With outdoor LED displays, schedules are more often delayed by the permit than by installation. Displays with changing images are classified as digital advertising displays under Korea's Act on the Management of Outdoor Advertisements and Promotion of the Outdoor Advertising Industry and require a permit. Size, location and brightness standards vary by local ordinance.
Here's the overall flow and who does what. For detailed standards, check with the advertising department of the city, county or district where the display will be installed.
1. First, check whether it applies
Most displays need a "permit," some only a "notification," and some locations are "prohibited."
Under the law, neon and electronic signs whose content changes frequently, i.e., digital advertising displays, require a permit (electronic signs with fixed content also require a permit). We first check whether the location is in a residential area, near a cultural heritage site or in a restricted roadside zone, and how the ordinance sets size, height and brightness limits. We do an initial check based on similar cases, and the final confirmation comes from the responsible department.
2. Prepare the documents
The installer prepares drawings and descriptions; the application is filed in the client's (building owner's) name.
We prepare the design documents and structural description for you. They use the dimensions and structural approach from the site survey, so the survey and the permit documents form a single workflow.
Permit (notification) application- Color photos showing the installation site and surroundings
- Color drawing of the display (showing screen size and position)
- Description of the display's shape, dimensions, materials, structure and design, plus design documents
- Consent from the building owner or landowner (for leased or shared property)
- Confirmation of safety-certified electrical materials (Electrical Appliances Safety Control Act)
3. Submission → review → permit
Submit to the local government department; depending on size and location, it goes through the advertising review committee.
Once the application is submitted to the mayor, county head or district head, the department reviews it against the ordinance. Large displays and those in designated zones go through the Advertisement Management and Review Committee. The timeline varies by local government, typically 2–4 weeks, and longer with a review. Installation begins once the permit is issued, and the permit number is displayed after completion.
4. After installation: safety inspections and renewal
A permit isn't the end. It comes with ongoing conditions.
Electrical materials must be safety-certified and wiring must not be exposed. Displays above a certain size are subject to regular safety inspections. Permits have a display period, so an extension must be filed before expiry, and changing the screen size or location requires a modification permit. Night-time brightness complaints are judged against the ordinance's luminance limits, so we set automatic dimming to match the permit conditions.
① Who does what
Splitting the roles keeps the schedule on track.
| Stage | Client (building owner) | LO-GIN IT |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility check | Provide site and building information, contact the department | Initial review based on similar cases, suggest size and location alternatives |
| Documents | Fill in and sign the application, owner consent form | Color drawing, structural and dimensional descriptions, design documents, photos |
| Submission · review | Submit, attend review (if required) | Answer technical queries, supplementary documents |
| Installation | Hand over the permit | Install per permit conditions, display permit number |
| Upkeep | Renewal and modification filings, undergo safety inspections | Inspection support, maintain brightness settings |
② Permit checklist
Check these five things before construction begins.
- Local ordinance limits on digital display size, height and luminance
- Whether the site is in a prohibited or designated zone
- Building owner and landowner consent
- Permit period (expiry date) and renewal procedure
- Road occupancy permit for roadside sites; consultation with the authority for public land
Laws and procedures: Easy-to-Find Practical Law Information, Outdoor Advertising Permits and Notifications · Easy-to-Find Practical Law Information, Checking Outdoor Advertising Restrictions · Enforcement Decree of the Outdoor Advertisements Act (Wikisource). Role division and timelines are based on LO-GIN IT installation experience; detailed standards must be confirmed with the local ordinance and the responsible department.
Recommended specs for this guide
- Digital displays = permit required
- Documents: application, photos, drawing, description, design documents
- Submission → (review) → permit → installation → inspection · renewal
- Filed in the client's name; documents prepared by the installer