The Complete Guide To DBKL Signboard License Requirements

We were surprised to learn that DBKL’s official premise signboard guide on their eLesen portal is only available in Bahasa Melayu.

As Kuala Lumpur is home to many entrepreneurs who are more proficient in English, we thought we’d help by translating the document!

That’s right, we’re just that considerate.

Here’s how we’ll break it down:

• Defining a ‘premise signboard’
• Mandatory documents
• A full breakdown of the requirements
• The license fee structure

If you’d prefer DBKL’s Bahasa Melayu guide anyway, here you go!

Otherwise, let’s begin.

How DBKL defines a premise signboard

We thought to include this because DBKL actually recognises six different categories of signboards: 

• Temporary displays
• Outdoor advertisements
• Lamp post ads (AKA eyesores)
• Banners
• Balloons, and of course
• Premise signboards

Each requires a separate license and comes with their own requirements.

This guide exclusively covers premise signboards, which refers to the signboard placed directly outside a business’ operating location and nothing else.

Required documents

Pretty standard list here, and you should have most of the documents already:

• One (1) copy of company/business/organization registration (Form 9 and 49 or Form D along with business and owner information)
• One (1) copy of the applicant’s identification card
• One (1) colored visual example with the size of each word
• One (1) copy of your DBKL business premise license (if applicable)
• Colored photographs showing the installation location
• Letter of consent from the building owner (if applicable)
• Copy of medical practice certificate for clinic advertisements

Note: Visuals must receive Malay language validation from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. If you’ve never done that and don’t want to, get in touch with us.

Premise signboard requirements

Remember how we said we’re super considerate? 

For your convenience, we’ve sorted DBKL’s premise signboard requirements into four categories:

1. Language
2. Location
3. Content
4. Miscellaneous  

Language

• Visuals must prioritise Bahasa Malaysia in terms of word size, color, and position
• Bahasa Malaysia must be at top left or center of the sign, away from other languages
• As mentioned above, the Bahasa Malaysia on the sign must be confirmed by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

Location

• Signs must follow ‘beam’ size and not cover windows, mirrors, or building façades
• Freestanding signs must be placed at least five (5) feet from drains or road reserves
• Hanging signs are not allowed on pedestrian walkways
• Double-sided vertical signs have a maximum height of seven (7) feet and width of three (3) feet, and are only allowed on the first floor of the premises
• Premises on the fourth floor and below with horizontal signs exceeding 40 feet in length and four (4) feet in width require Public Liability Insurance
• Premises on the fourth floor and above with horizontal signs exceeding 40 feet in length and four (4) feet in width require Public Liability Insurance and a certified structural plan from a registered engineer

Content

• No alcohol, cigarettes, offensive imagery, or inappropriate behavior
• Business operating hours cannot be displayed on the signage
• The license approval reference number must be displayed at the bottom left of the sign
• The company name and number must be displayed at the bottom right of the sign

Miscellaneous

• For clinics, applicants must submit the property owner’s approval letter, business license, and medical practice certification
• Any visual changes during the license validity period must also be approved by the Licensing Department
• Temporary banner structures are not allowed as permanent signage
• Advertising medicine must be approved by the Ministry of Health
• The license fee must be paid within 30 days of the approval letter being issued and the license itself must be displayed on the premises at all times

License fees

The premise signboard license fee is calculated on a month-to-month basis, with any part of a month considered as one full month.

Depending on the size of your signboard, expect the license to cost RM200 – 400 annually.

DBKL does NOT prohibit Mandarin on signboards!

DBKL issues fines for signboards that do not comply with regulations all the time and for various reasons.

However, when fines are issued due to the use of Chinese on signboards, it often sparks accusations of discrimination against Chinese businesses, which we firmly believe is misinformed.

As DBKL has clarified, and based on our own experience dealing with them, using Mandarin is completely acceptable as long as a Malay translation is more prominently displayed on the signboard. A quick look at the businesses that are fined will show you their signboards did not include any Malay at all.

Before saying this confirms discrimination, the same rule applies to English, Tamil, or any other language used by businesses. In fact, this rule applies across Malaysia and all Local Councils, not just DBKL.

The only exception is for well-known brand names in other languages, which is why some established foreign brands may appear on signboards without translation.

However, if a sign includes Chinese slogans or general descriptions, it must be accompanied by a Malay translation approved by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

You can even see that DBKL follows its own rules, just look at their official signage at Petaling Street which features three different languages with Malay being the most prominent.

That’s all from us, and we wish you a smooth signboard license application process!

Let MISHU handle your DBKL license application

Hundreds of local and foreign businesses have used MISHU’s DBKL license runner services to obtain necessary licenses as efficiently as possible, and we’d love to help you too!