Federal Supreme Court Ban on billboard advertising by a municipality is permissible

The ban on commercial billboard advertising adopted in the Geneva municipality of Vernier is compatible with fundamental rights. The Federal Supreme Court has rejected the appeals of companies and private individuals.

Advertising that is visible from public property is prohibited. The ban does not constitute an intervention in economic policy and is compatible with economic freedom, the guarantee of property and the principle of equal treatment. This was stated by the Federal Supreme Court in a decision published on Friday.

The municipal council of the town of Vernier adopted the regulations banning commercial poster advertising in 2022. It prohibits commercial posters and advertisements on paper that are visible from public property. The ban applies regardless of whether the advertising is on public or private property. The referendum against the regulations was not successful. It came into force at the end of July 2023. The municipality of Vernier subsequently dismantled 132 of the 172 billboards previously in place.