Urban advertising law reformed

Under the act, local councils have been granted the option of passing regulations for outdoor advertising, which will be independent of local zoning plans, as well as imposing appropriate advertising fees for the occupation of public space. Penalties for illegal adverts will be forty times higher than the advertising fees and will be determined by rates established by local councils. The fines will be primarily imposed on the parties responsible for installing the advertising and if it is impossible to determine this, then the owners of the properties featuring the illegal adverts will be penalised. The act will come into force on August 16th. Meanwhile, Warsaw city council has declared that when the landscape act becomes effective, it will focus on the preparation of relevant local regulations. The priority will be to streamline issues related to advertising in the city as well as the elimination of certain types of adverts from historic zones, green areas and purely residential ones. The issue of advertising billboards is also to be dealt with – the city is already preparing a special instruction manual for businesses involved in such activity.