Your signboard is usually the first thing customers see. It’s also one of the first things DBKL checks, and one of the most common reasons a new business gets a notice from the council.
The rules aren’t hard once you know them. In this guide, we explain how a signboard license DBKL approves actually works: the language rules, size and placement limits, the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) step, the documents you’ll need and how to renew. We also cover what changes if your shop is outside Kuala Lumpur.
In this article
What is a signboard licence?
A signboard licence is the council’s approval for the sign outside your business. It confirms that the design, wording, size and position follow the rules. In Kuala Lumpur, it’s issued by DBKL’s licensing department.
DBKL usually processes it together with your premise licence as a composite licence. That means your signboard approval also depends on your premises meeting DBKL’s requirements, so it’s worth getting both right from the start.
This guide focuses on premise signboards, the ones mounted directly outside your shop or office. Billboards, banners and other outdoor advertising follow separate rules.
The language rules
This is where most signboards go wrong. Under the Advertisement By-Laws for the Federal Territory, the national language must be given priority. In practice, that means:
- Bahasa Melayu must be larger and more prominent than any other language
- It should sit at the top left or centre of the sign, apart from other languages
- English, Mandarin, Tamil and other languages are allowed, as long as Bahasa Melayu comes first
- Proper nouns, such as your business name or a well-known brand, don’t need to be translated
- The Bahasa Melayu wording must be approved by DBP
DBKL does carry out enforcement. In 2024 alone, it issued 264 notices over signboard issues, including signs without a permit and signs that didn’t match the approved design.
Size and placement rules
DBKL also looks at where and how your sign is installed. The main points to know:
- The sign must follow the building’s beam and must not cover windows, mirrors or the façade
- Hanging signs over pedestrian walkways aren’t allowed
- Free-standing signs must be set back from drains and road reserves
- Vertical double-sided signs are limited in size and only allowed on the first floor
- Large signs may need public liability insurance and, on higher floors, a structural plan from a registered engineer
There are content rules too. Your sign can’t show alcohol, cigarettes or offensive images, and it shouldn’t display your operating hours. DBKL may also ask for your licence reference number and company details to appear in small print on the sign.
Getting DBP approval
Before DBKL will consider your signboard, the wording needs to be checked by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. This is done online through the DBP Sah Bahasa portal.
1. Register on DBP Sah Bahasa
First-time applicants create an account on the portal.
2. Upload your design and pay
Submit your signboard design in colour and pay the application fee, which is currently RM30 and non-refundable. If the design is rejected, you’ll need to pay again when you resubmit.
3. Download the approval
DBP checks the spelling, grammar and prominence of the Bahasa Melayu text. Its guidelines say this takes about three working days, though it can take longer when things are busy. Once approved, download the certificate for your DBKL application.
Good to know: don’t print your signboard until both DBP and DBKL have approved the design. Making changes after printing is the most expensive way to fix a signboard.
How to apply for a signboard license DBKL will approve
With DBP approval in hand, the application goes to DBKL through its eLesen portal, usually as part of your composite licence. You’ll typically need:
- Your SSM business or company registration
- A copy of the applicant’s IC or passport
- The DBP approval for your signboard text
- A coloured design showing the size of each word
- Coloured photos of where the sign will be installed
- Your premise licence, or the premise licence application
- The building owner’s consent, where needed
Once approved, the fee is usually due within 30 days. It depends on the size and type of your sign, and is often a few hundred ringgit a year. The licence is generally valid for one year and can be renewed on eLesen. Keep it displayed at your premises, and get DBKL’s approval before changing the sign. For the full premise licence process, see our DBKL business license application guide.
Signboard license application Malaysia: outside Kuala Lumpur
If your premises is in Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam or anywhere else outside DBKL’s area, your signboard license application Malaysia councils handle will go to your local authority instead, such as MBPJ, MBSJ or MBSA.
The basics are similar across the country. Most councils want Bahasa Melayu to take priority, and many ask for DBP approval through the same DBP Sah Bahasa portal. The details, such as sign sizes, fees, forms and whether you can apply online, differ from council to council. Check your assessment bill to confirm which council your premises falls under before you start any signboard license application Malaysia authorities will review.
Common mistakes
- English or another language is bigger than the Malay text. Bahasa Melayu must come first.
- Skipping DBP approval. DBKL treats it as a required document.
- Installing the sign before approval. Unpermitted signs are one of the most common enforcement issues.
- Changing the sign later without telling DBKL. The sign must match what was approved.
Final thoughts
Getting a signboard license DBKL approves comes down to three things: put Bahasa Melayu first, get DBP to check the wording, and make sure the size and position follow DBKL’s rules. Do those before you print, and the approval is usually straightforward.
If you’d like help, our business premise license team can handle your signboard, premise and DBP applications together.
