Illegal billboards continue to raise concern in Ward 102, with several structures reported over the past few months.
Ward 102 councillor Bea Campbell-Cloete said she has only been in the ward since December 2025. During that time, she was made aware of one illegal permanent billboard in Fontainebleau and six illegal A-frame mobile billboards. “Since then, I, together with residents, have reported these billboards numerous times. They have not yet been removed.”
In contrast, she said a permanent billboard, reported in February 2026, was removed within a week.
All the complaints were formally reported by residents. Campbell-Cloete said she keeps the community informed throughout the process. “I give feedback on reporting and escalations, and once there is action on the billboards, it is fed back to the community in question.”
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She explained the process followed by the city once a structure is reported. “Once a billboard is reported, city officials check the billboard for compliance against the advertising by-law records to ascertain if there is a valid approval permit.
“If the sign is found to be non-compliant, the city will issue a notice of contravention to the property owner or advertiser, giving them a set period, usually between seven and 14 days, to remove the sign or to apply for retrospective compliance. If this is not done, the city will remove the billboard.”
She added that the same applies if a billboard poses a safety risk. According to Campbell-Cloete, illegal signage is often placed in high traffic areas, especially along main roads. However, enforcement is not always quick. “The biggest challenge remains resources to check and enforce the outdoor advertising by-laws.”
She noted that legal disputes, private property issues, and co-ordination between departments can delay action. “Businesses and advertisers need to understand that illegal signage undermines fair competition. Compliance should not be optional. Compete fairly, ensure you abide by the laws, and respect our ward.”
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