What the published sign by-law allows at an address, with the source behind every number — early, while you are still estimating. Two short steps to an answer. Start with the location; add dimensions when you have them.
Start with the location. You do not need sign dimensions yet.
Saved in this browser only. Nothing here is sent to SignAllow. Loading one fills in the form; running it again follows the normal check rules.
Choose an address suggestion to check available government maps. You can also type an address and select the municipality for a manual check, or leave the address blank to explore the general rules.
Not identified automaticallyToronto sign districts need a manual check in SignView. Automatic sign-district selection is not available here yet. Heritage map checks are separate.
Don’t know it? SignView — the sign-district map, not the zoning map ↗ — search your address there.
The map area or by-law category used to select sign rules. It may differ from zoning. Confirm the applicable category using the municipality’s map or written advice.
General explanation; local definitions and measurement rules control. Check Toronto’s source ↗
This changes the presentation and available report options, not the rules or calculation. You can change it after the check.
Want to read it as written? Municipal Code Chapter 694 — Signs, General ↗ — consolidated 3 June 2024.
Choose the type that matches your sign. Dimensions can come later.
Other sign purposes
These categories currently prepare a municipal review. Size limits, fees and permit exemptions are not calculated yet.
Count display faces on this one sign, not separate signs. Dimensions can come later.
Each municipality can count faces differently. A per-face limit is not permission to multiply the total allowance.
Review guidance only: no size allowance, permit exemption, fee or permitted display period is calculated for these categories yet. You can record a proposal and save a preliminary report with the open questions.
Enter your intended dates, not a permitted duration. Renewal, repeat displays and removal deadlines still need confirmation.
Initial coverage: Oakville’s commercial, employment, mixed-use and institutional categories. Other municipalities and special uses need a separate review. This is a preliminary check against the published 2022 consolidation; later amendments remain unverified.
Motor vehicle businesses, drive-through facilities and third-party advertising need separate review. Choose “Other content or a special use” above. Illuminated signs and electronic displays are outside this initial calculation.
Measure one rectangular window, excluding its frame. Use explicit units: m, cm, ft or inches; bare numbers mean feet. Do not combine panes or transfer spare area between windows. For the proposed sign, enter the enclosing rectangle around the complete message; irregular layouts need confirmation.
This is the building’s storey count, not the sign’s location. Clarington uses it to select the shared wall-and-awning allowance. Subdivision sales offices have a separate table provision.
Exclude the sign you are proposing or replacing and any signs being removed. Leave uncertain quantities blank. Your answer is not independently verified.
No single sign-count limit is calculated for this selection. Confirm how the municipality counts existing signs.
A size limit for one sign is not automatically spare capacity on a wall or property. No shared-area deduction is calculated for this selection.
Not sure about placement? Leave it as “Not sure” and review the limits first. A sign type that is not listed needs a separate review.
Review what the maps found, then work through one follow-up at a time. You can leave questions open while exploring a sign before it is designed.
You can download a preliminary report before a sign is designed. Missing dimensions and unresolved reviews remain clearly identified.
Local history and team links keep basic details: location, sign type, district, building type, lighting and building measurements. They do not keep proposed sign dimensions, site-review answers or reports. Choose Save to my account to retain the full proposal and dated reports. For a customer handoff, download the neutral customer assessment.
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No sign design yet? That is fine. A wall or frontage measurement helps calculate the size allowance; proposed sign dimensions are optional. Use feet/inches or metric: 12 ft, 6 in, 3.5m or 150mm. Numbers without a unit are read as feet. Leave anything unknown blank.
Wall signs are usually sized off the wall they sit on, so this is the measurement that turns the rule into a number. A rough answer is fine.
The length of the property along the relevant street. Building frontage can mean something different. Use the measurement basis in your result; do not add street edges together unless the rule allows it.
General explanation; local definitions and measurement rules control. Check Toronto’s source ↗
The display area counted toward the sign-size limit. Separate letters, borders and multiple faces can be counted differently. Confirm the local method before entering the sign’s width and height.
General explanation; local definitions and measurement rules control. Check Toronto’s source ↗
Sign height is the display’s vertical size. Overall height runs from the required ground reference to the top of the sign. Check the local ground reference and what must be included.
General explanation; local definitions and measurement rules control. Check Toronto’s source ↗
Type them exactly as the drawing reads — 54'-1", 16m (52 ft), 11' 4" all work.
Manual review of the property and sign location. Address, zoning and heritage checks do not settle this overlay. Open the official district index and maps. If the boundary is unclear, ask Building Services and leave this unchecked.
Manual confirmation — an address or projecting sign does not establish an overhang. Compare the proposed sign with the property line on a survey or reliable site plan. Leave “Haven’t checked” if the location is undecided.
| Standard | Allowable | Proposed | Ref |
|---|
Every reference in that last column is a link into the by-law text itself.
Chapter 694 · Consolidated 3 June 2024 · PDF
A consolidation is the by-law’s text with its later amendments folded in; the date says how current that copy is.
Open the by-law ↗Straight to the sections the numbers above come from:
| What you want | Where it is | |
|---|---|---|
| Wall / fascia area | §694-20, then the district table in §694-21 | open ↗ |
| Ground sign area and height | §694-21, district tables | open ↗ |
| Variance | §694-30; Sign Variance Committee at §§694-32–694-39 | open ↗ |
| Structure | §694-5B(6) — no sign permit until the Chief Building Official’s approval under the Building Code Act is obtained, where applicable | open · p.14 ↗ |
Page jumps are close, not exact — a cover sheet or table of contents can shift a PDF by a page or two. The section number is the reliable part.
Also worth having open:
Permission requested to depart from a by-law requirement. Approval is not guaranteed, and a variance does not replace any other permits or approvals the proposal needs.
General explanation; local definitions and measurement rules control. Check Toronto’s source ↗
Each figure shows when it was last checked and against what. Anything over a year old, or a fee we checked before the most recent January (when most cities raise their fees), is marked out of date and is not shown as current. How we keep it current →
Search quotes, rule labels and citations on file for Toronto across all sign districts. This is not the complete by-law. A match may not apply to your address; check its district and source.
Showing the original excerpts for this check below. Search uses no additional checks.
Each figure above, in the by-law’s own words. Every quote was checked against the published document, and is re-checked whenever the document is re-read; a figure without one is not published.
“B. No sign permit shall be issued until approvals have been obtained, where applicable, from the following: (1) Ontario Ministry of Transportation; (2) Toronto and Region Conservation Authority; (3) City's General Manager, Transportation Services, in accordance with § 694-17 of this chapter; (4) City's Heritage Preservation Services, City Planning; (5) City's Tree Preservation Services, Parks Forestry and Recreation; and (6) The Chief Building Official, pursuant to the Building Code Act, 1992 .”
Structure: §694-5B(6) — no sign permit until the Chief Building Official’s approval under the Building Code Act is obtained, where applicable
“the total sign face area of all wall signs erected on an office building shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the first storey on which the signs are erected”
“The total sign face area for all wall signs erected on a wall shall not exceed 15 percent of the area of the wall at the first storey on which the signs are erected less the sign face area of any electronic wall signs erected on the wall at that storey”
Wall signs may cover up to 15% of first-storey wall area, less any electronic wall sign on that wall. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 6 m² (65 sq ft).
“wall sign - a sign erected on and entirely supported by the wall of a building with a sign face which projects no more than 0.60 metre from the wall”
It can stick out no more than 0.6 m (2 ft) from the wall.
“There shall be no more than one sign erected on each wall of a building to a maximum of two signs”
“The sign shall only be erected on an office building containing 10 or more storeys”
Building: an office building of 10+ storeys
“The sign face area shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the uppermost storey, mechanical penthouse or parapet wall on which the sign is erected”
The upper-storey sign may cover up to 20% of the wall.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.3 square metres for each 1.0 metre or part thereof of frontage at which the sign is erected to a maximum of 15.0 square metres”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 15 m² (161 sq ft), however big the building or lot.
You get 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) of ground sign for every metre (3 ft 3 in) of frontage. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 9 m² (97 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than one such sign erected at each frontage”
One ground sign per frontage.
“The height shall not exceed 7.5 metres”
The ground sign can be no taller than 7.5 m (25 ft).
“The sign shall not be erected within 6.0 metres of the intersection of two street lines”
Keep it at least 6 m (20 ft) from an intersection.
“The sign shall not be erected within 2.0 metres of any property line”
Keep it at least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) back from the property line.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.5 square metres”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.5 m² (5.4 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than two such signs erected at each point of vehicular ingress and egress to the premises”
2 directional signs per vehicular entrance.
“The height shall not exceed 1.5 metres”
The directional sign can be no taller than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
“Where erected at the first storey, the height shall not exceed 1.5 times the vertical distance between grade and the top boundary of the first storey of the building wall upon which the sign is located, and the sign shall not extend above the sill of the lowest window at the second storey of the wall on which the sign is erected”
at the first storey, no taller than 1.5 times the height of that storey (grade to the top of the first storey), and never above the sill of the lowest second-storey window
“The total sign face area of all wall signs erected at the first storey shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the first storey on which the signs are erected”
Wall signs may cover up to 20% of first-storey wall area.
“wall sign - a sign erected on and entirely supported by the wall of a building with a sign face which projects no more than 0.60 metre from the wall”
It can stick out no more than 0.6 m (2 ft) from the wall.
“The total sign face area of all wall signs erected at the second storey shall not exceed 10 percent of the area of the wall at the second storey on which the signs are erected”
At the second storey the allowance is 10% of the wall.
“There shall be no more than one sign erected on each wall of a building to a maximum of two signs”
“The sign shall only be erected on an office building containing 10 or more storeys”
Building: an office building of 10+ storeys
“The sign face area shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the uppermost storey, mechanical penthouse or parapet wall on which the sign is erected”
The upper-storey sign may cover up to 20% of the wall.
“where a frontage exceeds 200 metres, two signs may be erected provided they are separated by a distance of 100 metres”
A second sign is only possible where the frontage is more than 200 m (656 ft), with the two at least 100 m (328 ft) apart.
Where two signs are allowed, they must stand at least 100 m (328 ft) apart.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.3 square metre for each 1.0 metre or part thereof of frontage at which the sign is erected to a maximum of 20.0 square metres”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 20 m² (215 sq ft), however big the building or lot.
You get 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) of ground sign for every metre (3 ft 3 in) of frontage. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 9 m² (97 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than one ground sign or one electronic ground sign per frontage”
One ground sign per frontage.
“3.5 metres when erected at a frontage less than or equal to 20 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“5.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 20 metres but less than or equal to 30 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“6.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 30 metres but less than or equal to 40 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“8.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 40 metres but less than or equal to 60 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“10.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 60 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“The sign shall not be erected within 6.0 metres of the intersection of two street lines”
Keep it at least 6 m (20 ft) from an intersection.
“The sign shall not be erected within 2.0 metres of any property line”
Keep it at least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) back from the property line.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.5 square metre”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.5 m² (5.4 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than two such signs erected at each point of vehicular ingress and egress to the premises”
2 directional signs per vehicular entrance.
“The height shall not exceed 1.5 metres”
The directional sign can be no taller than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
“The sign face area shall not exceed 1.0 square metre”
A projecting sign can be no larger than 1 m² (11 sq ft).
“The sign shall not project more than 1.0 m from the wall on which the sign is erected”
It can stick out no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) from the wall.
“The sign shall not be erected closer than 6.0 metres, measured horizontally from any point on the sign, from another projecting sign on the same premises”
Two of these signs must be at least 6 m (20 ft) apart.
“The sign shall not be erected above the second storey”
not above the second storey, with at least 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) clear from the ground or sidewalk to its lowest point
“There shall be a minimum vertical clearance of 2.5 metres from the ground, sidewalk or walkway to the lowest point of an overhanging structure sign, electronic overhanging structure sign, projecting sign”
not above the second storey, with at least 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) clear from the ground or sidewalk to its lowest point
“Where erected at the first storey, the height shall not exceed 1.5 times the vertical distance between grade and the top boundary of the first storey of the building wall upon which the sign is located, and the sign shall not extend above the sill of the lowest window at the second storey of the wall on which the sign is erected”
at the first storey, no taller than 1.5 times the height of that storey (grade to the top of the first storey), and never above the sill of the lowest second-storey window
“The total sign face area of all wall signs erected at the first storey shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the first storey on which the signs are erected less the sign face area of any electronic wall signs erected on the wall at that storey”
Wall signs may cover up to 20% of first-storey wall area, less any electronic wall sign on that wall.
“wall sign - a sign erected on and entirely supported by the wall of a building with a sign face which projects no more than 0.60 metre from the wall”
It can stick out no more than 0.6 m (2 ft) from the wall.
“The total sign face area of all wall signs erected at the second storey shall not exceed 10 percent of the area of the wall at the second storey on which the signs are erected less the sign face area of any electronic wall signs erected on the wall at that storey”
At the second storey the allowance is 10% of the wall.
“There shall be no more than one sign erected on each wall of a building to a maximum of two signs”
“The sign shall only be erected on an office building containing 10 or more storeys”
Building: an office building of 10+ storeys
“The sign face area shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the uppermost storey, mechanical penthouse or parapet wall on which the sign is erected”
The upper-storey sign may cover up to 20% of the wall.
“where a frontage exceeds 200 metres, two signs may be erected provided they are separated by a distance of 100 metres”
A second sign is only possible where the frontage is more than 200 m (656 ft), with the two at least 100 m (328 ft) apart.
Where two signs are allowed, they must stand at least 100 m (328 ft) apart.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.3 square metre for each 1.0 metre or part thereof of frontage at which the sign is erected to a maximum of 20.0 square metres”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 20 m² (215 sq ft), however big the building or lot.
You get 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) of ground sign for every metre (3 ft 3 in) of frontage. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 9 m² (97 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than one such sign erected at each frontage”
One ground sign per frontage.
“3.5 metres when erected at a frontage less than or equal to 20 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“5.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 20 metres but less than or equal to 30 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“6.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 30 metres but less than or equal to 40 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“8.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 40 metres but less than or equal to 60 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“10.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 60 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“The sign shall not be erected within 6.0 metres of the intersection of two street lines”
Keep it at least 6 m (20 ft) from an intersection.
“The sign shall not be erected within 2.0 metres of any property line”
Keep it at least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) back from the property line.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.5 square metre”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.5 m² (5.4 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than two such signs erected at each point of vehicular ingress and egress to the premises”
2 directional signs per vehicular entrance.
“The height shall not exceed 1.5 metres”
The directional sign can be no taller than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
“The sign face area shall not exceed 1.0 square metre”
A projecting sign can be no larger than 1 m² (11 sq ft).
“The sign shall not project more than 1.0 m from the wall on which the sign is erected”
It can stick out no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) from the wall.
“The sign shall not be erected closer than 6.0 metres, measured horizontally from any point on the sign, from another projecting sign on the same premises”
Two of these signs must be at least 6 m (20 ft) apart.
“The sign shall not be erected above the second storey”
not above the second storey, with at least 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) clear from the ground or sidewalk to its lowest point
“There shall be a minimum vertical clearance of 2.5 metres from the ground, sidewalk or walkway to the lowest point of an overhanging structure sign, electronic overhanging structure sign, projecting sign”
not above the second storey, with at least 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) clear from the ground or sidewalk to its lowest point
“Between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., except where”
Dark 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., subject to the exceptions in §694-18C. 9 p.m. in an R or RA district, or within 30 m (98 ft) of an R premises.
“Between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. where the sign is located in an R sign district”
Dark 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., subject to the exceptions in §694-18C. 9 p.m. in an R or RA district, or within 30 m (98 ft) of an R premises.
“Between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. where the sign is located in an RA sign district”
Dark 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., subject to the exceptions in §694-18C. 9 p.m. in an R or RA district, or within 30 m (98 ft) of an R premises.
“Between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. where the sign is located within 30 metres of a premises in an R sign district”
Dark 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., subject to the exceptions in §694-18C. 9 p.m. in an R or RA district, or within 30 m (98 ft) of an R premises.
“Electronic Fuel Pump Sign, Electronic Ground Sign, Electronic Overhanging Structure Sign, Electronic Projecting Sign, Electronic Roof Sign, Electronic Topiary Sign, Electronic Window Sign or Electronic Wall Sign.”
Electronic wall and ground signs, by district
“The message duration shall not be less than 1.0 minute for a first party sign”
1 minute minimum; an electronic wall or ground sign may not hold a message for more than 3 minutes
“The message duration of any electronic static copy displayed shall not exceed 3.0 minutes”
1 minute minimum; an electronic wall or ground sign may not hold a message for more than 3 minutes
“The sign shall not be erected at a frontage of less than 100 metres”
In a C district: not at a frontage of less than 100 m (328 ft), and only on a commercial plaza of 10 or more units. In an E district: not on a premises with a residential use.
“A Commercial Plaza containing 10 or more units”
In a C district: not at a frontage of less than 100 m (328 ft), and only on a commercial plaza of 10 or more units. In an E district: not on a premises with a residential use.
“The sign may only be erected on a premises which contains no building containing an occupancy which is a residential use”
In a C district: not at a frontage of less than 100 m (328 ft), and only on a commercial plaza of 10 or more units. In an E district: not on a premises with a residential use.
“The sign shall not be erected within 60.0 metres of any R, RA, CR, I or OS sign district”
60 m (197 ft) from any R, RA, CR, I or OS district (quoted for the C district)
“shall be no greater than 25 percent of the average illumination of the immediately preceding electronic static copy”
Illumination may not change more than 25% between successive messages
“The message transition shall not exceed 1.0 second”
1 second, with no motion, dissolve, blink or flash during it
“During the message transition the sign shall not include any other visible effects, including but not limited to motion, dissolving, blinking, intermittent or flashing light”
1 second, with no motion, dissolve, blink or flash during it
“E. Unless otherwise expressly prohibited by this chapter, all signs may be illuminated provided the following requirements are met: (1) The sign shall not be up-lit; (2) The light shall not project onto any adjacent premises located in an R, RA, CR, I, or OS sign district;”
§694-18E opens with “all signs may be illuminated provided the following requirements are met”.
“The illumination shall not increase the light levels within 10.0 metres of all points of the sign face by more than 3.0 lux above the ambient lighting level”
It may add no more than 3 lux of light (roughly, the glow it throws on its surroundings) above normal levels, measured 10 m (33 ft) away.
Light spill is measured 10 m (33 ft) from the sign.
“The illumination shall not exceed 5,000 nits during the period between sunrise and sunset”
A digital or lit sign can be no brighter than 5,000 nits in daylight (a nit is the standard measure of screen brightness).
“The illumination shall not exceed 300 nits during the period between sunset and sunrise”
At night it must dim to no more than 300 nits.
“No first party sign shall be illuminated at any time when a smog alert is in effect”
No first-party sign may be lit while a smog alert is in effect, and all first-party signs must go dark within four hours of the alert being issued (§694-18A–B).
“All first party signs shall cease to be illuminated within four hours of the issuance of the smog alert”
No first-party sign may be lit while a smog alert is in effect, and all first-party signs must go dark within four hours of the alert being issued (§694-18A–B).
“(2) The light shall not project onto any adjacent premises located in an R, RA, CR, I, or OS sign district;”
Light may not project onto adjacent premises in an R, RA, CR, I or OS district — institutional and open space count, so a school or park next door triggers it.
“(1) The sign shall not be up-lit;”
Lighting from below, shining up at the sign, is allowed.
“Appeal to Sign Variance Committee with respect to a First Party Sign variance application $883.00”
20 days to the Sign Variance Committee, $883
“the 20-day appeal period will begin”
20 days to the Sign Variance Committee, $883
“Wall Signs $37.71 per square metre (minimum of $263.87)”
The smallest permit fee is $263.87.
The current first-party permit page lists $37.71/m² with a $263.87 sign-fee minimum for wall, ground, projecting and overhanging structure signs, plus a listed $70.67 building-permit component where applicable. Those minimum components do not equal the general sign page’s stated $334.53 total; that page also retains a $253.72 sign minimum. The enacted fee schedule labels the $37.71 rate per sign, while the application pages say per square metre. Confirm the charging unit, minimum, billable faces, building component and total for the exact work. No confirmed total or fee range is calculated.
The permit costs $37.71 per m² of sign (about $3.50 per sq ft).
“The minimum fee for a Sign Permit is $334.53, which includes a $70.67 fee for the Building Permit”
The smallest permit fee is $334.53.
“Building Permit (DS) $70.67”
The current first-party permit page lists $37.71/m² with a $263.87 sign-fee minimum for wall, ground, projecting and overhanging structure signs, plus a listed $70.67 building-permit component where applicable. Those minimum components do not equal the general sign page’s stated $334.53 total; that page also retains a $253.72 sign minimum. The enacted fee schedule labels the $37.71 rate per sign, while the application pages say per square metre. Confirm the charging unit, minimum, billable faces, building component and total for the exact work. No confirmed total or fee range is calculated.
“Wall Signs $37.71 per square metre (minimum of $253.72)”
The current first-party permit page lists $37.71/m² with a $263.87 sign-fee minimum for wall, ground, projecting and overhanging structure signs, plus a listed $70.67 building-permit component where applicable. Those minimum components do not equal the general sign page’s stated $334.53 total; that page also retains a $253.72 sign minimum. The enacted fee schedule labels the $37.71 rate per sign, while the application pages say per square metre. Confirm the charging unit, minimum, billable faces, building component and total for the exact work. No confirmed total or fee range is calculated.
“The minimum fee for a Sign Permit is $334.53, which includes a $70.67 fee for the Building Permit”
The current first-party permit page lists $37.71/m² with a $263.87 sign-fee minimum for wall, ground, projecting and overhanging structure signs, plus a listed $70.67 building-permit component where applicable. Those minimum components do not equal the general sign page’s stated $334.53 total; that page also retains a $253.72 sign minimum. The enacted fee schedule labels the $37.71 rate per sign, while the application pages say per square metre. Confirm the charging unit, minimum, billable faces, building component and total for the exact work. No confirmed total or fee range is calculated.
“The timeframe to receive the outcome of the review of sign permit applications for the installation of 3 or fewer signs, is 3 days”
Published review-outcome targets: 3 days for three signs or fewer after all required documents; 10 business days for four or more after required documents and fees. Heritage properties have separate conditions; resubmissions have no standard timeline. Confirm the applicable service stream and current target; these are not permit-issuance promises
“reviews sign permit applications for permits to install 4 signs or more”
Published review-outcome targets: 3 days for three signs or fewer after all required documents; 10 business days for four or more after required documents and fees. Heritage properties have separate conditions; resubmissions have no standard timeline. Confirm the applicable service stream and current target; these are not permit-issuance promises
“The standard timeline for a Sign Permit application is 10 business days”
Published review-outcome targets: 3 days for three signs or fewer after all required documents; 10 business days for four or more after required documents and fees. Heritage properties have separate conditions; resubmissions have no standard timeline. Confirm the applicable service stream and current target; these are not permit-issuance promises
“Application for a variance to Chapter 694 with respect to a First-Party Sign $971.16 per application”
Asking for a variance (permission to go beyond the by-law) costs $971.16.
“Application for a variance to Chapter 694 with respect to a Third-Party Sign $2,039.44 per application”
first-party; a third-party sign is $2,039.44
“The Sign Variance process usually takes around three months, from start to finish”
about three months, including the 30-day posting and the appeal period
“You will receive a Notice to post on site for no less than 30 days”
about three months, including the 30-day posting and the appeal period
Why it exists and who it is for
SignAllow exists because of one recurring problem: you need to know what a municipality allows before you can quote a job, and finding out means either reading a by-law you are not trained to read, or paying a consultant and waiting.
Permit consultants do real work and this does not replace them. What it does is answer the part that should not need a phone call — what the by-law says, how big the sign can be, what it costs, what is going to hold the permit up — so that the conversation you eventually have is a shorter and better-informed one.
The obvious way to build this is to return a confident number every time and never mention what you could not read. That is the version that gets someone in trouble. A figure you cannot check is worth less than an honest "we could not read this section" — because the second one tells you where to look, and the first one tells you nothing while sounding like it does.
So the tool is built to say what it does not know, and the methodology page sets out exactly when it is allowed to give you a number at all.
Sign companies quoting work. General contractors and project managers scoping signage. Property managers fielding tenant requests. Business owners who want to know what they can put on their own storefront without having to learn a by-law first. The tool tries to work for all four without assuming any sign knowledge.
The size and count rules are in, so you get a number rather than a reading list.
We hold the reference and the contacts. We would rather say that than guess.
