Fly-posting

What is fly-posting? 

Fly-posting is the illegal display of an advertisement without consent. It is a method sometimes used by groups to cheaply advertise an event, most commonly used by organisers and entertainment venues to promote music shows, car boot sales or fetes. Fly-posted advertising can be seen tied to road signs, pasted on buildings or the windows of empty shops, stuck into grass verges or tied on road-side railings.

Fly-posting is illegal

It is illegal to fly-post on land owned by Shepway District Council or Kent County Council (Kent Highways)
It is also illegal to fly-post on private land without the consent of the landowner and, in some cases, without permission from Shepway District Council (although some advertising does not need planning permission)  

Illegal fly posting includes putting posters or banners on roads, verges, street signs, street furniture, road-side railings or lamp posts where they can cause obstruction, obliterate road signs, distract drivers or even cause a danger to pedestrians and road users. They can also spoil the appearance of an area.

Although events being promoted are often very worthy and popular, the council has to apply the law fairly and will remove and destroy illegal advertisements. We may also prosecute or fine the advertiser, organiser or the owner of the venue being advertised.

Fly-posting carries a maximum fine of £2,500 and a fixed penalty charge of £80 may be imposed for each poster illegally displayed.

How can I report fly-posting?

If you witness fly-posting on land owned by Shepway District Council or Kent County Council - which includes parks and open spaces, roads and verges - or on street furniture or road railings please contact Shepway Community Safety Unit with the following details:

• Exact location

• Approximate number of fly posters

• Approximate size of fly-poster

• Advertiser details (if identified)

• Venue details (if identified)

• Date and time of offence and description of persons responsible (if known)

We cannot investigate fly-posting on private land.

Contact Shepway Community Safety Unit on (01303) 853260
or report fly-posting using the on-line form.