How do I apply for a permit?
Who this is for
Permits are for business or property owners putting up their own signage. There are two categories:
- First Party — you're advertising your own business. For example, a shop owner putting up a signboard with their shop's name.
- Third Party — you're hosting signage on your property that advertises someone else's business. For example, a landlord who allows a billboard company to install a sign on their land.
If neither of these describes you — for example, if the signage belongs to a government agency, a transit company, or someone else entirely — you do not need to apply for a permit yourself. That is handled directly by DESSAA through a separate process.
Step 1: Open "Permit Applications"
Click Permit Applications in the sidebar menu on the left (on a phone, tap the ☰ menu icon first).
Step 2: Click "New Application"
On the Permit Applications page, click the New Application button.
Step 3: Choose your applicant type
You'll see two large cards. Read each one, then click the card that matches your situation — First Party or Third Party — as explained above.
Step 4: Read the "Let's Get Your Permit Started" screen
You'll see an introduction screen explaining what you'll need: details about the structure, its location, and a set of documents — each listed with a checkmark so you know exactly what's coming. Read through it, then click the blue Get Started button at the bottom.
Don't worry about finishing everything in one sitting — your progress is saved automatically, so you can always come back later and pick up where you left off.
Step 5: Fill in your business, structure, and location details
You'll now see one long form split into sections. Fill it in from top to bottom:
If you chose First Party, you'll first see:
| Field | What to do |
|---|---|
| Business | Click the dropdown and select which of your registered businesses this permit is for |
| Branch | Click the dropdown and select the branch, if that business has one (optional) |
Don't see your business in the list? Click the "Create it" link next to this field, which opens My Businesses in a new tab. Register your business there, then come back to this tab and click Refresh.
Then, for everyone, fill in the Structure section:
| Field | What to do |
|---|---|
| Structure Type | Click the dropdown and select the type of structure (e.g. Billboard, Signboard). If yours isn't listed, choose Other and describe it in the box that appears |
| Construction Material | Click the dropdown and select what it's made of |
| Size Metric | Choose the unit you'll use to measure it (e.g. meters) |
| Width and Height | Type in the structure's measurements |
Then the Location section (Country and State are already filled in for you):
| Field | What to do |
|---|---|
| LGA | Click the dropdown and select the Local Government Area |
| Zone | Click the dropdown and select the zone — this only appears after you pick an LGA |
| Site Address | Type the street address or nearest landmark where the structure is/will be located |
When every field is filled in, click the blue Save Details button at the bottom-right of this form.
Step 6: Upload your documents
Scroll down to the Documents section. You'll see a grid of upload boxes — one for each required document, clearly labelled. For each one:
- Click the box (or the Browse link underneath it).
- Choose the file from your device — PDF, PNG, or JPG files are accepted, up to 5MB each.
- Wait for it to finish uploading — you'll briefly see "Uploading…" and then a green checkmark or a preview of your file once it's done.
If you need to change a file you've already uploaded, click Replace on that box and choose a new file.
Step 7: Pay the application fee
Once your details are saved and every document is uploaded, a new message will appear in the Payment section: "Your application is complete." Click the blue Proceed to Payment button — this opens the payment page in a new tab.
Follow the same payment steps described in How do I pay for my asset? — you'll either pay online, or by bank transfer with an uploaded proof of payment.
Once you've paid, come back to this tab and click the "I have made payment" button so CSAMP can check and confirm it.
What happens next?
After your payment is confirmed, your application automatically moves through the following stages, which you can check any time from the Permit Applications page:
- Paid — your payment has been confirmed.
- Awaiting Inspection — a DESSAA officer will visit the site in person to inspect the structure.
- Inspection Passed or Inspection Failed — if it fails, you'll be shown the reason, and you can fix the issue and request another inspection.
- Approved — once approved (and, if applicable, any signage approval fee is paid), your permit is officially issued.
You'll be notified as your application moves from one stage to the next — there's nothing more you need to do in the meantime.