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Fly-posting is putting up unauthorised posters and stickers in public places. We are responsible for items attached to trees, bridges, lamp posts, road signs and other street items. We have no responsibility for private property.

We have a duty to keep Dudley clean. Fly-posting is unsightly and spoils the environment. If it's not removed posters can slowly rot, becoming more unsightly and causing litter. Businesses involved are gaining an unfair advantage over their law abiding competitors by not paying for advertising space.

You can report an incident of fly-posting by contacting us:

What we do about it

As well as removing fly-posting, we take action against the people responsible. We have powers to prosecute both the people putting up the material and the businesses being advertised.

Legal measures to prevent fly-posting include:

  • On-the-spot fines
  • Use of fixed penalty notices
  • Prosecution in a magistrates’ court
  • Use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders
  • Charging the offender for the cost of removing the posters

Fly-posting and the law

It's illegal under the Advertisement Regulations to fly-post on private property. It is also illegal under provisions of Highway Law to do so on Structures, Paving and Street Furniture on the Public Highway. We attempt to secure the removal of the fly-posting and advise that if further incidents occur we will prosecute.

Further Legislation in this area includes:

  • Section 43 of the anti Social Behaviour Act 2003, which allows us to issue fixed penalty notices of £50 for the offences of graffiti and fly-posting.

  • Section 48-52 of the Act enables local authorities to issue notices requiring the removal of graffiti and fly-posting within 28 days from certain surface and structures. If the notice is not complied with we can undertake the work and recover costs.

  • Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - Section 220.

  • The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2003 Act gives local authorities greater powers to order the removal of graffiti and fly-posting - and to recover costs.