Public Signage Mistakes to Avoid: How Carrick Signs Gets It Right
Posted on by Matt Roscoe
When it comes to outdoor banners and public signage, visibility matters, but so do legality, design, and durability. Many businesses rush to promote their brand without considering planning permissions, installation rules, or material suitability. These small oversights can lead to costly fines, safety risks, or even damage to your business reputation.
In this guide, we’ll explain the most common outdoor signage mistakes to avoid, the legal do’s and don’ts for displaying signs in public spaces, and how Carrick Signs ensures every banner, board, and display is both compliant and built to last.
Why Getting Public Signage Right Matters
Public signage is one of the most powerful ways to capture attention, advertise offers, or guide visitors to your business. However, the UK has strict laws on where and how outdoor signs can be displayed. Failing to follow these can result in removal notices, council fines, or reputational damage.
Getting your signage right means more than just a good design; it means understanding materials, placement, and local regulations. At Carrick Signs, our team ensures your signs are visually impactful, weather-resistant, and fully compliant with UK advertising rules.
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The Most Common Outdoor Signage Mistakes
1. Using the Wrong Materials for the Environment
Outdoor signage must withstand the elements. Cheap outdoor signs for business promotions often fade, warp, or tear quickly, particularly in windy or wet conditions. This not only reduces visibility but also reflects poorly on your brand.
Carrick’s approach: Our outdoor PVC banners and outdoor mesh banners are built from durable, weather-resistant materials designed to stay bright and stable in all seasons. Each is printed with UV-resistant inks to maintain colour quality over time, no matter the weather.
2. Poor Design Readability
A sign’s main job is to be read, quickly and easily. Cluttered designs, small fonts, and low-contrast colours can make even the best offers go unnoticed.
Carrick’s approach: Our team can advise businesses to produce designs that balance creativity with clarity. With our expertise, your designs will consist of readable text sizes, bold colour contrasts, and consistent branding to ensure your message stands out from any distance.
3. Installing Signs in the Wrong Locations
Many people assume they can place a banner or sign wherever it gains the most visibility. However, placing signage on public land, lamp posts, fences, or road signs without permission breaches the Planning Practice Guidance. If you advertise without the necessary consent, the local planning authority may prosecute your business under section 224 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. If you are successfully prosecuted, you may have to pay a fine of up to £2,500.
Carrick’s approach: We can advise customers on suitable, lawful installation points for all types of public signage, and whether you’ll need planning permission or not.
4. Overlooking Size and Placement Regulations
Every local council has different rules about sign dimensions, lighting, and placement. Oversized or illuminated signs may require formal planning permission, no matter where they are being installed.
Carrick’s approach: We print outdoor banners and pavement signage to meet standard UK guidelines and can advise on any additional permissions needed.
5. Forgetting Maintenance and Updates
Even the best-designed sign can lose impact if it’s left to fade, tear, or collect dirt. It’s important to remember that this could be the first impression you make on customers, so outdated signage sends the wrong message about your business.
Carrick’s approach: We offer easy-to-update display options such as eco pavement signs and café barriers, allowing you to refresh your campaigns quickly while maintaining a polished, professional look.
Legal Considerations: Do I Need Permission to Put Up a Sign?
This is one of the most common questions asked by business owners when planning public signage.
Most temporary banners, posters, and event signs fall under “deemed consent”, meaning they can be displayed without explicit planning permission. However, there are exceptions. You’ll need permission if your sign:
Is illuminated or located near a major road
Exceeds size restrictions
Remains in place for more than three months
Is placed on public or council-owned land
Ignoring these rules can result in costly fines from your local authority. Always check local planning guidance before installation.
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Outdoor Signage
The Do’s
Use weatherproof materials: Choose PVC or mesh for outdoor durability.
Keep text short and visible: Focus on clear messaging and comply with The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995. Ensuring text is clear and easy to read, signs are positioned as an accessible height, braille is included where necessary, and signs aren’t obstructing access.
Check local council regulations: Ensure compliance before installation.
Maintain and replace signs regularly: Keep displays fresh and accurate.
The Don’ts
Don’t attach signs to public fixtures: Avoid lamp posts, road signs, or railings.
Don’t ignore size limits: Oversized banners often require permission.
Don’t leave signs up indefinitely: Be sure to remove signs promptly after campaigns end.
Don’t obstruct public spaces: Avoid placing signs where they block pedestrians or traffic views, they may be removed by your local council.
Why Choose Carrick Signs for Public Signage
Carrick Signs is a leading UK supplier of high-quality public signage and large-format printing. From durable outdoor banners to custom pavement signage, we help businesses, events, and campaigns stand out for the right reasons.
Every sign that we print is:
Professionally designed and printed using advanced equipment
Built from durable, weather-resistant materials
Fully compliant with UK signage regulations
Delivered nationwide with fast turnaround times
Whether you’re looking for cheap outdoor signs for your business or bespoke branded solutions, Carrick Signs provides the quality, compliance, and reliability your brand deserves.
We can help your business create compliant, impactful, and long-lasting signage. No matter the application, we make sure your public signage gets noticed, for all the right reasons.
Start your project today with Carrick Signs and get in touch with our expert team.