Ahmedabad: City’s shopfronts are getting a regulated makeover. Under AMC’s Draft Outdoor Advertisement Policy 2026, all business signage must follow strict size, material, and lighting standards. Additionally, shop owners are explicitly barred from renting out any part of their shopfront boards to external brands.The policy defines self-signage as on-premises identification only, prohibiting surrogate or third-party advertising entirely. Fascia boards — signs mounted flat against a building facade — cannot exceed 0.9m in height and must stay within the shop’s actual width. Letter heights are capped at 250mm for horizontal text and 400mm for vertical; logos cannot exceed 750mm.Projecting or hanging signs may extend no more than 0.9m outward from the facade and must maintain a minimum 2.5-m clearance above the footpath.Window graphics are restricted to 40% of glazed surface area. Illuminated signs must use static lighting with automatic dimming, and all signage near residential zones must switch off between 11pm and 6am, the policy states.The civic body is also cracking down on visual and environmental pollution. PVC flex, neon tubes, mirror films and glossy plastics may be banned outright.Businesses get one concession: Signage up to 2.5 sq m bearing only the business name or logo carries no advertisement fee. Beyond that limit, businesses must get written permission from the municipal commissioner, pay a fee, and install an AMC licence plate featuring a geo-tagged QR code.
