Sandwich Board Licence Is Set To Cost Dublin Cafés €630 A Year

You’ll soon be seeing a lot less pun-filled sandwich boards on the streets of Dublin with new rules coming into effect this September.

Small businesses are likely to be hardest hit by the news that Dublin City Council is introducing a new licencing system to regulate advertising on the city’s footpaths. Coming into effect on September 1, it’s also being brought in to tackle the clutter on the city’s footpaths, though sandwich boards are already banned on the likes of Grafton Street and O’Connell Street due to the high footfall and small paths. Outdoor furniture including tables and chairs already require businesses in Dublin to have a licence, though this will be the first time proper regulations will be brought in for traders using A-boards. Dublin City Council says the €630 charge, which will also come with a non-refundable application fee, will deter many traders in the city from using sandwich boards, while anyone without a licence will have their signs confiscated. The Disability Federation of Ireland has welcomed the news as it would make the city’s streets more accessible. However, the Restaurants’ Association of Ireland had previously accused the council of going on an “anti-tourism rampage”, and the Licensed Vintners’ Association called the high fee “completely unreasonable and disproportionate”. READ NEXT: Blackrock Market Is Hosting Outdoor Cinema Nights Every Monday