Glossary A–ZLetter A
Advertising installation (building law)
In German building law, an advertising installation is a fixed structure used to announce, promote or point to a business or profession that is visible from public roads and spaces.
The details are set out in the building codes of the federal states. Screens that face outwards can fall under this definition.
A screen on the wall of a building, a totem in front of a shop or a large display in a shop window facing the street may therefore need planning permission. Municipalities can also restrict size, brightness or moving images through local bylaws, for example in historic town centres. Road traffic law applies as well: section 33 of the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) restricts advertising that can dangerously distract road users and prohibits installations that could be confused with traffic signs.
Operators should check with the municipality or the building authority before installation. Whether permission is required depends on the state and on the size, location and effect of the installation; installations that need no permission must still comply with the rules. The building law term is not the same as an advertising medium in the media planning sense, although it often describes the same device.