Planning and Permissions

London Sign Rules: What Shop Owners Should Check

Before fitting a sign, check who must approve it, what the building allows and what details to share with your sign maker.

A new shop sign can help people spot your business, but it is worth checking the rules before you order one. The right answer can depend on the building, the sign’s size and position, whether it lights up, and who owns the property. A sign that works on one London street may not be right for another. This guide takes you through the questions to ask before you spend money: who needs to agree, what details to prepare and how to plan the fitting. It is general guidance, not a decision about your address. If you are unsure, ask your council or a planning adviser before work begins.

Why the address matters

Rules can differ from place to place. A small sign above an everyday shop may be treated differently from a large lit sign, a sign that sticks out over the pavement or a sign on a listed building. Some streets also have local design rules. The council may ask to see the size, colours, lights and exact position before deciding whether permission is needed. Do not assume that a sign you saw nearby proves your own plan is allowed.

Write down the full address and take clear photos from across the street and close to the shopfront. Ask the landlord or building manager whether the property is listed or in a protected area, and whether the building has its own sign rules. Your sign maker can help draw the proposal clearly, but only the right council or property owner can give the approvals they control. Leave time for replies before setting a fitting date.

Ask the landlord before ordering

Council approval and landlord approval are two different things. Your lease may limit changes to the outside of the shop or say what kind of sign you may put up. A landlord may also want to approve the wording, colours, lights, size or way the sign is fixed. If you rent space in a larger building, the building manager may need to speak with the owner. Ask who must approve your plans, and get the answer in writing.

Make it easy for the landlord to understand your idea. Send photos of the current front, a drawing that shows the sign on the building, its full size, colour and materials, and details of any lights or wires. If you are replacing an old sign, say what will be taken down and what will happen to the old screw holes. Ask who will arrange safe access and whether work must happen at a certain time. A clear pack can prevent several rounds of questions.

Extra checks for lights and signs that stick out

If your sign will light up, explain how it will look and when it will be on. An LED is a small, energy-saving light that can sit inside a sign or behind its letters. Tell the reviewer where the light will shine, how bright it will be and whether it can be turned off at closing time. Think about neighbours, people driving past and homes above the shop. LED lights do not automatically mean a sign will be approved; its size, place and brightness still matter.

A sign that sticks out from the wall may help people see your shop as they walk along the street. Before choosing one, check how far it will extend and whether people can pass safely underneath. A survey should check the wall and look for pipes or wires before anyone chooses where to drill. Ask the council if the sign or the fitting work will reach over public pavement. Never let a sign block a doorway or walking route.

Prepare drawings people can understand

A useful plan answers three simple questions: what is the sign, where will it go and how will it be fitted? Include a photo or map that shows the address, a front view of the building and a drawing with measurements. Add the sign’s colours, materials, finish, fixing points and any lights. If it replaces an old sign, show both the current front and the new one. A sign maker can help turn your idea into clear pictures and notes.

Check every word and logo before you approve the drawing. Make sure the name, spelling, colours and letter sizes are right. Save the final version and written approvals together. If the landlord or council asks for a change, update the drawing and send that version to everyone involved. Do not rely on a quick phone call or an old picture that no longer matches the plan. The fitter needs the same approved details as you do.

Put the checks in the right order

A sensible order is to gather photos and measurements, sketch an idea, ask the landlord and council what they need, finish the drawing, then make and fit the sign. Do not book a date on the hope that an answer will arrive in time. If your shop will stay open during the work, agree where customers can enter and when deliveries can arrive. A survey can also find uneven walls, old wires or details that need care.

Be clear about who is doing each job. You or the property owner may need to get permission; the sign maker can provide drawings and details; an electrician may need to connect a lit sign; and an installer fits it safely. For a listed building, ask the council or a heritage adviser before drilling or covering the wall. Getting the right people involved early can help you avoid delays and paying to remake a sign.

Avoid mistakes that cause delays

An old tenant’s sign is not proof that you can put up the same thing. The rules may have changed, or that sign may have had a permission that does not cover yours. Also, a small change to size, position or lighting might need another check. If you want to change the plan after approval, ask the landlord or council first. It is safer to pause than to guess and have to remove the sign later.

Do not leave questions about the wall, wires or safe access until fitting day. The fixing must suit the wall and hold the sign securely. Keep a way for an electrician or repair person to reach parts that may need care, and agree how old holes will be covered. Ask your installer how the work will protect people entering the shop. A little planning can make the fitting calmer for your staff and customers.

Shop Front Signs London — Look at options for signs above shop doors and on outside walls.

Use this checklist before you say yes

Before you order, confirm the address and who controls the outside of the building. Read your lease and ask the landlord or building manager what they need. Check whether the building or street has special rules. Ask the council or a planning adviser whether your sign needs permission. Then agree the final words, size, colour, lights and fixing plan. Keep the answers in writing and give the installer the same final drawing that was approved.

Every building is different, so a quick check for your own address is more useful than copying a sign from another street. A sign maker can help prepare measurements, pictures and fitting details, then make a sign to match the agreed plan. Keep those papers after the work is done and compare the fitted sign with them. If you are planning a sign for your business, share a photo and the address with London Signage to discuss what information may help with a survey. Allow time for the people who must approve the plan to reply. Keep the written plan with your business records.

Talk about your sign plan — Share the address and discuss what a survey may need.

Ask for a sign quote — Send your location, measurements and sign idea.