Blacktown Council dishes out thousands in fines over proliferation of real estate signs

Thousands of dollars in fines have been dished out to real estate companies as part of a western Sydney council’s war on ‘rogue’ advertising signs littering the region’s streets.

Thousands of dollars in fines have been dished out to real estate companies as part of a western Sydney council’s war on “rogue” advertising signs littering the region’s streets.

A new crackdown by Blacktown Council has resulted in more than $58,000 in infringements issued to real estate companies in the last two months in response to a proliferation of signage placed outside properties and displayed on sections of public land across the council area.

The crackdown is in response to a spike in complaints from residents about the increasing numbers of signs spruiking home sales with some signs remaining in place for weeks after a property has sold.

Local councillor Julie Griffiths said she has fielded many phone calls from fed up locals about signs set up in nature strips, on medium strips in the middle of busy roads even posted to traffic light signals.

“Some of the signs can measure four metres tall and instead of having one ‘for sale’ sign, there’s four signs set up side-by-side. It’s just unbelievable,” she said.

A photo of four real estate signs set up outside a property. Note: photo blurred.

“It not only makes the whole area look awful but the signs can also be a trip hazard for pedestrians and distracting for passing drivers.

“It’s taking the mickey out of the community.

“Some residents are now going around pulling the signs out of the ground because of the impost on the streetscape.”

A photo of real estate signs captured in the Blacktown area. Note: picture blurred.

Under council rules, general real estate advertising signs must be limited to one sign per property, must not be placed on public land and must be removed within 14 days after a house has sold or leased.

A Blacktown Council report shows fines of up to $635 can be issued to real estate companies that refuse to remove signs from public land after a 24 hour warning notice period.

As part of the crackdown, the council says it has created a database of agencies whose signs have been removed.

Some signs have been photographed by residents placed on nature strips outside homes. Note: photo blurred.

Blacktown councillor Peter Camilleri, who has also received complaints from residents, has supported the crackdown, saying non-compliant signs can set precedents for other agents to do the wrong thing.

Real Estate Institute of NSW chief executive Tim McKibbin said while most agents follow the rules, varying standards about signage across separate council areas can cause confusion.

“At the end of the day, if a sign doesn’t comply with (council rules) then a fine seems reasonable,” he said.

“But there should be more consistency because I’ve had agents say to me a sign of 1sq m is acceptable in one council area and in the next suburb another council says it has to be 750mm.

Real Estate Institute of NSW chief executive Tim McKibbin.

“A $635 fine to a majority of agents is a substantial sum of money.”

Under Blacktown Council rules, signs must only measure as large as 1.5 sqm, no more than three metres tall and must not be externally illuminated.

There are also separate rules for signs relating to open homes and viewings including size limitations of 60x50 cm. Those flouting the rules can be fined $110 to $400 depending on the nature of the breach.

Other councils say they have rules in place to address real estate signage including in Penrith where rangers remove smaller signs found to be breaching guidelines.

In the city’s east, a spokesman for Woollahra Council said rangers contact real estate agencies to ask them to remove any non-compliant signs detected in the council area.