With unregulated hoardings and flex banners posing risk during heavy winds and rains, the new rules mandate that advertisements comply with strict safety, content and placement norms to ensure clutter-free and citizen-friendly streets.
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The State government has notified ‘The Andhra Pradesh Regulation and Control of Display Devices (Promotion of Products and Services) in Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2025’, introducing a State-wide reform to streamline outdoor advertisements, enhance public safety, and improve municipal revenues across all urban local bodies.

The relevant G.O. (Ms.No.253) was issued by S. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Uraban Development, on Tuesday.

The policy marks a major step towards achieving Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of cleaner, investment-ready cities.

For years, urban spaces suffered from unregulated hoardings, flex banners near sensitive locations, damage to public property and unsafe structures, posing risk during heavy winds and rains.

The new rules mandate that advertisements comply with strict safety, content and placement norms to ensure clutter-free and citizen-friendly streets.

Display devices larger than 50 sq. ft. now require structural safety certification, annual audits and liability insurance. Hoardings near religious places, hospitals, schools, traffic junctions and heritage sites are prohibited, while offensive and socially harmful content stands banned.

Individuals and agencies must obtain licence, with every device requiring official permission and visible traceability details.

Municipal properties for advertising will be leased through public auctions to boost revenues for civic services. A digital portal for licensing, fee payments and monitoring will go live within 45 days.

“This is a reform for citizens,” said Mr. Suresh Kumar, asserting that Andhra Pradesh was setting a national model in display regulation.

Published – December 02, 2025 08:08 pm IST