(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as may appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty:
Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of the period of three years from the date of commencement of this Act.
(2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before the Legislative Assembly.
---15--- Schedule I Illustrative list of hoarding A. Permanent hoarding
(i) Hoarding on Iron/Steel multiple angles structures/frames
(ii) Unipole (structure on a single shaft)
(iii) Dual pole (structure on a double shaft)
(iv) High Mast Pole
(v) Gantry, Shelters–Bus, Transit Waitin
(vi) Public Amenities
(vii) Mannequin
(viii) Motor vehicles including bus panels B. Temporary hoarding
(i) Temporary wood/bamboo structures (Flex Advertisement)
(ii) Foldable & Flexible Gantry Schedule II Criteria for hoarding A. Criteria for site selection for erection of hoarding:
(i) For hoardings erected on land the following criteria is to be followed:—
(1). The site selected for the erection/construction of the hoarding shall not cause any hindrance to the vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
(2). The Agency for hoarding shall carry out a ground survey and satisfy itself that no utility services such as power, telecommunications, gas, storm water supply and sewerage are located under the surface whereupon the hoarding is proposed to be erected/constructed/altered.
(3). The Agency for hoarding shall be solely responsible for ensuring that during the erection, maintenance, alteration and operation of a hoarding, the said hoarding does not conflict with utility services.
(4). The line department may require the Agency for hoarding to either replace or altogether remove any hoarding to facilitate the work undertaken by the respective line departments which provide/maintain the utility services such as power, telecommunications, gas, storm water, water supply and sewerage, or for road widening;
(5). Hoarding and display shall not be permitted on traffic islands.
(6). For hoardings proposed to be erected along National Highways, the Agency for hoarding and the Agency for display shall strictly comply with the provisions of the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002. For hoardings beyond the jurisdiction of the National highways Authority ---16--- the provisions of the present Act shall apply.
(7). For hoardings proposed to be erected along State Highways, major district roads, other district roads, and village roads;
(a) in the event the display runs parallel to the direction of the traffic, the hoarding shall be placed at a minimum lateral distance equal to the height of the proposed hoarding from the ground plus 5.00 meters from the edge of the right of way.
(b) In the event the display is perpendicular to the direction of the traffic, the hoarding shall be placed at a minimum lateral distance equal to the height of the proposed hoarding from the edge of the right of way.
(c) No part of the hoarding shall be permitted to even project over this area.
(8). The lower side or the bottom of a hoarding proposed to be erected along a State Highway, major district road, other district road, or a village road shall be at a height of not less than 3.00 meters from the highest point on the surface of ground below. No hoarding erected shall exceed the height of 20 meters above the road level.
(9). Along the State Highways and Major District Roads a distance of 50 meters shall be maintained between two hoardings and displays. The starting point for the purpose of determining the radial distance shall be the hoarding erected first in time.
(10). Along the other district Roads and village roads, a distance of 30 meters shall be maintained between two hoardings and displays.
(11). There shall be no hoarding erected on footpaths;
(12). A hoarding which is or may be a traffic hazard will not be permitted. A hoarding may be considered a traffic hazard, if it interferes with road safety or traffic efficiency, for instance:
(a) If it interferes with the effectiveness of a traffic control device (e.g. traffic light, stop or giveway sign);
(b) Distracts a driver at a critical time (e.g. making a decision at an intersection);
(c) Obscures a driver's view of a road hazard (e.g. at corners or bends in the road);
(d) Is a dangerous obstruction to road or other infrastructure, traffic, pedestrians, cyclists or other road users;
(e) Is in an area where there are several hoardings and the cumulative effect of those hoardings maybe potentially hazardous;
(f) If it is situated at locations where the demands on drivers' concentration due to road conditions are high such as at major intersections or merging and diverging lanes;
(g) No hoarding may be located inside a prohibited area of a public street and in relation to overhead road traffic signs;
(13) Besides aforesaid, such hoardings would be disallowed if additional driver attention and decision making are required at the following:
(a) High speed diverging, merging or weaving at an Intersection such as at a “Y” intersection or large high-speed roundabouts;
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(b) In the vicinity of Intersections where two lanes merge and where vehicles are required to merge at higher speeds (e.g. where "trap lanes" are created on the approaches to, or exit from, intersections and where a divided motorway becomes a two-way road);
(c) Intersections or sections of road which, because of lane configuration or geometry, may require an increased level of driver concentration (e.g. five-way intersections, back to back horizontal curves);
(d) on the outside curve of a divided road where advertising is directed at traffic on the opposite carriageway and the geometry, angle or other factors make this undesirable;
(e) Any hoarding must be positioned at a distance of 100 meters from the center of an intersection;
and traffic flow may not be impeded during the erection and maintenance of a hoarding located in a public street;
(f) Sections of road that have a vehicle crash history higher than the system average;
(g) Pedestrian crossing facilities;
(h) Infringe the free movement of traffic in and out of schools, hospitals, and places of medium and large gathering;
(14) The hoarding shall not obstruct a fire escape or the means of access to or egress from a fire escape;
(15) The hoarding shall not obstruct any overhead power lines or underground power lines laid by the Electricity department or under the Electricity Act, 2003; .
(16) Hoarding shall not be permitted on the median of the road
(ii) For hoardings erected or constructed on buildings–walls or roof tops, the following criteria needs consideration:
(1) A hoarding shall be allowed to be erected on a building only if it has been examined for structural stability and the building has been examined on whether it can withstand the pressure of the hoarding, and a certificate to that effect is produced from the certified Structural Engineer; the hoarding erected on a building shall maintain a setback of three meter from the edges of the building.
(2) Hoarding shall not be permitted on a building which is in a ruinous or dangerous state;
(3) When erected on top of the building, the maximum height of the hoarding shall not exceed 25% of the length of the building;
(4) Hoarding shall not be permitted on sloping roofs of buildings.
(5) The agency for hoarding shall produce a “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) from the competent Authority under the Aircraft Act, 1934 and the rules framed thereunder and all other applicable rules and regulations in this regard with respect to any hoarding proposed to be erected/constructed/altered within twenty kilometers from the aerodrome reference point.
(6) The hoarding shall not block the passage, entrance, or cause inconvenience with respect to the access to any building (both entry & exit);
(7) The hoarding shall not block the passage of light or circulation of air/ventilation to any building;
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(8) The hoarding shall not block any door, window, verandah or any such opening in any building;
(9) The hoarding shall not block, conceal or inconvenience the public view of the architectural features of any building;
(10) The hoarding shall not block, conceal, or inconvenience the public view of the front of any shop or establishment so that the business behind is affected.
(iii) For hoardings erected/placed on Motor Vehicles
1. The motor vehicle shall be parked only at the parking places approved by the State Transport Department in the permission granted by it.
2. In the event of electronic display on the motor vehicle, the same shall be covered during its transit to and from the approved parking place.
B. Criteria for hoardings
(1) A certified Structural Engineer shall certify the structural stability of the hoarding irrespective of whether the same is temporary or permanent;
(2) This certification will confer compliance of the design with relevant Indian Structural Design Standards, Codes of practice and conditions of these Rules. The foundations shall be designed and checked for extreme wind conditions, earthquake, soil bearing capacity, etc.;
(3) The certified Structural Engineer shall also be accountable in case of any structural disability of the hoardings. Certified structural engineer shall do the annual audit of the hoarding and a report of the same should be submitted to the competent authority in the prescribed form every year;
(4) The standard size of the following advertisement hoardings shall be as follows:— Sr.
No.
Major Category of Hoarding Type Sub-Category of Hoarding Shape Size of Category of Hoarding Large Formats (Code=L) Medium Formats (Code=M) Small Formats (Code=S) 1 Permanent Hoarding Hoarding on Iron/Steel multiple angles structures/frames 90x30ft 40x40ft 40x20ft 2 Unipole (Structure on a single shaft) 30x15ft 15x8ft 7x5ft 3 Dual pole (structure on a double shaft) 30x15ft 15x8ft 7x5ft 4 High Mast Pole–Backlit, Front– lit, Non-lit(Display) 8x5ft 5x3ft 3x2ft 5 Gantry (Signage’s display across road width) Vertical-5ft;
Horizontalac ross road length Vertical-3ft;
Horizontal - across road length 6 Shelter–Bus, Transit Waiting 75% of the 75%of the space 75%of the ---19--- space space 7 Public Amenities 75% of available surface space on all sides of the amenity 50% of available surface space on all sides of the amenity Less than 20% of available surface space on all sides of the amenity 8 Neon display 10x8ft 9x6ft 4x3ft Note: the sizes enumerated herein are maximum sizes.
(5) The hoarding should not be detrimental to the nature of the environment, streetscape, urban design or detract from the architecture of any building on which or where such hoarding is to be located, by reason of abnormal size, appearance, intensity of illumination, workmanship, design or its existence;
(6) The hoarding shall not constitute a danger to any person or property or traffic safety;
(7) The hoarding shall not project outside the boundaries of the property on which it is to be erected or displayed;
(8) The hoarding shall not result in the removal of, or damage to, any tree in a public place without prior written authorization of the Appropriate Authority under the Goa Preservation of Trees Act, 1984;
(9) The hoarding shall not be impairing or interfering with the appearance or beauty, damaging, disfiguring, spoiling or injuring in any way whatsoever any property in public view and shall comply with minimum distances as provided in this Act;
(10) No hoarding shall imitate a traffic control device;
(11) Hoardings shall not use shapes that could potentially result in a hoarding being mistaken for an official traffic sign; the Code of Practice for Road Signs IRC: 67-2001, by Indian Roads Congress prescribes the basic design parameters of official traffic signs and includes standard legend/background colour combinations.
(12) The Competent Authority may discourage the use of multiple angle hoardings and encourage single pole or dual pole hoardings with dual or multiple vision from sides, provided they pass the structural stability test;
(13) The Competent Authority may discourage the use of flex materials, as after a high wind storm, they tend to snap and create a nuisance on the street, the drains, and often dangle unsafely, which may harm passerby and passing vehicles;
(14) The hoarding shall be aesthetically designed.
(15) Additional criteria for Energy usage in back-lit or front-lit hoardings:
a. The electrical connections to hoardings shall be in accordance with relevant Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS)and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) standards;
---20--- b. To promote conservation of energy, it is recommended to use alternate renewable resources like Solar Power;
c. No generators running on diesel/petrol/kerosene or any bio fuel, causing noise, air or water pollution shall be used for illumination;
d. All lighting associated with the hoardings shall be directed solely on the hoarding;
e. External illumination sources shall be shielded to ensure that external ‘spot’ light sources are not directed at approaching traffic; pedestrian or vehicular;
f. The hoarding shall be allowed only if the lighting is focused directly on the sign so that glare does not extend beyond the hoarding;
g. The average maintained luminance shall be reduced to 0.5 candelas after 23:00 hours (11P.M.)
and sunrise by automatic timing devices;
h. Non-static illuminated hoardings (flashing lights) shall not be permitted along any road;
i. Moving, rotating or variable message hoardings are not permitted along roads as this may cause a statistically significant distractive influence on motorist’s response time to external stimuli;
j. Electrical connections to hoardings shall be designed keeping safety of the general public in mind;
k. The electricity connection shall be obtained in the name of the agency for hoarding;
l. Adequate insulation and protection equipment and procedures shall be adhered to by the Agency for hoardings;
m. A sketch plan shall be submitted to the Competent Authority showing the location from where the electricity is being drawn along with the position of various other ancillary requirements, duly signed by the Agency for hoardings electrical contractor (authorized by the Electricity Department);
n. A copy of the electrical contractor's test certificate shall be provided to the Competent Authority.
The switching device shall be of a type approved by the electrical contractor (authorized by the Electricity Department);
(16) If it is against the public interest;
(17) With respect to hoardings on motor vehicles, the requisite permissions under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Rules framed thereunder, including for the modification of the Motor Vehicle shall be obtained and submitted to the Competent Authority in the prescribed form.
Schedule III CRITERIA FOR DISPLAY;
The following types of displays are prohibited;
(a) Displays which gives instructions to traffic to "stop", "halt" or other instructions such as give way, merge etc., which are not given by the Statutory Authorities;
(b) If the display Imitates a traffic control device;
(c) A display with illumination containing flashing red, blue or amber point light sources which, ---21--- when viewed from the road, could give the appearance of an emergency service or other special purpose vehicles warning lights;
(d) Illegible display
(e) Display of Nudity (irrespective of any gender);
(f) Racial displays or displays propagating caste community or ethnic differences;
(g) Displays promoting drugs, alcohol, cigarette, or tobacco items;
(h) Displays propagating exploitation of women or child;
(i) Displays having sexual overtones;
(j) Displays depicting cruelty to animals;
(k) Displays depicting any nation or institution in poor light;
(l) Displays casting aspersion on any brand or person;
(m) Displays banned by any law;
(n) Displays glorifying violence;
(o) Destructive devices and explosives depicting items;
(p) Any psychedelic, laser or moving displays;
(q) Displays of weapons and related items (such as firearms, firearm parts and magazines, ammunition etc.);
(r) Displays, which may be defamatory, trade libelous, unlawfully threatening or unlawfully harassing;
(s) Displays which may be obscene or contain pornography or contain an "indecent representation of women" within the meaning of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986;
(t) Displays linked directly or indirectly to or include description of items, goods or services that are prohibited under any applicable law for the time being in force, including but not limited to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, the Indian Penal Code, 1860; and
(u) Any other items considered inappropriate by the Competent Authority;
Secretariat, Porvorim-Goa.
Dated: 17-10-2025. SANDIP JACQUES Secretary to the Government of Goa, Law Department (Legal Affairs) ___________________ Notification The Goa Hoardings (Regulations and Control) Act, 2025
CHAPTER I Schedule I Illustrative list of hoarding B. Temporary hoarding Schedule II Criteria for hoarding B. Criteria for hoardings Schedule III CRITERIA FOR DISPLAY;