Mrs Hook said the problem first occurred when a mobile retailer from out of town came to Irvine Square and posted his large and distracting advertising signage close to the roadway. She said council asked the retailer to remove the signs and he said if it was good for him, it was good for Nancy's Kitchen.

Council's General Manager David Rowe confirmed council recently requested the removal of Nancy's Kitchen signage in response to the removal of other illegal signage in the immediate vicinity of Irvine Square.

"Commercial signage within the road reserve is illegal throughout the Yass Valley except under special conditions in Comur Street in Yass," Mr Rowe said.

Mrs Hook has expressed her disappointment over the unequal treatment of businesses along Laidlaw Street, a local business precinct but not considered apart of the Central Business District (CBD) of Yass.

"If one needs to take their sign down then we should all have to take our signs down," she said.

Mrs Hook applied for a licence to display her signage but was told by council staff that licences cannot be allocated to businesses outside of Comur Street.

"Irvine Square is a part of Yass town but we're not included. I think that's wrong. We're considered outsiders."

Mr Rowe said council staff would look at proposing a revised policy that will allow for the temporary erection of signs in other areas of Yass.

"The desire of many commercial establishments to advertise their business on the road verge is acknowledged and council staff propose to develop a revised policy for the consideration of council that if adopted may permit the erection of temporary signage in other areas," he told the Tribune.

Mrs Hook said not displaying her well known sign on the road has affected business at the busy local eatery.

"Customers have been saying that they didn't know we were open because they didn't see the sign that's been there for seven years.

"But I'm risking a fine by putting it out there and I can't afford a fine," Mrs Hook said.