There's a conversation we have dozens of times a year that always starts the same way: „it's just a sign, do I really need a permit?". Yes, you do. This article explains where the obligation comes from, what the procedure looks like step by step, and — the part suppliers usually stay quiet about — what each party risks when a sign is installed without paperwork.
In Romania, illuminated signs and advertising are treated as construction works and, in almost all cases, require a building permit. From 25 August 2026 the legal basis is Law 169/2026 (the Territorial Planning, Urbanism and Construction Code), which replaces the former Law 50/1991, alongside Law 185/2013 on the placement of advertising. The same sign can be permittable in one city and not in the next — which is why networks work with a contractor who knows how to navigate each city hall.
The full article, with the step-by-step procedure, the exact documents, deadlines and penalties, is available in Romanian. Switch to RO above to read it in full, or contact us for the details in English.
If you're preparing an opening or a rebrand, checking the local regulation and the permitting route are the first things to settle — before design and well before production. We go through them together at the technical assessment, for one location or the whole network.