Roof sign checklist

A roof sign is an advertisement positioned on the roof of a building (includes signs known as sky signs).

Express Assessment allows you to carry out an assessment of your proposal against the requirements on the reverse of this document. To receive Council approval your advertisement will need to comply with all the requirements. If you are unable to meet the requirements you can submit an application to Council for a full assessment of your advertisement.

When assessing suitable locations to exhibit your advertisement you need to ensure that you do not block any other advertisement or compromise the view from neighbouring properties. The advertisement should also be constructed in a manner which respects the features of the building and surrounding structures.

Glossary

Candela is a unit of luminous intensity.

City Malls precinct means the pedestrian malls known as Queen Street Mall, Valley Mall (Brunswick St) and Chinatown Mall.

Commercial Character Building means a premises indicated on the Scheme Maps in City Plan 2000 as “Commercial Character Buildings” which include buildings that usually have the following characteristics:

  • constructed pre-1946
  • a non-residential gross floor area of less than 250 square metres
  • built to the alignment
  • an awning over the footpath
  • designed for commercial activities or for use as a corner/local store or a small shopping group

First party advertising means the advertising of any product or service which is produced or performed at the premises on which the advertisement is located.

Heritage place means a place identified as of ‘cultural heritage significance’ and listed in accordance with the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 or listed as a Heritage place in City Plan 2000.

Illuminated means to brighten with light but does not include reflective letters or strips.

Monolithic means made only of one stone or a single block. Characterised by massiveness and uniformity.

Traffic control device means any sign, signal, pavement marking or other installation placed or erected under authority of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding road users.

Advertisement location

General requirements

The advertisement will only be exhibited in a:
  • City Centre Environment
  • Business Centres Environment
  • Industry Environment
/ Top of Form
The advertisement will not be exhibited within the City Malls precinct
The advertisement will not be exhibited on a Heritage Place or adjoining a Heritage Place
The building to which the advertisement is attached is not a Commercial Character Building
The advertisement content will contain first party advertising only
The advertisement will not be designed to resemble a traffic sign or traffic control device
The supporting structure will comply with structural standards and codes under applicable laws such as the Queensland Building Act 1975
The supporting structure or fixings will be:
  • concealed from view or
  • designed and constructed
  • in a simple, neat and tidy manner or
  • as an integral feature of the advertisement

The total area of all the advertisements on the property will be less than 6% of the area of the site, i.e. if the block of land is 1000 square metres, there can be no more than a total of 60 square metres of signage

Sign specific requirements

The total are of the advertisement will not exceed 5 square metres
The advertisement will be contained within the outline of the existing roof
The advertisement will not extend horizontally beyond the edge of the roof
The frame and structural support will be concealed from view with materials that complement the roof
The advertisement will respect the character of the building on which it is exhibited
The advertisement will be visually compatible with other existing roof signs contained within the building

Electrical and illumination requirements (complete if applicable)

The advertisement, if illuminated, will not be located beside or behind a set of traffic signals or in the sight line of a traffic signal
All electrical services will comply with the current Standards Association of Australia Wiring Rules and the requirements of the supply authority
All conduits, wiring, switches or other electrical apparatus installed on the advertisement will be concealed from view
Electrical equipment will not be mounted on an exposed surface
The advertisement will not contain scrolling, moving images or moving text
The advertisement will comply with the light levels (measured in candelas per square metre cd/m²) shown below
City Centre Environment
Business Centre Environment / Local Shops
Industry Environment / Residential Environment
Green Space Environment
500cd/m² / 500cd/m² / 300cd/m²
Advertisements within 100 metres of a Residential Environment will:
  • not exceed luminance of 300cd/m²
  • switch off the illumination between 10pm and 6am the following day

The illumination will be static (not flashing)