Illegal billboards have become a growing headache in Ward 102, with several unauthorised structures spotted over the past few months.

Ward 102 councillor Bea Campbell-Cloete, who took up her role in December 2025, says she was quickly made aware of the problem. Since then, she has dealt with one illegal permanent billboard in Fontainebleau and six illegal A-frame mobile billboards.

Read more: Ward 102 battles rise in illegal billboards

The mobile billboards have proved particularly frustrating. Campbell-Cloete says she and residents have reported them many times since December, yet they are still standing. “I was made aware of illegal A-frame mobile billboards in December 2025. Since then, I, together with residents, have reported these billboards numerous times, yet they have not been removed.” The permanent billboard, on the other hand, was a different story. After it was reported in February, it was taken down within a week.

All complaints have been formally logged by residents, and Campbell-Cloete makes a point of keeping the community in the loop throughout the process. She passes on updates as things progress and lets people know once action has been taken. “I give feedback on reporting and escalations, and once there is action on the billboards, it is fed back to the community in question.”

When a billboard is reported, city officials first check whether it has a valid approval permit under the advertising by-law. If it does not, the owner or advertiser is issued a notice giving them between seven and 14 days to either take the sign down or apply to get it approved after the fact. If nothing is done within that time, the city steps in and removes it. The same applies if a billboard is considered a safety risk.

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Illegal signs tend to pop up in busy spots, particularly along main roads where they are likely to be seen. Even so, enforcement does not always happen as swiftly as residents would like. Campbell-Cloete points to a lack of resources as the main stumbling block, with legal disputes, private property complications, and the need for different departments to work together all adding to the delays.

She has a clear message for those behind the illegal signage. Businesses and advertisers need to play by the rules, she said, because putting up unauthorised signs is simply not fair on those who do things properly. Compliance is not something people should be able to pick and choose, and those operating in the ward are expected to respect both the law and the community around them.

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