Council to launch crackdown on illegal billboards

Harare City council is planning to pull-down illegally erected billboards that are mushrooming in the city within 14 days.

Council said all billboards erected have to be approved by council.

However, it said it note with concern at the rate at which illegal billboards are being erected in the city.

Said council in a notice today:

"The City of Harare advises that according to the Harare (Control of Advertising Signs) By-laws, statutory instrument 99 of 2015 you are permitted to erect billboards on the following properties – commercial, industrial and institutional properties.

"Council permits a maximum of three billboards within each property depending on property size.

"Of late there has been an increase in the number of billboards erected in school yards and church premises without council approval.

"Be advised that council regulates these and you are therefore urged to seek council approval before erecting advertising signs.

Council gave advertising agents, landlords and property managers with billboards on their properties 14 days to regularise them.

"Failure to do so will result in council pulling down these billboards at cost to the owner".