Election advertising signage guidelines

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide direction on:

  • the placement of electoral advertising signs on any Council owned or controlled land, municipal building or road
  • the requirements for the display of electoral advertising signs on private property
  • the requirements for candidates or their supporters electioneering in public places.

These guidelines complement Council’s local laws and the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and provides the community an understanding what is required to ensure fair and lawful election processes, and an appropriate use of Council resources. It is also consistent with Council’s Election Period Policy (which applies to local government elections).

In doing so, Council wishes to ensure it is not seen as partisan, and to prevent the amenity of the municipal district being unduly compromised by a proliferation of electoral signage being erected and displayed.

To ensure Council resources (including buildings and land) are not used to support any electioneering activity, Council will not generally issue a permit for any type of candidate election signage to be erected or displayed on Council owned or controlled land or infrastructure.

Electoral signage on Council owned or controlled land

The following provisions that govern the placement of electoral signs apply equally to all candidates and their associated election campaigns at all times, including in the lead up to and during an election/caretaker period.

Signage is not permitted on:

  • Council-owned or managed parks, municipal reserves, buildings, nature strips and car parks
  • roads and road dividing strips (median strips, traffic islands, roundabouts)
  • trees, shrubs or plants, street signs, traffic control signs, parking signs or bicycle racks
  • a verandah or awning that overhangs Council land
  • some land owned by other government agencies such as Parks Victoria or VicRoads without the required approval from the relevant agency.

If election signage is displayed on Council owned or managed land and/or buildings/infrastructure, Council will notify the owner of the sign to remove the sign immediately. Failure to comply will result in the sign being removed and impounded. Costs to recover the signs will be covered by the candidate.

Mobile billboards and signs on trailers and vehicles must be mobile at all times or parked on private property. They cannot be left unattended or parked on Council owned or managed land.

Electoral signage on privately-owned land

There are different rules that regulate the display of electoral signage on private property.

The following requirements apply to private land and are regulated under the provisions of the Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme. Any political or election signage that is contrary to the specific requirements below may be subject to fines and enforcement action.

The following applies to all election or political signs, including but not limited to placards, signs on fences, in front gardens, in windows, on stationary vehicles or trailers.

Specific requirements:

  • No larger than five square metres.
  • No more than one sign on the land.
  • Must not be displayed for longer than three months in total.
  • Must be removed no later than 14 days after the election is held.

If you have any questions about the requirements under the Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme, contact Council’s urban planning team on 1300 179 944.

Signage that does not meet the above will require planning permission. You should also ensure you obtain approval from the property owner before installing a sign on private property.

Candidates should talk to Council about planning permit requirements before displaying signs.

Installing signage without a planning permit can result in a fine of up to $1,045.50 (five penalty units) for an individual, or $2,091 (10 penalty units) for a company.

If you own land and someone has placed signage on your land without your approval you can remove the signage.

If you are concerned about someone accessing your property without permission, contact Victoria Police.

Complaints about election signage can be made by lodging an online request, contacting Council by email or live chat or by reporting through Snap Send Solve.

Events and pop-ups

Candidates and supporters can hold events in public spaces but will need to follow these guidelines:

  • Election material cannot be distributed within 100 metres of a voting centre.
  • Candidates need permission from the property owner to campaign in a public space.
  • Consider public safety and community amenity – don’t obstruct access to footpaths.
  • A-frame and freestanding signs aren’t allowed on Council owned or managed land.
  • Election material must meet the requirements of the Victorian Electoral Commission or Australian Electoral Commissions.

Guidance on election and campaigning activity

The following provisions apply to council, state and federal elections.

Who is responsible for regulating election and campaign activity?

The conduct of elections and specifically the publication, distribution and content of electoral material (signs, hoardings, handbills and other material intended to inform the community about a candidate and influence the way people vote) is regulated by the AEC (for federal elections and referenda) or the VEC (for state and local government elections).

Council is responsible for the enforcement of state laws that impact upon some elements of election activity (such as the Planning and Environment Act 1987 for signage on private property) and has a local law in place that regulates the way in which election candidates and their supporters may conduct themselves in our municipal area.

This includes the use of advertising boards (A-frame signs) and street stalls, signage on Council or other public property, signage on private property, littering and activity that may impact on the amenity of our municipality.

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