required and how to prepare your project safely. 3b2ddc544d48a26b62c7204e17d0e70d
Is illuminated advertising subject to approval?
In most cases, the answer is yes.
As soon as an advertising structure is permanently attached to a building and visible from public space, the respective state building regulations apply.
When is a building application required?
Size of the advertising structure
In many federal states, advertising structures with a total area of up to 1 square metre do not require a permit. If the structure exceeds this size, a building permit is usually required.
Lighting
As soon as advertising installations are actively illuminated, for example by individual LED letters or light boxes, authorities also check for any potential glare affecting road traffic.
Location
In historic old towns or in the case of listed buildings, additional design regulations or special requirements often apply due to the monument protection authority.
You will find further information on modern and compliant solutions in the field of illuminated letters.
Illuminated letters.
Light pollution and Dark Sky guidelines
Environmental protection is playing an increasingly important role in modern outdoor advertising. Today, illuminated advertising must be used in a targeted and controlled manner.
Insect protection
Dark Sky guidelines often call for limiting light emission upwards. The aim is to protect insects and the night sky.
Targeted light control
High-quality profile letters direct the light precisely onto the advertising space. This protects the surroundings and achieves high visibility at the same time.
You can find out more about this in the
Outdoor Advertising section.
Nachtabschaltung und Energieeffizienz
Night-time shutdown is now standard practice and part of many local authority regulations. Modern advertising installations are equipped with astronomical timers.
Depending on local regulations, illuminated advertising is automatically dimmed or switched off between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This reduces energy costs and light emissions and ensures good relations with the neighbourhood.
Checklist for your building application
Use this overview for your internal planning:
| inspection points | Note |
|---|---|
| Area over 1 m² | Subject to authorisation in most cases |
| Illuminated | Technical data or glare verification required |
| listed building status | Coordination with the monument protection authority is necessary. |
| Residential development in sight | Check consideration and light limitation |
| Installation height from 3 m | Structural analysis may be required |
Your partner in the approval process
Light & Sign GmbH not only supports you in implementing high-quality illuminated advertising. We also guide you through the entire approval process.
We will provide you with all the necessary technical drawings, product descriptions and information required for a smooth building application process. Our experience with state and local authorities ensures planning reliability.
Special regulations in selected cities
Additional regulations apply depending on the city:
- Düsseldorf: Statutes on advertising installations in the old town area
- Frankfurt am Main: Design guidelines issued by the city planning office
- Leipzig: Municipal advertising regulations
- Aachen: City-specific regulations for advertising installations
- Lübeck: Urban development guidelines
- Nuremberg: Statutes on advertising installations
- Munich: Advertising regulations of the state capital
- Cologne: Design guidelines for Hohe Straße and Schildergasse
Fazit
An advertising installation requiring approval is not an obstacle, but a process that can be planned. With the right preparation and professional support, delays and rework can be avoided.
Are you planning new outdoor advertising or illuminated lettering?
Then get in touch with us. We will work with you to assess what is possible at your location.