If your business has a promotional banner hanging from railings, fencing or other public infrastructure, now is the time to check whether it has the right permissions. The Government has announced immediate enforcement action against unauthorised advertising banners across Gibraltar, citing concerns around visual clutter, public safety and the growing use of public spaces for unapproved advertising.

So what’s changed, and what does it mean in practice?

What’s happening?

HM Government of Gibraltar says it is concerned about the “growing proliferation” of unauthorised advertising banners appearing across Gibraltar, particularly on roadside railings and other public infrastructure.

Its concern centres on three areas:

• The impact on Gibraltar’s streetscape and visual environment
• Clutter in shared public spaces
• Potential distraction for road users

In short, the message is that informal banner advertising has become widespread enough to trigger enforcement.

What are the rules?

The key point is straightforward: advertising banners require prior consent. The Government has reminded businesses and individuals that displaying advertisements, including banners, requires formal advertisement consent from the Development and Planning Commission (DPC). This is intended to ensure signage is appropriate in scale, design, location and public safety terms. If approval has not been granted, the banner is considered unauthorised.

What happens now?

Businesses and individuals have two weeks from the date of the notice to remove any unauthorised banners themselves. After that, Government says it will remove and dispose of any remaining banners without further notice. This is not a warning about possible future enforcement. It is active enforcement starting now.

Need permission? Here’s the process

If your business wants to use banner advertising legally, applications must be made through the Government’s E-Planning portal:

Applications should include all required information upfront, and businesses are being advised to allow at least four weeks for the DPC to review and determine an application. The Department of Town Planning and Building Control can also provide guidance where needed.

Why this matters

For some businesses, particularly those promoting events, openings or seasonal campaigns, banner advertising has become a familiar and low-cost marketing tool. This announcement is a reminder that convenience does not override planning rules.

It may also prompt wider discussion about whether there are enough practical and affordable alternatives for businesses looking to promote themselves visibly in public spaces, particularly smaller operators working with tighter budgets. For now, though, the position is clear: if a banner is up without consent, it needs to come down.

The bottom line

If your business has a banner displayed anywhere in Gibraltar, check it now. If it does not have the appropriate consent, you have a short window to act before enforcement begins.