Advertising in public space

If you want to advertise in public spaces - whether on your building, with signs or distribution campaigns - you need permits. Exceptions are urban culture litfaß columns.

This page was translated automatically. The City of Innsbruck assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the translation.

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 facilities?

Please note that costs are incurred for permits and approvals.

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)?

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.

Please note that there are costs for a permit. In addition to the building law permit, you may also need the commercial law, road law or civil law permit.

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 permit?

You send the completed application form for the use of the road for purposes other than traffic according to § 82 StVO by e-mail to Service Unit Road traffic and road law. Your application will be automatically forwarded by the clerk to the Real Estate Affairs Department for the civil law permit as well.

When do I not need a roadside permit?

You do not need a street authority permit for freestanding 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.

The erection of election posters shall not interfere with the safety of traffic on the street:

  • maintain a clear view over the course of the street
  • maintain an unobstructed view of traffic control or safety devices
  • do not place election posters on traffic control and safety devices (street lighting, traffic lights, road signs, etc.)

In case of violation, the authority may order the relocation or removal of election posters.

Please note that there are costs for a permit. You may need civil law or building law approval in addition to road traffic law approval.

How do I obtain a civil law permit?

A permit from the city of Innsbruck through the Service Unit Real Estate Matters in the form of a contract is required if you erect your advertising sign on municipal property or if the advertising device protrudes onto public property. In most cases, the street belongs to the city of Innsbruck, so 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 municipal 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 placing posters on land, paths, streets and squares belonging to the City of Innsbruck.

What applies to mobile triangular uprights?

The erection of mobile uprights (triangular uprights, 16/1-arch uprights, etc.) is permitted by the Service Unit Real Estate Matters - Permits for use of city land approved after consultation with the mayor's office.

In principle, a maximum of 20 pieces of triangular stands are approved for a maximum of 4 weeks.

What is the cost of a civil permit?

The costs for a civil law permit and further details can be found under: Contracts with the City of Innsbruck

You may also need road traffic or building permits in addition to civil permits.

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?

Please direct complaints about excessively bright or disturbing advertising facilities to the Service Unit Structural engineering, fire protection and building physics

What rules apply to billposting on municipal advertising pillars?

There are currently 27 municipal advertising pillars available for free billposting. Here you can find information about locations and requirements.

Posting on the listed advertising pillars is free of charge. We therefore ask you to consider the following points:

  • Only one poster may be placed per pillar, regardless of size.
  • The attachment of the posters by means of adhesive strips (e.g. Tixo) is to be avoided!
  • We ask for collegial consideration for already 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 commercial or profit-oriented.
  • The project or event must be in the field of art or culture.

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

We ask for prior announcement of the billposting in the City Department Culture.

Likewise, posters can be placed on municipal advertising pillars by NEWSPUSHER Eventpromotion, provided the following criteria are met:

  • The project or event must take place in Innsbruck.
  • The project or event must not be commercial or profit-oriented.
  • The project or event must be in the field of art or culture.

Postings are possible from 1,50 Euro per posting.

Violations of billposting can be reported to City Department Culture...

Are there billposting opportunities at the cultural rate?

The Cultural Office of the Municipality of Innsbruck, in cooperation with the company Progress Außenwerbung GmbH, offers Innsbruck's art and culture professionals and associations a cultural rate for billposting their non-commercial cultural and art projects or events. If they meet the criteria listed below for posters in a network with a total of 60 advertising spaces for two weeks per month, they receive a cultural discount of 50 percent. The costs per space and week are:

  • A1: 5.20 euros excl. taxes
  • A2: 3,50 Euro excl. taxes

In addition, Progress will pay a part of the installation costs. Per 14-day period listed, a total of one event can be advertised on the power boxes!

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

The following criteria must apply:

  • The project or event must take place in Innsbruck
  • The project or event must not be commercial or profit-oriented
  • The project or event must be in the field of art or culture

If you are interested in this poster offer, please contact us at City Department Culture. After checking the criteria, you will be forwarded to Progress Außenwerbung GmbH to clarify the availability of the billposting space in 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.