Applying for a display permit

Do you want to display something in front of your business premises? In some municipalities, you must apply for a display permit.

You may need a permit to display, for example:

• planters or flowerpots
• a stall or rack with items you are selling
• an advertising sign (sandwich board)
• a children's (electric) ride

In most municipalities, you do not need a permit and you do not have to report the display. However, you must always follow local rules when you place something in front of your business. For example, you must ensure that your display does not cause a nuisance or interfere with fire safety or road safety. Check which rules apply for displays in your location.

Rules in municipal regulations and environmental plan

It varies between municipalities where you can find the rules. They may be in:

• municipal regulations such as the General Municipal By-Law (APV), which you can find on your municipality's website, or
• the environment plan (omgevingsplan), which you can find in the online service counter Omgevingsloket (in Dutch).

Applying for a display permit

Sometimes you need to apply to your municipality for a display permit. The conditions for the permit have to do with, for example:

• the size of the display
• when the display is outside (for example, during opening hours or on specific days)
• to what extent it blocks the pathway (is the passage still sufficient)

For more information contact your municipality (in Dutch).

Costs of a display permit

In most cases, you pay administrative charges (leges) to apply for a display permit. Are you building, hanging, or placing your stand on municipal land? Then you will also have to pay a precario tax.

Digital applications with Message Box

You can use Message Box to apply for your display permit from the municipality. Message box is an official, secure, and reliable e-mail system that allows you, as an entrepreneur, to exchange digital messages with Dutch government organisations.