All candidates are entitled to a fair opportunity to conduct their election campaign within Yarra Ranges. However, these rights must be balanced against the need for Council to ensure that election signs do not unduly compromise public amenity or safety and comply with local laws.
The following conditions apply to the placing of electoral signage in accordance with:
These guidelines apply to all Council, State and Federal election periods but have been updated significantly for the Victorian State Election on 28 November 2026.
Candidate and election signage may only be displayed for a maximum of three months. All signage must be removed no later than 14 days after the election, with the earliest display date being 28 August 2026.
Earliest date election signage may be displayed
An election sign displayed on a private property is allowed without a planning permit under the following conditions:
A permit is required to place electoral signage on public land under Council’s Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law 2020. Public land includes roadside, reserves, nature strips and other Council-managed public spaces.
Permits will only be granted for Council’s pre-approved election signage locations. A list of approved locations will be available here.
To apply for a permit you must have proof of public liability insurance to the value of $20 million and pay the application fee. A sticker will be provided with the permit number and must be displayed on the rear of the sign.
Before applying for an electoral signage permit, please consider the following conditions and requirements:
View Council's Footpath Trading Policies
Please visit Council's Footpath Trading Permit webpage to apply for an A-frame sign permit.
This permit requirement does not apply to any authorised sign which is placed out on the day of the election for the sole purpose of advertising the location of a voting centre.
Please visit the Victorian Electoral Commission website to ensure compliance with electoral laws regarding signage located within 100m of a voting centre.
Portable or moveable election signs that are attached to a vehicle, trailer or similar may be displayed on a road provided that:
A permit does not apply to placing electoral material in residents’ letterboxes.
A permit does not apply if visiting residents and business premises.
A permit is not required to any authorised sign which is placed out on the day of the election for the sole purpose of advertising the location of a voting centre.
For all other information on day of election signage, please visit Victorian Electoral Commission website.
Distributing flyers or other loose material may be considered littering, including:
These activities may be dealt with under the relevant provisions of the Environment Protection Act 2017, and penalties may apply for any breaches detected.
Approval will not be given to place signs on a Council fixture, assets, trees, or anything under the management of Council.
Management of arterial roads and highways is split between Council and Transport Victoria. Where Council is not the land manager, electoral signage placed within the road reserve of an arterial road or freeway requires the prior written consent from the Head of Transport for Victoria.
How to contact DTP (Transport Victoria):
Urgent road hazard reporting: 13 11 70 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
General road and traffic enquiries: 13 37 78 (8am–6pm Monday to Friday)
Report a road issue online
Both the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme and the Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law provide for penalties for any breaches detected by Authorised Officers.
Council may remove and impound a sign without notice if it:
If Council impounds a candidate's sign, it will tell the candidate:
If a permitted sign is vandalised, it can be replaced at the approved location at no extra cost.
If a contractor needs to remove a sign, Council will try to contact the candidate first and ask them to fix the issue within 48 hours. If the issue is not fixed within that time, Council will remove and impound the sign. Authorised Officers can impound any sign displayed in a public place without a permit or not complying with the conditions of a permit.
Cost of retrieval of a confiscated sign or furniture is $63.50 per sign. Payment and collection can be arranged at Lilydale Civic Centre – 15 Anderson Street, Lilydale 3140. Please contact customer service on 1300 368 333 to discuss your requirements.
To report a sign located on Council land, a Council-managed road reserve or a Council asset, please contact Yarra Ranges Council on 1300 368 333 or email mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
If you are unsure whether the land or asset is managed by Council, please contact us and we can confirm the responsible authority and refer your enquiry if required.
The VEC has a robust customer feedback and complaints process for receiving and responding to all feedback and complaints. Feedback and complaints must be made in writing directly to the Election Manager or to the VEC’s Customer Feedback and Complaints team either in writing or via the online submission tool available on the VEC website.
The below list and information is provided to candidates to select pre-approved locations for electoral signage.
Each candidate may apply for 1 sign at each location. Each candidate may only apply for a total of 10 locations across the Yarra Ranges municipality.
Electoral signs on private property are covered by Clause 52.05 of the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme.
You need an Electoral Signage Permit to place an election sign on a Council-managed road reserve or Council land. Signs may only be installed once a permit is granted, and only in Council's pre-approved locations(PDF, 6MB).
Each candidate may apply for one sign at each location up to a maximum of 10 across the municipality. Locations are provided in each Council ward and State electoral district.
A permit is not required for any authorised sign which is placed out on the day of the election for the sole purpose of advertising the location of a voting centre.
Step 1. Review our permit conditions
Electoral signs may only be placed on public land in pre-approved locations and once the fee is received and a permit is granted.
Boards must be drafted and printed in a professional manner to the satisfaction of Council.
Boards are limited to 1.8m in height and 1.4m in width.
Boards must not be attached or affixed in any way to a:
No external or internal lighting of the board is permitted.
Election signage pre-approved locations permit conditions(PDF, 6MB)
Step 2. Prepare your documents
Ensure you have a current public liability insurance policy for at least $20 million.
Step 3. Complete the online application
Apply online
Step 4. Wait to receive your permit approval
It may take Council up to 10 business days to process your application and send you an email confirmation. Each email will contain the approval certificate for each site.
Step 5. Collect your signage sticker
Once you have your permit approval, visit the Lilydale Office (15 Anderson Street, Lilydale 3140) to collect your sticker. The sticker must be placed on the back, top left-hand corner of the sign.
Step 6. Place your sign at the approved location
Place your sign on the approved site. Signs must be placed in accordance with the Pre-approved site Permit Conditions.
Step 7. Remove your sign
Remove your sign within 14 days of the removal date. Any signs not collected after this date will incur a fee.
Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law
Electoral signage fact sheet(PDF, 112KB)