Election signs - how big, what type and where they should go

Published on 08 April 2026

We’re reviewing the rules for election signs to make them more up-to-date, while also ensuring public spaces are well-managed during election periods.

Our proposed updates to the Signs and Use of Public Places Bylaw aim to strike a balance between supporting candidates to promote themselves in local and general elections and ensuring public spaces remain safe, tidy, and pleasant.

Peter Ridge, Manager of Strategy and Policy, says the changes are about keeping pace with how election campaigning is evolving, and improving clarity on the rules for signage.

“We’ve heard from candidates and the community that some of the current rules are unclear or don’t reflect how people campaign today,” says Mr Ridge.

Election signs play an important role in helping voters recognise candidates and make informed choices. However, without clear rules, they can also create issues such as cluttered streets, visual distraction for drivers, and impacts on neighbourhood character.

“We want to make sure candidates can get their message out, but also that our streets and public spaces stay safe and enjoyable. Updated rules will help keep that balance.”

The review follows feedback from the 2025 local elections, which highlighted areas of the bylaw that could be made easier to understand. These included uncertainty around sign size limits and how the bylaw's rules work alongside wider national legislation and the District Plan.

In some cases, candidates also wanted to use newer advertising formats, such as digital billboards, which are not currently included in the election signs section of the bylaw.

With a general election for the central government fast approaching, we’re keen to address these issues, so we're proposing a small number of targeted changes now.

These include allowing election advertising on commercial billboards, including digital and illuminated signs. The changes also recognise that in some non-residential areas, the District Plan already allows things like large advertising signs or temporary signage. In other cases, people may already have resource consent for different types of signs. The proposed rules are designed to align with what’s already allowed or approved.

The proposal also sets the maximum permitted size of election signs under the bylaw at 3m² in residential areas for general elections, while retaining a 0.6m² limit for local elections.

We want to hear what you think about the proposed changes to election sign rules in Palmerston North. For more information, you can read the Statement of Proposal online or make a submission at pncc.govt.nz/signs. Paper copies of the Statement of Proposal and submission forms are available at our Customer Service Centre or any of our community libraries.

We are aiming to review the rest of the Signs and Use of Public Places Bylaw later in the year.

Consultation closes at 4pm, Monday 11 May 2026.