THE PRACTICE OF setting up temporary advertising on the back of trailer is set to end following a ruling by An Bord Pleanála.

The planning board found that even if placed on private property, it still constituted as advertising.

This would change the purpose of the land and so planning permission would be required to erect it.

If on public property, such as a public road, a licence would be required — and for many other common items, ranging from vending machines to landscape maps indicating directions.

A section of the Planning and Development Act states that a licence is required for all of the following:

• A hoarding, fence or scaffold,
• An advertisement structure,
• A cable, wire or pipeline,
• A telephone kiosk or pedestal,
• Any other appliance, apparatus or structure, which may be prescribed as requiring a licence under this section.

However, planning consultant David Mulcahy of Irish Planning News explained to TheJournal.ie that this can have wide reaching implications.

Sandwich boards like these are a no-no without licensing (Image Credit: Shirokazan via Flickr/Creative Commons)

Restaurants require a licence to place tables and chairs outside their stores. In Dublin, the premises must serve food which can be eaten on-site as a requirement for this licence to be approved.

Even sandwich boards placed on footpaths require a licence under this legislation.

However, the law will vary when it comes to placing these items on private property.

Read: Parked mobile advertisements require planning permission, says planning board >