{"id":"palmerston-signs-hoardings-and-advertising-bylaws-1999","name":"PALMERSTON (SIGNS, HOARDINGS AND ADVERTISING) BY-LAWS 1999","slug":"palmerston-signs-hoardings-and-advertising-by-laws-1999","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":177080,"registerId":"nt-palmerston-signs-hoardings-and-advertising-bylaws-1999-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"PALMERSTON (SIGNS, HOARDINGS AND ADVERTISING) BY-LAWS 1999","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nPALMERSTON (SIGNS, HOARDINGS AND ADVERTISING)\nBY-LAWS 1999\nAs in force at 1 July 2008\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary\nDivision 1 General\n1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1\n2 Crown to be bound .......................................................................... 1\n3 Application ....................................................................................... 1\n4 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\n5 Publication of signs code ................................................................. 2\n6 Determination of charges and fees .................................................. 2\nDivision 2 Regulatory\n7 Compliance with notices .................................................................. 3\n8 Obstruction of officers, &c................................................................ 3\n9 False statements in documents ....................................................... 3\n10 General penalty ............................................................................... 3\n11 Infringement notice and payment of sum in lieu of penalty .............. 4\n11A Withdrawal of infringement notice.................................................... 5\nPart 2 Compliance with signs code\n12 Sign, hoarding or advertisement to comply with signs code ............ 6\nPart 3 Erection, maintenance, &c., of signs,\nhoardings and advertisements\n13 Sign, hoarding, advertisement to be secure and in good repair ...... 6\nPart 4 Remedial action or removal of signs, &c.\n14 Notice may be given requiring remedial action or removal of\nsign, &c. ........................................................................................... 6\n15 Requirement for execution of works ................................................ 7\n16 Where requirements not complied with ........................................... 7\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 1 July 2008\n____________________\nPALMERSTON (SIGNS, HOARDINGS AND ADVERTISING)\nBY-LAWS 1999\nBy-laws under the Local Government Act 2008\nPart 1 Preliminary\nDivision 1 General\n1 Citation\nThese By-laws may be cited as the Palmerston (Signs, Hoardings\nand Advertising) By-laws 1999.\n2 Crown to be bound\nThese By-laws bind the Crown in right of the Territory.\n3 Application\n(1) These By-laws apply to and are in force within the whole of the\nmunicipality.\n(2) Nothing in these By-laws or the signs code derogates from the\nrequirements of any other law of the Territory relating to the\nconstruction or installation of buildings or structures.\n4 Definitions\nIn these By-laws, unless the contrary intention appears:\napproved means approved by the council by resolution.\ncouncil means the Palmerston City Council.\ndetermined means determined by the council by resolution.\nmunicipality means the municipality of Palmerston.\npermit means a permit issued under the signs code.\npremises includes a building and land (whether built on or not).\n\nPart 1 Preliminary\nDivision 1 General\nPalmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws 1999 2\npublic place includes:\n(a) every place to which free access is permitted to the public,\nwith the express or tacit consent of the owner or occupier of\nthe place;\n(b) every place to which the public are admitted on payment of\nmoney, the test of the admittance being the payment of the\nmoney;\n(c) every road, street, footway, court, alley, thoroughfare or\ncul-de-sac which the public are allowed to use,\nnotwithstanding that the road, street, footway, court, alley,\nthoroughfare or cul-de-sac may be formed on private property;\nand\n(d) land reserved under a law of the Territory for the use of the\npublic or a member of the public.\nsigns code means the document by the name \"Palmerston City\nAdvertising Signs Code\" approved by council on 16 March 2004, as\nin force from time to time, to prohibit, regulate or exempt matters\nrelating or incidental to the construction, placement, size, shape,\ncontent and colour of signs, hoardings and advertising in, on or\nover a public place or on premises adjoining or in view of a public\nplace.\n5 Publication of signs code\n(1) The council must give notice in a newspaper circulating in the\nmunicipality of:\n(a) as soon as reasonably possible after approving the signs\ncode – the approval of the signs code; and\n(b) whether in the same edition of the newspaper or another\nedition published on a later day – the date the signs code\ntakes effect.\n(2) The clerk must cause a copy of the signs code to be available for\ninspection or purchase by the public at the council offices during the\nbusiness hours of the council.\n6 Determination of charges and fees\n(1) The council may determine the charges and fees in relation to an\nundertaking, service, matter or thing referred to in these By-laws or\nin the signs code.\n\nPart 1 Preliminary\nDivision 2 Regulatory\nPalmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws 1999 3\n(2) Where the council determines a charge or fee under clause (1), it\nmust publish a notice of its making in a newspaper circulating in the\nmunicipality as soon as reasonably possible after the approval is\ngiven.\n(3) Where the council:\n(a) determines a charge or fee under clause (1);\n(b) publishes a notice of the making of the determination under\nclause (2); and\n(c) takes an action in respect of which the charge or fee is\ndetermined,\nit may demand and recover the relevant charge or fee.\nDivision 2 Regulatory\n7 Compliance with notices\nA requirement of a notice served by the council or an authorised\nperson under these By-laws is to be complied with by the person on\nwhom it is served.\n8 Obstruction of officers, &c.\n(1) It is an offence for a person to obstruct, hinder, disturb or interrupt\nan authorised person, an officer or employee of the council, a\ncontractor or sub-contractor to the council or an employee of the\ncontractor or sub-contractor in the proper execution of his or her\nwork or duty under these By-laws.\n(2) An offence against clause (1) is a regulatory offence.\n9 False statements in documents\nA person who, in making a statement required or permitted to be\nmade in a document for the purposes of the signs code knowingly\nmakes a false statement, commits an offence.\n10 General penalty\nA person who commits an offence against these By-laws is, on\nbeing found guilty, liable to a penalty not exceeding $3,000 and, in\naddition, to a penalty not exceeding $100 for each day after the day\non which the offence was committed during which the offence\ncontinues.\n\nPart 1 Preliminary\nDivision 2 Regulatory\nPalmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws 1999 4\n11 Infringement notice and payment of sum in lieu of penalty\n(1) Despite by-law 10, as an alternative to prosecution, a person who is\nalleged to have contravened or failed to comply with these By-laws\nmay be served with an infringement notice under which the person\nmay pay to the council a sum (fixed penalty) in lieu of the penalty\nby which the infringement of the By-laws is otherwise punishable.\n(2) For the purposes of this by-law:\n(a) the fixed penalty payable under an infringement notice is\n$100;\n(b) an infringement notice is to be in a form, approved by the\ncouncil in accordance with clause (4), that includes:\n(i) the information required by section 245(2) of the Act;\nand\n(ii) the statements required by clause (3);\n(c) an infringement notice may be issued and served by an\nauthorised person;\n(d) the fixed penalty specified in an infringement notice is to be\npaid to the council; and\n(e) the fixed penalty specified in an infringement notice is to be\npaid not later than 14 days after the date on which the\ninfringement notice is served on the alleged offender.\n(3) An infringement notice is to contain the following statements:\n(a) a statement to the effect that:\n(i) the alleged offender may expiate the offence and avoid\nenforcement action under the Fines and Penalties\n(Recovery) Act 2001 if he or she pays the fixed penalty\nto the council within 14 days of service of the\ninfringement notice; and\n(ii) if the alleged offender pays the fixed penalty within the\nperiod specified in the infringement notice, the council\nwill take no further action in relation to the offence;\n(b) a statement to the effect that if the alleged offender does not\npay the fixed penalty within the period specified in the\ninfringement notice and does not serve on the council a\nstatement of election to have the matter dealt with by a court\n(as contained in the infringement notice), unless the\n\nPart 1 Preliminary\nDivision 2 Regulatory\nPalmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws 1999 5\ninfringement notice is withdrawn:\n(i) the Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001 will apply\nand the alleged offender may be served with a courtesy\nletter in accordance with that Act requiring payment of\nthe fixed penalty together with the costs in respect of the\nissue of that letter; and\n(ii) if the alleged offender does not make the payment as\nrequired by a courtesy letter, enforcement action may be\ntaken against him or her under the Fines and Penalties\n(Recovery) Act 2001 which, after due process, may\nresult in the suspension of the alleged offender's licence\nto drive, the seizure of property, the deduction of wages\nor salary, the registration of a statutory charge on land, a\ncommunity work order or imprisonment if a community\nwork order is breached;\n(c) a statement to the effect that the alleged offender may elect\nunder section 21 of the Fines and Penalties (Recovery)\nAct 2001 to have the matter dealt with by a court instead of\nunder the Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001 by\ncompleting a statement of election (as contained in the\ninfringement notice) and serving it on the council;\n(d) a statement of election, for completion by the alleged offender\nif he or she elects to have the matter dealt with by a court, that\nincludes the information required by regulation 7(1) of the\nFines and Penalties (Recovery) Regulations 2001.\n(4) For the purposes of clause (2)(b), the form of an infringement notice\nis to be approved by the council at a meeting at which not less than\ntwo-thirds of the members then in office are present, by resolution\ncarried by a majority of the members then in office.\n11A Withdrawal of infringement notice\n(1) An infringement notice served on an alleged offender may be\nwithdrawn at any time before a courtesy letter is served on that\nperson under the Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001, but\nonly if the council has not received payment of the fixed penalty\nspecified in the infringement notice.\n(2) The withdrawal of an infringement notice is effected when an\nauthorised officer serves on the alleged offender a notice of\nwithdrawal stating:\n(a) that the infringement notice is withdrawn; and\n\nPart 4 Remedial action or removal of signs, &c.\nPalmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws 1999 6\n(b) that the fixed penalty specified in the infringement notice is no\nlonger payable to the council.\nPart 2 Compliance with signs code\n12 Sign, hoarding or advertisement to comply with signs code\n(1) The occupier or, where there is no occupier, the owner of the\npremises adjoining or in view of a public place commits an offence\nif there is on those premises a sign, hoarding or advertisement that\ndoes not comply with the signs code.\n(2) A person who erects or installs a sign, hoarding or advertisement\nin, on or over a public place that does not comply with the signs\ncode commits an offence.\n(3) An offence against clause (1) or (2) is a regulatory offence.\nPart 3 Erection, maintenance, &c., of signs, hoardings\nand advertisements\n13 Sign, hoarding, advertisement to be secure and in good repair\nA sign, hoarding or advertisement is to be erected or installed and\nmaintained in a condition of security, good repair and rigidity to the\nsatisfaction of the council.\nPart 4 Remedial action or removal of signs, &c.\n14 Notice may be given requiring remedial action or removal of\nsign, &c.\nIf an authorised person believes on reasonable grounds that a sign,\nhoarding or advertisement:\n(a) does not comply with the signs code; or\n(b) is not secure, in good repair or rigid,\nthe authorised person may, whether or not a permit has been\nissued in respect of the sign, hoarding or advertisement, give notice\nto:\n(c) the owner or occupier of the land where the sign, hoarding or\nadvertisement is erected or being used; or\n\nPart 4 Remedial action or removal of signs, &c.\nPalmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws 1999 7\n(d) the person responsible for erecting or installing the sign,\nhoarding or advertisement,\nrequiring remedial action or the removal of the sign, hoarding or\nadvertisement.\n15 Requirement for execution of works\n(1) Where an owner or occupier of land is required to take remedial\naction or remove a sign, hoarding or advertisement under\nby-law 14, the council or the authorised person may, by the notice\nunder that by-law or another written notice served on the owner or\noccupier, require the owner or occupier at his or her own expense\nto execute the work or to cause it to be executed, and to do\nanything incidental to the work:\n(a) using the materials;\n(b) within the period;\n(c) in the manner; or\n(d) in the area,\nspecified in the notice.\n(2) The council or authorised officer may require that work done in\npursuance of a notice served under clause (1) is executed by\nqualified or licensed persons only.\n(3) The council or authorised person may, when serving a notice under\nclause (1), indicate that the council will, if requested, carry out the\nwork referred to in the notice at the expense of the person on whom\nthe notice is served.\n(4) If the council is requested to carry out work referred to in a notice,\nthe council may require the person on whom the notice was served\nto pay to the council, or enter into a bond for payment to the council\nof, the amount the council thinks fit to provide security against costs\nthat it may incur as a result of the execution of work.\n(5) Despite clause (4), if the council carries out work at the request of a\nperson on whom a notice was served, the cost to the council of\ncarrying out the work is a debt due and payable by the person.\n16 Where requirements not complied with\n(1) The council may carry out work required to be executed by a notice\nunder this Part if the person required to execute the work fails to\ncomply with the notice.\n\nPart 4 Remedial action or removal of signs, &c.\nPalmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws 1999 8\n(2) Where the council carries out work under clause (1), the cost to the\ncouncil of carrying out the work is a debt due and payable by the\nperson required to execute the work.\n\nENDNOTES\nPalmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws 1999 9\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nPalmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws (SL No. 1, 1999)\nNotified 13 January 1999\nCommenced 13 January 1999\nAmendment of Palmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws (SL No. 20,\n2000)\nNotified 12 April 2000\nCommenced 12 April 2000\nAmendments of Palmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws (SL No. 53,\n2002)\nNotified 25 November 2002\nCommenced 25 November 2002\nAmendment of Palmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws (SL No. 29,\n2004)\nNotified 4 August 2004\nCommenced 4 August 2004\nLocal Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 2008 (Act No. 28, 2008)\nAssent date 14 November 2008\nCommenced 1 July 2008 (s 2)\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22 of 2018) to: bl 1, 11 and 11A.\n\nENDNOTES\nPalmerston (Signs, Hoardings and Advertising) By-laws 1999 10\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nbl 4 amd No. 53, 2002, bl 1; No. 29, 2004\nbl 11 sub No. 53, 2002, bl 2\namd Act No. 28, 2008, s 4\nbl 11A ins No. 53, 2002, bl 2\nsch sub No. 20, 2000\nrep No. 53, 2002, bl 3","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument has been amended multiple times (see Endnotes: list of amendments). Amendments replaced and inserted enforcement provisions (notably by-law 11 substituted and 11A inserted) and updated definitions and procedural elements, modifying how infringement notices, withdrawals and administrative enforcement operate and altering administrative and enforcement scope."},"complexity_factors":["Delegated local discretion: council approves the signs code and determines fees by resolution (definitions and cl.4; cl.5; cl.6).","External instrument dependency: substantive rules are contained in the separately approved signs code (definition of signs code; cl.12).","Dual enforcement routes: criminal penalties (up to $3,000 plus daily penalties) and an administrative infringement system with a fixed $100 penalty and Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act consequences (cl.10; cl.11; cl.11A).","Remedial powers and cost recovery: authorised officers may require works, prescribe qualified persons, undertake works at the council's option and recover costs as a debt (cl.14; cl.15; cl.16).","Notice and publication requirements for transparency: publication of code and notices, and availability for inspection/sale (cl.5).","Broad liable parties and overlapping duties: obligations apply to owners, occupiers and installers, increasing potential multiplicity of responsible persons (cl.12).","Regulatory offence classification and obstruction/false‑statement offences that interact with compliance processes (cl.8; cl.9)."],"plain_english_summary":"These by-laws set the ground rules for signs, hoardings and advertising in the Palmerston municipality. They require compliance with a council‑approved “signs code”, create offences with a court penalty or a $100 fixed‑penalty alternative, empower council to serve remedial or removal notices, and allow the council to carry out required works and recover costs. They mainly affect owners, occupiers and anyone who erects signs: those people may have to obtain permits, pay fees or repairs, or face enforcement action by the council."},"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The by-laws were originally made in 1999 but did not commence until 1 July 2008 — a gap of approximately nine years. This unusual delay suggests the scope or application may have been modified or consolidated before coming into force. The split administrative responsibility between two agencies (one for general advertising, one for electoral advertising) also suggests the scope was refined or expanded from what may have been a simpler original intent."},"complexity_factors":["Dual administration: two separate agencies oversee different chapters (Department of Housing vs NT Electoral Commission), creating potential confusion about who to contact","By-laws typically contain technical specifications (size limits, setbacks, materials) that require careful reading to apply correctly","Interaction between general advertising rules and specific electoral advertising provisions adds a layer of complexity","Local government legislation in the NT operates under a specific legislative framework that laypeople may not be familiar with","Limited metadata available (no gazette details, maker information) makes it harder to trace the full regulatory history"],"plain_english_summary":"Palmerston’s Signs, Hoardings and Advertising By-Laws 1999 set local rules for where, how big, and what kinds of signs, hoardings and advertising may be displayed in Palmerston, with requirements to protect safety and public amenity and a permit/approval process. \n\nThey affect businesses, property developers, anyone advertising on public or private land, and election campaigns (electoral advertising is separately administered by the NT Electoral Commission); noncompliance can lead to fines or removal."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of regulating signs, hoardings and advertising in the Palmerston municipality. While it has been amended several times (notably to update the infringement notice system in 2002 and adjust definitions in 2004), these changes have refined the enforcement mechanisms rather than expanding the scope beyond local advertising control."},"complexity_factors":["Short length (16 substantive by-laws across 8 pages)","Minimal cross-referencing (primarily references to the external 'signs code' and the Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001)","Simple conditional structure (if-then logic without nested exceptions)","Only 9 defined terms in the interpretation section (by-law 4)","Straightforward enforcement mechanism (notice → compliance → council action → debt recovery)","Single amendment history tracked in endnotes but not complicating the operative text"],"plain_english_summary":"These by-laws are local rules made by the Palmerston City Council (in the Northern Territory) to control signs, billboards, and advertising displays around the city.\n\n**What they do:**\n- **Set the rules:** The by-laws require all signs, hoardings (large advertising boards), and advertisements to follow a separate document called the \"Palmerston City Advertising Signs Code.\" This code covers things like size, colour, location, and construction of signs.\n- **Keep things safe:** Signs must be secure, in good repair, and rigid (stable/strong).\n- **Enforcement:** Council officers can issue notices requiring people to fix or remove non-compliant signs. If people don't comply, the council can do the work itself and bill the owner.\n- **Penalties:** Breaking these rules can result in fines up to $3,000, plus extra daily fines for ongoing offences. For minor breaches, people can pay a fixed $100 penalty (infringement notice) to avoid court.\n\n**Who they affect:**\n- Business owners and property owners in Palmerston who want to put up signs.\n- Anyone erecting advertising in public places or on private property visible from public areas.\n- Occupiers or owners of premises where non-compliant signs are located.\n\n**Why they matter:**\nThese rules help keep Palmerston looking tidy, ensure signs don't become safety hazards (like falling over in storms), and prevent visual clutter. They give the council power to remove dangerous or ugly signs and recover costs from those responsible."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/palmerston-signs-hoardings-and-advertising-by-laws-1999","history":"/api/acts/palmerston-signs-hoardings-and-advertising-by-laws-1999/history","analysis":"/api/acts/palmerston-signs-hoardings-and-advertising-by-laws-1999/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/palmerston-signs-hoardings-and-advertising-by-laws-1999/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/palmerston-signs-hoardings-and-advertising-by-laws-1999/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/palmerston-signs-hoardings-and-advertising-by-laws-1999/documents"}}