Liverpool criminal lawyer Peter Maatouk decided to make use of the roof of his law practice when launching his campaign for next year's mayoral elections.

"It's just your standard rooftop balloon," Mr Maatouk said.

The inflatable advertisement, more commonly associated with car dealers, stands about six metres high.

Mr Maatouk had it custom-made for about $10,000.

Mr Maatouk has had a long feud with current mayor Ned Mannoun.

That animosity shines through in his choice of slogans for his balloon: "Liverpool Deserves Better"; "Stop Wasting Our Money"; and "Maatouk for Mayor."

As an added indignity, Mr Maatouk's rooftop is apparently visible from the windows of Mr Mannoun's own mayoral chambers, which overlook the city several from storeys up.

"I think it drives him crazy," Mr Maatouk said.

But things have taken an officious turn. Council inspectors last month warned Mr Maatouk his balloon was an unapproved structure.

He has been ordered to remove the balloon - as well as stickers on his office shutters and walls that also advertise his run for mayor.

Mr Maatouk claims council resources are being used to stifle criticism and that other businesses do not have council approval for their inflatable advertisements.

The lawyer says he called council staff before buying the balloon and was told that, as a temporary structure, it didn't need approval.

Mr Maatouk has until next week to challenge council's decision.

"It's not going anywhere, I don't care how long I have to fight it," he said.

The council has warned that all costs incurred investigating the matter will be charged to Mr Maatouk.

Cr Mannoun said while staff had discussed the balloon in his office – "it is so prominent, and a safety issue" – he had not raised it himself. He otherwise referred questions to the council.

The council said only that the decision to inspect Mr Maatouk's property had come from the council's CEO, Carl Wulff.

The council also did not respond to the suggestion Mr Maatouk had been informally given the go-ahead to erect his balloon. It said it would continue to investigate other properties.

It is not the first time Mr Maatouk and Mr Mannoun have been at odds with each other.

Earlier this year it was revealed that a post to the Facebook page of Mr Maatouk's campaign had been made by a fake account bearing the image of a dead American soldier. The account made comments critical of Mr Mannoun.

The two first had a falling out in 2008.

Mr Maatouk alleged that he had brokered a deal with Cr Mannoun: he would support Cr Mannoun's run for a seat in the state parliament, and Cr Mannoun would return the favour in supporting Mr Maatouk's bid for mayor, but the deal collapsed.

Cr Mannoun has denied there was any deal.

Mr Maatouk says he is ready to make a political comeback after leaving behind a challenging personal period.

In 2010 he beat charges including insurance fraud, after three principal police witnesses were found to have been unreliable.

Another witness at the centre of the crown was found to have perjured himself: Liverpool Labor fixer Sam Bargshoon, who police had agreed not to prosecute on charges of trying to extort Mr Maatouk.

Police had charged Mr Maatouk with allegedly hiring someone to break into his legal practice and tie him up before stealing $23,000 in cash, a Picasso etching and a photo signed by motor racing champion Peter Brock before he died in a car rally crash, collectively worth $78,000.

Liverpool's Liberal councillors have also apparently been in conflict in recent months.

Fairfax Media revealed that Cr Mannoun has written to Liberal party president Trent Zimmerman and state director Tony Nutt accusing his colleague Peter Ristevski of bringing the party into disrepute for associating with former drug dealer Tony "The Falcon" Atanasovsk.

Cr Ristevski denied any friendship with his fellow Macedonian, who said the party had gratefully accepted a $160 cash donation at a Liberal fundraiser attended by several state and federal MPs.