Illuminated Signs & LED Neon Signs in London

In London each borough is its own planning authority – Westminster, Camden, Hackney and the City of London all decide signs in their own area. The national rules apply everywhere:

• Most illuminated signs need advertisement consent. The Planning Portal rule of thumb: consent may be needed for any sign over 0.3 m², or of any size if it is illuminated.
• Deemed consent (Class 4B) covers some illuminated signs on business premises – one fascia sign plus one projecting sign, top no higher than 4.6 m or the bottom of the first-floor window, letters up to 0.75 m, static light only, either halo-lit or each letter lit from within, and no more than 600 cd/m² for areas up to 10 m². Projecting signs: at least 2.5 m above ground, max 0.75 m² per face, projecting no more than 1 m and never over the carriageway.
• Class 4B does not apply in conservation areas, National Parks or AONBs, and it excludes signs with exposed cold-cathode (neon) tubing, flashing or animation. Whether an outdoor LED neon-style sign is treated like exposed tubing is the council's call – for an outdoor neon look, plan on applying for consent.
• Listed buildings need listed building consent for signs, even where advertisement consent is not required.

Westminster requires consent for illuminated fascia and projecting signs and generally finds large internally lit box signs inappropriate – it prefers externally lit fascias, back-lit or halo-lit letters. The City of London asks applications to show projection, height above the footway and the illumination method and intensity.

Sources: Planning Portal – adverts and signs, Control of Advertisements Regulations 2007, Schedule 3, Westminster – adverts and signs, City of London – advertising consent, as of October 2026. This is not legal advice – the council makes the final decision. More in our guide Planning permission for shop signs.

Councils ask for drawings or a photomontage showing size, position, projection, height above the footway and the illumination method. With your free design preview you get:

• your sign shown on a photo of your shopfront
• dimensions, materials and light colour
• which elements light up and which are printed

You or your sign installer submit the application to the council.

• Indoor LED neon signs come with fixings and a plug-in power supply – hang it up and plug it in, step by step in our installation guide.
• Outdoor signs, light boxes and hard-wired signs should be connected by a qualified electrician. London has plenty of sign installers who also fit signs made by others.

Tell us where the sign will go and we will tell you what you need for installation.

• LED neon signs – for bars, cafés and shop windows – indoors without consent in most cases
• Back-lit acrylic letters – halo-lit letters, the style Westminster prefers
• Built-up letters – individually lit letters for fascias
• Projecting signs – within the Class 4B limits or with consent

All sign types at a glance

1. Send your logo, sketch or text – ideally with a photo of your shopfront
2. Receive your free digital design preview
3. After your approval, production takes about 2–3 weeks
4. Insured delivery to your address in London

Every sign is dimmable and comes with a remote control and a 24-month warranty. Delivery is duty paid – no import charges when it arrives.

Do I need consent for an illuminated shop sign in London?
Usually yes. Illuminated signs need advertisement consent unless they meet all the deemed-consent conditions (Class 4B), which do not apply in conservation areas. Your borough council decides.

Which illuminated signs do London councils prefer?
Westminster, for example, prefers halo-lit or back-lit individual letters and externally lit fascias, and finds large internally lit box signs inappropriate in most cases.

Do you install signs in London?
Indoor LED neon signs come with fixings and a plug-in power supply, so you can hang them yourself. For outdoor signs, light boxes and hard-wired signs we recommend a local electrician or sign installer.

Can I see the sign on my shopfront before ordering?
Yes. Send us a photo of your shopfront and we will show you a free design preview with your sign in place.