Advertising in public spaces

What is considered an advertising device?

An advertising device is a device that appears in the cityscape or streetscape and serves to advertise or announce something or is otherwise intended to draw attention to something.

What permits do I need for my advertising structures?

• You need a building permit to set up or attach an advertising facility.
• In the vicinity of roads, there are protected areas in which advertising is completely prohibited or requires authorisation in accordance with the Federal Roads Act or the Tyrolean Roads Act and/or the Road Traffic Act. They therefore require authorisation under road traffic law.
• If the advertising system is to be erected on municipal land or protrude onto municipal land, you must obtain the consent of the City of Innsbruck in the form of a civil law authorisation.
• In some cases, you will need a business premises licence for your advertising facility (e.g. for illuminated advertising due to light emissions). You must also obtain this licence before erecting the advertising facility. The Service Unit Trade and operating facilities - Industrial plant law is your point of contact here.
• Further restrictions, prohibitions or authorisation requirements may arise from the Tyrolean Nature Conservation Act (for advertising outside built-up areas) as well as federal law from the Forestry Act or the Monument Protection Act.
• No authorisation is required for billposting on municipal advertising pillars.

Please note that costs are incurred for permits and authorisations.

How do I obtain approval under building law?

A distinction must be made here between advertising facilities attached to structures (e.g. buildings) and free-standing advertising facilities.

What applies to advertising devices attached to structures (buildings)?

• Your first point of contact for advertising installations attached to structures (e.g. buildings) is City Department Building and fire police It can advise you on which building law procedures and authorisations you need.
  • As a rule, advertising installations on buildings fall under the heading of subordinate structural elements and require a building notification.
• Advertising also has a strong influence on urban design, the quality of public spaces and the well-being of their residents, users and visitors. For this reason, advertising facilities are professionally assessed in terms of their appearance and urban impact (size, positioning on the building, design, lighting effect, etc.). The responsible City Department Urban planning, mobility and integration will be happy to discuss the planned advertising installation in advance.
• In protection zones in accordance with the Town and Townscape Protection Act, you also need a licence in accordance with the Tyrolean Town and Townscape Protection Act (SOG). The responsible authority is Service Unit Projects, design and townscape protection
• If the building in question is a listed building, a licence from the Federal Monuments Office - State Conservation Office for Tyrol is also required.

What applies to free-standing advertising facilities?

For free-standing advertising facilities (e.g. flagpoles, advertising pylons and billboards), there is a separate approval regime under the Tyrolean Building Code: you must submit a building notification for the erection, installation and modification of free-standing advertising facilities within closed localities. If the planning area is located in a protection zone pursuant to the City and Local Image Protection Act, a permit pursuant to the City and Local Image Protection Act is also required.

When do I not need a building permit?

No notification is required for the erection, installation or alteration of installations with legally prescribed business and business premises designations or installations with notices of temporary events. This also applies to installations for the display of posters by groups participating in election advertising under state or federal law, provided they are erected or placed within six weeks prior to the start of the event or election day and removed no later than two weeks after the end of the event or election day.

How do I obtain a permit under road traffic law?

Advertising on or next to the road (posters, mobile triangular stands, goods stands, ...) is generally subject to approval. Your first point of contact for a road traffic permit is the Service Unit Road traffic and road law

Excerpt from the road traffic regulations

• In principle, it is prohibited to cover, remove or move traffic lights, road signs, street lamps or boundary posts or to attach anything to them(§ 31 StVO).
• There are various provisions regarding traffic safety and the permissibility of visual information carriers with dynamic content (this applies in particular to digital advertising devices such as screens, display screens, tickers, etc.).
• Outside the local area, there is a general ban on advertising and announcements 100 meters to the right and left of roads.

How do I apply for a road traffic licence?

You send the completed application form for the use of the road for non-traffic purposes in accordance with Section 82 StVO by email to Service Unit Road traffic and road law Your application will automatically be forwarded by the person in charge to the Real Estate Department for authorisation under civil law.

When do I not need a permit under road traffic law?

You do not need a permit from the road traffic authorities for free-standing installations for the display of posters by groups participating in election advertising on the basis of state or federal regulations, provided they are erected or put up within six weeks before the start of the event or election day and removed no later than two weeks after the end of the event or election day.

The safety of road traffic must not be impaired by the installation of election posters:

• maintain a clear view of the road
• maintain a clear view of facilities for regulating or securing traffic
• no election posters may be placed on traffic control and safety equipment (street lighting, traffic lights, road signs, etc.)

In the event of an offence, the authorities may order the relocation or removal of election posters.

How do I obtain a licence under civil law?

You require authorisation from the City of Innsbruck through Service Unit Real estate matters in the form of a contract if you erect your advertising sign on municipal property or if the advertising device projects onto public property. In most cases, the street belongs to the City of Innsbruck, which is why you must also obtain the consent of the City of Innsbruck.

What applies to billboards, boards & poster lights on municipal property?

If you want to put up posters on billboards, pillars or backlit poster boards (poster lights) on city property, please contact Service Unit Real estate matters - Permits for use of city land This will refer you to a company that has the exclusive right to advertise by displaying posters on land, paths, streets and squares belonging to the City of Innsbruck.

What applies to mobile triangular stands?

The erection of mobile uprights (triangular uprights, 16/1-sheet uprights, etc.) is authorised by Service Unit Real estate matters - Permits for use of city land after consultation with the mayor's office.

In principle, a maximum of 20 triangular uprights are authorised for a maximum of 4 weeks.

What does a civil licence cost?

The costs for a civil licence and further details can be found at: Contracts with the City of Innsbruck

What happens if I do not have a permit?

If you attach or erect unauthorized advertising materials, these can - if the safety of road traffic is impaired - be removed by the authorities at your expense without further proceedings, or you can be ordered to remove or modify them by official notice. In addition, you may be subject to civil or administrative penalties. Legal bases for this are, among others, § 31 StVO (3), § 35 StVO and § 89a StVO.

Where can I complain about advertising facilities that are too bright?

Complaints about advertising facilities that are too bright or disturbing should be addressed to Service Unit Building inspection and building physics

What rules apply to billposting on city advertising pillars?

There are currently 27 city advertising pillars available for free billposting. Here you will find information on locations and requirements.

Posting on the listed advertising pillars is free of charge, so please note the following points:

• Only one poster may be displayed per pillar, regardless of size.
• Posters should not be affixed using adhesive strips (e.g. Tixo)!
• We ask that you show consideration for existing posters. The pasting over of current posters is to be avoided!
• The project or event must take place in Innsbruck.
• The project or event must not be commercially or profit-orientated.
• The project or event must relate to the arts or cultural sector.

In order to avoid over-posting, we recommend that posters are put up no later than 10 days before the date of the event.

We ask for prior notification of the billposting at the Kulturamt .

Posters can also be placed on municipal advertising pillars via the company NEWSPUSHER Eventpromotion if the following criteria are met:

• The project or event must take place in Innsbruck.
• The project or event must not be commercial or profit-orientated.
• The project or event must relate to the arts or cultural sector.

Posters can be put up for as little as 1.50 euros per poster.

Offences involving posters can be reported to the Kulturamt .

Are there billposting options at a cultural rate?

In co-operation with the company Progress Außenwerbung GmbH, the Cultural Office of the Municipality of Innsbruck offers Innsbruck's artists, cultural workers and associations a cultural tariff for the billposting of their non-commercial cultural and artistic projects or events. If they fulfil the criteria listed below, they will receive a cultural discount of 50 percent for posters in a network with a total of 60 advertising spaces for a fortnight per month. The costs per space and week are

• A1: 5.20 euros excl. tax
• A2: 3.50 euros excl. taxes

Progress will also cover part of the installation costs. This means that a total of one event can be advertised on the electricity boxes per 14-day period!

In addition, a network of 60 advertising spaces (depending on availability in A1 or A2 format) can be used free of charge for one week per month.

The following criteria must be met:

• The project or event must take place in Innsbruck
• The project or event must not be commercial or profit-orientated
• The project or event must relate to the arts or cultural sector

If you are interested in this poster offer, please contact the Kulturamt . Once the criteria have been checked, you will be referred to Progress Außenwerbung GmbH to clarify the availability of the billposting space during the desired period.

What applies to distribution campaigns & flyers?

No permits are required to distribute flyers (leaflets, brochures) or samples, provided that they do not place any objects on traffic areas.

As soon as they set up, for example, tables, a tent, A-stands, beach flags, poster stands or other advertising materials, you need a permit under road traffic law and a civil permit.