Review of Reykjavík’ Sign Ordinance
Work on a new sign ordinance for Reykjavík is underway, and a revised draft has been published on the Consultation Portal. The new draft allows for a wider variety of signs, clarifies existing guidelines, and resolves issues not covered by the current ordinance. The deadline for comments is September 26.
At its Sept. 3, 2025, meeting, the Environment & Planning Council approved posting draft revised sign ordinance for Reykjavík on the City's Consultation Portal. The goal is to solicit feedback from stakeholders, including residents, operators, institutions, associations, interest groups, businesses, and essentially anyone affected by the matter.
Ordinance simplified
Reykjavík's sign ordinance sets rules for sign sizes and placement based on various urban planning factors. The review of Reykjavík's sign ordinance involves multiple municipal departments, with representatives from the Planning, Transportation, Urban Design, Legal and Administration, and Licensing and Inspection divisions.
Among the key changes in the revised ordinance are increased permitted sign sizes in most land-use zones. Additionally, the categories for "advertising signs" and "service signs" have been merged into a single "advertising signs" category. The ordinance has also been simplified, yet it remains clear enough for applicants to understand the requirements for a sign building permit.