QR codes for government and public services
Public notices are printed small and legalistic, and most residents walk past them. A QR code on a planning notice, a roadworks sign or a bin can open the full details, the consultation form or the service page in plain language, in the resident's language.
Government codes are also a target for fraud: fake stickers placed over real codes on parking meters and signs. Using your own domain for short links, and telling residents what it is, is the most effective defence.
QR code ideas for government services
Notices and consultations
Planning notices, road closures and consultations link to the full plans and a comment form.
Service information
Bin collection days, library hours and permit rules on the service page, updated without new signs.
Multilingual information
One code that opens information in the phone's language, for public health or emergency notices.
Reporting problems
Codes on street furniture and park signs that open the report form for that location.
Which QR code to use
Static codes are free and need no account, but can't be changed after printing. Dynamic codes and hosted pages can be edited at any time, count every scan, and keep working on every plan, even if you cancel.
Dynamic link on your own domain
Short links on a custom domain such as go.yourcity.gov tell residents the code is genuine. Custom domains are on Pro and Business.
Create a dynamic codePDF page
An uploaded PDF people can read in the browser or download.
Plans, notices and reports hosted as PDFs you can replace with the latest version.
Build it in the dashboardFeedback and forms page
Star ratings, NPS and questions, with responses collected in your dashboard.
Short consultations and service feedback with choice and rating fields, exportable as CSV.
Build it in the dashboardGoogle Maps QR code
Opens the exact site of a planning application or closure in Google Maps.
Open the Google Maps generatorHow big to print it
| Where people scan | Distance | Minimum code width |
|---|---|---|
| Notice on a lamp post | 80 cm (31 in) | 9.3 cm (3.7 in) |
| Office or library poster | 2 m (7 ft) | 23.2 cm (9.1 in) |
| Roadside sign, pedestrians | 4 m (13 ft) | 46.4 cm (18.3 in) |
For a dynamic short link such as https://qrdx.dev/q/aB3dE5f at error correction Q, without the blank margin. Static Wi-Fi, vCard or long URL codes hold more data and need to be larger. Check yours with the print size calculator and the scan checker.
Placement tips
- Print the expected short-link domain as text under every code, and tell residents on your website which domains you use.
- Inspect high-value codes (parking, payments) regularly for stickers placed on top.
- Use a fallback URL on Pro so expired consultations open the outcome page instead of a closed form.
- Mount notices at 1.2 to 1.5 m and in accessible locations, with the reference number as text.
Call-to-action copy
A code with a reason to scan beside it gets more scans than a bare code. Lines to print next to yours:
- Scan for the full plans and to comment
- Collection days for this street
- Information in your language
- Report a problem here
QR codes for government services: FAQ
How do residents know a council QR code is genuine?
Use a short-link domain you own, print it under the code, and publish the list of official domains on your website. QRdx custom domains (Pro and Business) put your domain in every short link.
What is QR code fraud on parking meters?
Criminals stick their own codes over genuine ones to send people to fake payment pages, sometimes called quishing. Tamper-evident labels, regular inspections and an official domain printed on the sign all reduce the risk.
Can one code serve information in several languages?
Yes. Language routing on Pro sends each scan to the version matching the phone's language setting, with a default for everyone else.