Lyon Court Overturns Advertising Bans on Rooftops and Construction Sites

Lyon's administrative court has overturned key provisions of a local advertising regulation, potentially paving the way for the return of large rooftop advertisements along the Rhône river. The previous municipal government, led by an environmentalist majority, had banned such displays to align with a new local advertising rule (RLP).

The court's decision on July 7, prompted by appeals from professional unions and advertising firms, annulled the ban on signs installed on rooftops and roof terraces. The judges found that the prohibition, which would have led to the removal of rooftop signs across 90% of the city, was not sufficiently justified by the metropolitan authority. They stated it disproportionately infringed upon commercial and industrial freedoms and the freedom to conduct business. The court suggested that less restrictive measures, such as controlling the size or landscape integration of advertisements, could have protected the living environment.

Furthermore, the court also invalidated restrictions on the size of advertising panels. While national regulations allowed for signs up to 12 square meters (later reduced to 10.50 square meters), the Lyon Métropole had limited these to 2 or 4 square meters in areas permitting wall and ground advertising. The tribunal noted that 8-square-meter panels are common in Lyon. It reasoned that excessively reducing panel sizes could hinder advertisement legibility, especially along major roads and in commercial zones where signs are often viewed by motorists from a distance. The court concluded that landscape preservation goals did not justify such a severe limitation, particularly when less restrictive means could achieve the desired reduction in advertising.

Finally, the judges also struck down the ban on advertising banners used on construction sites. The ruling signals a potential shift in Lyon's approach to outdoor advertising, challenging the stricter regulations previously implemented by the former environmentalist administration.