Want To Paint A Mural On Your Building? There Are A Few Things You Need To Do First

Drive into any major city, and you will see murals and advertisements painted on the sides of many buildings. While they can be colorful, informative, or just decorative, some cities consider these murals a nuisance. If you own a building and would like to have an exterior painting crew paint a mural on it, there are a few things you need to do first.

Check with the City Regarding Building Painting Regulations

Since painting a mural on the outside walls of a building may be considered graffiti, and graffiti considered illegal, you might want to check with city hall on this project. If the Department of Neighborhood Beautification (or related organizations) does not have a problem with what you intend to paint on your building, you can hire painters and get to work. If they give limited permission, it means you have to conduct a poll of your neighboring property owners and request official permission at a city hall meeting.

Publicly Notify Neighbors of Your Intentions to Paint a Mural on Your Building

Just as property owners who plan to construct a garage close to the property line they share with other neighbors have to notify those neighbors, so too, do you have to notify your neighbors. Usually, this is done through public notice in a newspaper, but it is also a good idea to send paper notices to neighbors via mail. If they wish to object, they must appear at the city or town hall meeting where you will ask official approval to paint the side of your building.

Attend a City Hall Meeting with Your "Intent to Modify" the Exterior of Your Building

Each month, the board or committee members of city hall "open the floor" for people to discuss business they want to discuss. You may be required to appear before the members to make an official request to paint the exterior of your building with the intended mural. A majority of the members have to approve of the project, plus they have to like your intended mural. If the mural is considered offensive in any way, you will be denied. If it is in no way offensive, and you receive the majority of "yay's," you can move forward with your project.

However, if neighbors come to complain or file an opposition, they can and will be heard. This could change the outcome of your project, so be prepared to defend it. You may also reach a compromise by painting a side of the building that does not bother the neighbors. If that happens, then you can still hire professional painters and continue as planned.

Contact a company like Braendel Painting for more information and assistance. 

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