Bath & North East Somerset Council are responsible for maintaining footpaths. If you intend putting up a cross-street banner or displaying a banner on a building or land you will need permission from the Council’s Highway Maintenance and Planning teams.

Items erected purely for commercial advertising will not be permitted.

You will need:

• Planning Permission from the Council (see planning applications)
• Highway Permission from the Council by completing the application pack (right)
• Public Liability insurance cover of £5,000,000
• May require permission from the buildings owner to install suitable anchor bolts if the banner is in Bath (see conditions and further information)
• To notify the chief constable of erection and removal times

The Process:

1. First contact the Council’s Planning Services team on 01225 394041 to determine if planning consent is required (see planning applications )
2. Once you have received written confirmation from planning services you can proceed with an application to the Council’s Highway Maintenance team
3. Complete the application form which you can download from this page (right hand column under the related documents title) or request via post, email or fax by contacting Council Connect via the contact details given at the bottom of this page. For help on viewing, downloading or printing documents please refer to the help page
4. Return the completed form to the address given on the form (there is no administrative fee for this application)
5. Upon receipt the Highway Maintenance team will decide if your application is suitable
6. If your application is successful you will need to:
   • Notify the chief constable of erection and removal times of the items on tel. 0845 456 7000
   • Bath only –install suitable anchor bolts (see conditions and further information)

The process can take up to 2 weeks or longer if planning permission is required.

Length of time permitted:

• Consent is to be for the minimum practical period for the purpose intended. In the case of banners advertising an event, will normally be for 1 week, (the duration depends on location and in special circumstances can be extended to 2 weeks).

Report-it - How can I make a complaint regarding banners across the highway?

Any urgent complaints about the location or safety of banners across the highway should be reported to the Council Connect on 01225 394041 immediately.

Non urgent complaints about banners across the highway can be reported via email or fax using the contact details given at the bottom of the page.

Related information:

• conditions and further information