Service 12 / Compliance
Permit Application Support
Drawings, documentation and council liaison for billboard and signage approvals, prepared to what each municipal corporation actually asks for.
There is no national billboard authority in Jamaica
Outdoor advertising is regulated locally. The municipal corporation for the parish where the structure stands is the primary approving body, and the practical experience of applying differs from one to the next. An approval in St Andrew tells you very little about how St Ann will handle the same application.
That local variation is why applications fail. Drawings prepared to one council’s expectations get returned by another, and each round trip adds weeks. Our parish compliance map sets out the landscape, and our permit application guide walks through the paperwork.
We prepare and submit applications on behalf of clients through our municipal applications service, and there is a council application form to start from.
What we prepare
The documentation councils assess, in the form they expect to receive it.
Structural drawings
Engineering drawings with wind loading calculations, which is the element councils scrutinise most closely.
Site plans
Position, setbacks and relationship to the carriageway, junctions and neighbouring property.
Sightline evidence
Demonstrating the structure does not obstruct visibility at junctions, bends or crossings.
Land consent
Proof of ownership or written consent from the landowner, current rather than inherited from a previous owner.
Illumination detail
Brightness and operating hours where lighting or LED is proposed, particularly near residential property.
Submission and liaison
Filed with the corporation and followed through, including responses to queries.
How an application proceeds
Confirm the authority
Which corporation, and whether roadway or planning bodies also have a say. This depends on where the site sits.
Establish current requirements
Requirements and fees change. We confirm before drawings are commissioned, because designing to a superseded standard is a wasted cycle.
Prepare documentation
Drawings, calculations, site plans and consent assembled as one package.
Submit and track
Filed and followed up. Queries answered promptly, since an unanswered query is the most common cause of delay.
Approval to build
Only once permission is in place does fabrication begin.
What councils assess
| Assessment | What it covers | Why it matters here |
|---|---|---|
| Structural safety | Foundations, frame, wind loading | Hurricane exposure makes this the priority |
| Road safety | Sightlines at junctions and bends | Obstruction is a common refusal ground |
| Land rights | Ownership or written consent | Consent from a former owner may not carry |
| Visual amenity | Scale and placement in context | Applied tightly in heritage and tourism areas |
| Illumination | Brightness and hours | Scrutinised near residential property |
Frequently asked
Do I need permission on my own land?
Yes. Private ownership does not remove the need for approval, and assuming otherwise is the most common breach we see.
How long does approval take?
Months, and it varies by parish and by how complete the submission is. Build the timeline around approval rather than the other way round.
What if I already built it?
Engage early rather than waiting for a notice. See what happens if your sign is non-compliant for the enforcement sequence and how to respond.
Do I need this to advertise on an existing board?
No. Compliance for an approved site sits with the site owner. This only applies to new structures.
Works well with
Get the application right first time
Tell us where the site is and we will confirm which authority applies and what they will need.