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 automaticallyChoose an address suggestion for available automatic map checks, or confirm this category manually. Coverage varies by municipality.
Don’t know it? 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 Burlington’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? Consolidated Signs By-law 034-2007 ↗ — consolidated 8 July 2026. An out-of-date copy of it is also still online — we flag which one is current.
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 Burlington’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 Burlington’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 Burlington’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.
By-law 34-2007 · Consolidated 8 July 2026 · PDF, 34 pages
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fascia signs | s.6.2 — total fascia area no more than 0.75 × the linear metres of facade | open · p.15 ↗ |
| Ground signs | s.6.1 — 0.30 × frontage in metres; height 3.6 m (12 ft) to 10.5 m (34 ft) by zone | open · p.13 ↗ |
| Variance | s.9 — variances (who decides is not confirmed from the text we hold) | open · p.29 ↗ |
| Construction | s.7 Building Code loads and CSA electrical; s.8.2.2 engineer’s calculations where the Director requires them | open · p.23 ↗ |
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 Burlington’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 Burlington 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.
“Fascia / Ground 2.5–8 m² $526 Engineer’s drawing required”
The City’s sign permit page lists an engineer’s drawing as required for a fascia or ground sign of 2.5–8 m² (86 sq ft), and says structural review may apply above 8 m² (86 sq ft). The by-law itself leaves an engineer’s stamp to the Director.
Permit fee tiers follow the same boundaries: up to 2.5 m² (27 sq ft), 2.5–8 m² (86 sq ft), and over 8 m² (86 sq ft).
“Fascia / Ground > 8 m² $1047 Structural review may apply”
The City’s sign permit page lists an engineer’s drawing as required for a fascia or ground sign of 2.5–8 m² (86 sq ft), and says structural review may apply above 8 m² (86 sq ft). The by-law itself leaves an engineer’s stamp to the Director.
Permit fee tiers follow the same boundaries: up to 2.5 m² (27 sq ft), 2.5–8 m² (86 sq ft), and over 8 m² (86 sq ft).
“Fascia / Ground ≤ 2.5 m² $377 Apply at least 7 days prior”
Permit fee tiers follow the same boundaries: up to 2.5 m² (27 sq ft), 2.5–8 m² (86 sq ft), and over 8 m² (86 sq ft).
“Most standard sign permit applications are reviewed within 5 to 7 business days. Sign variances may take up to 3 weeks”
The City quotes five to seven business days for a standard application and up to three weeks where a variance is involved.
“6.2.1 The total sign area of all fascia signs on any one facade of a building shall not exceed 0.75 times the linear meters of the facade on which the fascia sign is erected. The maximum area of any individual fascia sign shall not exceed 26 m2 • On a building located 15 m or less from a street any individual fascia sign shall not exceed 13 m2”
The wall sign allowance tops out at 26 m² (280 sq ft), however big the building or lot.
26 m² (280 sq ft) for any individual fascia sign, dropping to 13 m² (140 sq ft) where the building stands 15 m (49 ft) or less from a street. The 0.75 figure is the aggregate for all fascia signs on that facade, not per sign.
You get 0.75 m² (8.1 sq ft) of wall sign for every metre (3 ft 3 in) of the linear metres of the facade the sign sits on. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 7.5 m² (81 sq ft).
“(d) Projection sign. (e) Roof sign.”
s.6.2.8 permits a projecting sign in the Schedule B and D areas “notwithstanding subsection 5.1 (e)”, but s.5.1(e) prohibits roof signs. The prohibition next to it, s.5.1(d), is “Projection sign” — a term the by-law never defines (it defines “projecting sign”). Confirm with the City before quoting a projecting sign.
“6.2.8 Notwithstanding subsection 5.1 (e), within the geographic area shown on the attached Schedule "B" and Schedule “D” "Façade", a projecting sign not exceeding 0.5 m2 in area is permitted”
s.6.2.8 permits a projecting sign in the Schedule B and D areas “notwithstanding subsection 5.1 (e)”, but s.5.1(e) prohibits roof signs. The prohibition next to it, s.5.1(d), is “Projection sign” — a term the by-law never defines (it defines “projecting sign”). Confirm with the City before quoting a projecting sign.
“PROJECTING SIGN means a sign attached to and projecting from the face of a building where the sign face is not parallel to the face of the building to which it is attached.”
s.6.2.8 permits a projecting sign in the Schedule B and D areas “notwithstanding subsection 5.1 (e)”, but s.5.1(e) prohibits roof signs. The prohibition next to it, s.5.1(d), is “Projection sign” — a term the by-law never defines (it defines “projecting sign”). Confirm with the City before quoting a projecting sign.
“No part of any fascia sign shall project more than 610 mm from the face of the wall of a building except in the case of a sign painted on a canopy provided such canopy is located at least 2.45 m above the surface of any sidewalk or pedestrian walkway”
A sign painted on a canopy may project further than 610 mm, provided the canopy is at least 2.45 m (8 ft) above the sidewalk or walkway (s.6.2.3). On a multi-tenant building the 0.75 applies to the linear metres of the tenant units the signs sit on (s.6.2.2). On a building with both commercial and residential uses, a fascia sign may be no more than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade (s.6.2.5). The by-law limits the total area of fascia signs, not their number. An illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone (other than a motor vehicle use) may not be within 15 m (49 ft) of the boundary of a residential zone (s.6.2.3); at a service station abutting a residential use, an illuminated fascia sign visible from it may be no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall (s.6.2.4).
It can stick out no more than 0.61 m (2 ft) from the wall.
“On a multi-tenant building or buildings, the total sign area of all individual fascia signs of the tenants shall not exceed 0.75 times the linear meters of the exterior facade of the tenant units on which the fascia signs are erected.”
A sign painted on a canopy may project further than 610 mm, provided the canopy is at least 2.45 m (8 ft) above the sidewalk or walkway (s.6.2.3). On a multi-tenant building the 0.75 applies to the linear metres of the tenant units the signs sit on (s.6.2.2). On a building with both commercial and residential uses, a fascia sign may be no more than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade (s.6.2.5). The by-law limits the total area of fascia signs, not their number. An illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone (other than a motor vehicle use) may not be within 15 m (49 ft) of the boundary of a residential zone (s.6.2.3); at a service station abutting a residential use, an illuminated fascia sign visible from it may be no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall (s.6.2.4).
“the maximum area of a fascia sign shall be no greater than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade of the building on which it is erected.”
A sign painted on a canopy may project further than 610 mm, provided the canopy is at least 2.45 m (8 ft) above the sidewalk or walkway (s.6.2.3). On a multi-tenant building the 0.75 applies to the linear metres of the tenant units the signs sit on (s.6.2.2). On a building with both commercial and residential uses, a fascia sign may be no more than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade (s.6.2.5). The by-law limits the total area of fascia signs, not their number. An illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone (other than a motor vehicle use) may not be within 15 m (49 ft) of the boundary of a residential zone (s.6.2.3); at a service station abutting a residential use, an illuminated fascia sign visible from it may be no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall (s.6.2.4).
“No illuminated fascia sign located in an employment or commercial zone with the exception of motor vehicle uses, shall be located closer than 15 m to the boundary of a residential zone.”
A sign painted on a canopy may project further than 610 mm, provided the canopy is at least 2.45 m (8 ft) above the sidewalk or walkway (s.6.2.3). On a multi-tenant building the 0.75 applies to the linear metres of the tenant units the signs sit on (s.6.2.2). On a building with both commercial and residential uses, a fascia sign may be no more than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade (s.6.2.5). The by-law limits the total area of fascia signs, not their number. An illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone (other than a motor vehicle use) may not be within 15 m (49 ft) of the boundary of a residential zone (s.6.2.3); at a service station abutting a residential use, an illuminated fascia sign visible from it may be no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall (s.6.2.4).
“On a property used as a motor vehicle service station and abutting a residential use, no illuminated fascia sign visible from the residential use shall have a vertical dimension greater than 1m.”
A sign painted on a canopy may project further than 610 mm, provided the canopy is at least 2.45 m (8 ft) above the sidewalk or walkway (s.6.2.3). On a multi-tenant building the 0.75 applies to the linear metres of the tenant units the signs sit on (s.6.2.2). On a building with both commercial and residential uses, a fascia sign may be no more than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade (s.6.2.5). The by-law limits the total area of fascia signs, not their number. An illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone (other than a motor vehicle use) may not be within 15 m (49 ft) of the boundary of a residential zone (s.6.2.3); at a service station abutting a residential use, an illuminated fascia sign visible from it may be no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall (s.6.2.4).
“No ground sign shall have any single face greater than 28 m2 in area, and a total sign area greater than 56 m2”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 28 m² (301 sq ft), however big the building or lot.
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“No more than two ground signs shall be located on any property and shall be located no closer than 45 m to each other.”
2 ground signs per property.
Two ground signs per property maximum, and they must stand 45 m (148 ft) apart (s.6.1.6). Multiple frontages add area: 0.30 × the longest, plus 0.20 × each of the others.
Two of these signs must be at least 45 m (148 ft) apart.
“The maximum ground sign area on a property shall be not more than 0.30 times the linear meters of frontage of the property. Where a property has frontage on more than one street, the maximum ground sign area shall be not more than 0.30 times the linear metres of frontage on the longest frontage plus 0.20 times the linear metres of frontage on all other frontages of the property”
Two ground signs per property maximum, and they must stand 45 m (148 ft) apart (s.6.1.6). Multiple frontages add area: 0.30 × the longest, plus 0.20 × each of the others.
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).
“Where a property is used as a shopping centre or plaza and does not have any frontage on a public street or has frontage that is less than 15 percent of the total length of the perimeter of the property”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“then 15 percent of the total length of the perimeter of the property may be deemed to be its frontage for the purpose of calculating the maximum ground sign area, which shall be 0.30 times 15 per cent of the total length of the perimeter of the property.”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“which shall not exceed 0.30 times 10 percent of the total length of the perimeter of the property or 7.2 m2 of ground sign area for each hectare of lot area to a maximum of 56 m2”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“the maximum ground sign area shall not be more than 20% of the maximum ground sign area entitlement as otherwise calculated in this By-law. This does not apply to a Home Based Business, or Cottage Home Industry.”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“2.7 times the 1.5 m 1.2 times the 3.6m 15 m 4.5m height setback (metres) (metres) of from the closest the ground street to a sign maximum height of 10.5 m”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
commercial zone: 1.2 × the sign’s setback from the closest street, up to 10.5 m (34 ft) · employment zone: 3.6 m (12 ft) · a motor vehicle use in a commercial zone next to a residential zone: 5.5 m (18 ft)
Keep it at least 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) back from the property line.
“a ground sign on a property shall be setback 0.5 m from a property line and shall not exceed 2 m in height and 1.5 m2 in sign area.”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“the height of a ground sign, located on a motor vehicle use in a commercial zone and adjacent to a residential zone, shall not exceed 5.5 m.”
commercial zone: 1.2 × the sign’s setback from the closest street, up to 10.5 m (34 ft) · employment zone: 3.6 m (12 ft) · a motor vehicle use in a commercial zone next to a residential zone: 5.5 m (18 ft)
“Every illuminated sign adjacent to and visible from a residential zone shall have its illumination extinguished by 2300 hours each day, and shall not be re-illuminated before 0700 hours of the following day. This section shall not apply to illuminated signs designating essential services.”
Every illuminated sign adjacent to and visible from a residential zone must be off from 2300 to 0700 hours, with no distance qualifier; signs designating essential services are exempt. In the Schedule B and D areas every fascia sign goes dark from 2300 to 0700 hours regardless of any residential trigger.
“no fascia sign shall be illuminated between 2300 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the following day.”
Every illuminated sign adjacent to and visible from a residential zone must be off from 2300 to 0700 hours, with no distance qualifier; signs designating essential services are exempt. In the Schedule B and D areas every fascia sign goes dark from 2300 to 0700 hours regardless of any residential trigger.
“4) ANIMATED SIGN means a video screen that electronically displays or projects visual images including, but not limited to, video, trailers, digital or computer images and does not include a read-o-graph.”
A video screen IS an animated sign and is prohibited (s.3.4, s.5.1(b))
A read-o-graph, which the by-law defines to include an electronically controlled message centre and expressly excludes from “animated sign”
“5.1 Any sign not expressly permitted by this By-law is prohibited and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following signs are specifically prohibited: (a) Abandoned sign. (b) Flashing or animated sign.”
A video screen IS an animated sign and is prohibited (s.3.4, s.5.1(b))
No general grant. The by-law says any sign not expressly permitted is prohibited (s.5.1), then restricts illumination in particular areas; it has no definition of “illuminated sign”.
“42) READ-0-GRAPH means any part of a sign which is designed so that any identification or advertisement is readily interchangeable by manual or electronic means and includes an electronically controlled message centre.”
A read-o-graph, which the by-law defines to include an electronically controlled message centre and expressly excludes from “animated sign”
The read-o-graph route is a gap in an older by-law rather than a permission: no dwell time, no area cap, no zone schedule and no residential separation. That means staff discretion does the work and you cannot point to a compliance standard.
“A billboard sign may be illuminated but shall not be otherwise electrically animated, have any moving parts or automated message changes.”
A billboard may be illuminated but may not be electrically animated, have moving parts or automated message changes. Static digital billboards are permitted only on the lands named in section 6.8.
“the following signageshall be permitted on the lands identified in 6.8.1 and 6.8.2; i. one static digital billboard”
A billboard may be illuminated but may not be electrically animated, have moving parts or automated message changes. Static digital billboards are permitted only on the lands named in section 6.8.
“6.2.6 Within the geographic area shown on the attached Schedule "B" and Schedule “D” of this By-law, a fascia sign shall only be illuminated by external illuminations, except where the fascia sign consists of individual letters, numbers, or symbols.”
In Schedules B and D a fascia sign may only be externally illuminated, unless it consists of individual letters, numbers or symbols. Internally lit box and cabinet fascia signs are effectively banned in Downtown and Aldershot — channel letters are the route through.
Confirm the Schedule B and D boundaries before quoting Burlington. They decide both the illumination method and the curfew, and we could not extract their extents.
“No illuminated fascia sign located in an employment or commercial zone with the exception of motor vehicle uses, shall be located closer than 15 m to the boundary of a residential zone.”
No illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone may sit closer than 15 m (49 ft) to a residential boundary, motor vehicle uses excepted.
“6.2.7 Within the geographic area shown on the attached Schedule 11B " and Schedule “ D” of this By-law, no fascia sign shall be illuminated between 2300 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the following day.”
Confirm the Schedule B and D boundaries before quoting Burlington. They decide both the illumination method and the curfew, and we could not extract their extents.
“Most standard sign permit applications are reviewed within 5 to 7 business days. Sign variances may take up to 3 weeks”
5 to 7 business days; up to three weeks where a variance is involved
“Fascia / Ground ≤ 2.5 m² $377 Apply at least 7 days prior”
“Fascia / Ground 2.5–8 m² $526 Engineer’s drawing required”
“Fascia / Ground > 8 m² $1047 Structural review may apply”
“SIGN VARIANCE - Base Fee $1,420.00 3.0% $1,465.00 NO SIGN VARIANCE - Variable Fee $1,125.00 3.0% $1,160.00”
Asking for a variance (permission to go beyond the by-law) costs $1,465.
base fee; the 2026 schedule also lists a $1,160 variable fee without saying when it applies
“2025 Base Rate 2026 Base Increase 2026 Base Rate”
Asking for a variance (permission to go beyond the by-law) costs $1,465.
base fee; the 2026 schedule also lists a $1,160 variable fee without saying when it applies
Consolidated Signs By-law 034-2007, consolidated 8 July 2026. What the published by-law allows, how big, whether a sign can be lit, what it costs, and which copy of the by-law to trust.
What we hold: we calculate the size and count limits, so a check here gives you a number · lighting and digital rules read in full · fees and timelines from the published schedule · engineering trigger confirmed.
Two questions, no dimensions needed. You get the maximum for your sign type, the lighting rules, the fee and the sections it all came from.
Start a check →| Sign type | Here | Most you’d get | The rule | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
On the building Fascia, wall sign, channel letters | Permitted | up to 26.0 m² 280 sq ft at most | 0.75 m² (8.1 sq ft) per linear metre of the linear metres of the facade the sign sits on, capped at 26.0 m² (280 sq ft). | |
Freestanding Pylon or monument out front | Permitted | up to 28.0 m² 301 sq ft at most | 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) per metre of frontage, capped at 28.0 m² (301 sq ft) · height: commercial zone: 1.2 × the sign’s setback from the closest street, up to 10.5 m (34 ft) · employment zone: 3.6 m (12 ft) · a motor vehicle use in a commercial zone next to a residential zone: 5.5 m (18 ft) · 2 per property. | |
Projecting Blade sign off the wall | Not calculated | We have not calculated this for this district. | ||
Small directional Entrance or drive-aisle sign | Rule on file | Usually falls under the ground sign rules unless the by-law carves out directional signs — s.6.1 — 0.30 × frontage in metres; height 3.6 m (12 ft) to 10.5 m (34 ft) by zone read it · p.13 ↗ | ||
New face, same frame Replacing the face of a sign already there | Unresolved | A face replacement may be a copy change, maintenance or an alteration under the applicable by-law. Confirm the existing sign’s lawful status and whether changes to its face, structure, area or illumination require a permit. A permit exemption does not establish permission to install. | ||
Window signs & graphics Lettering, decals and signs behind glass | Review needed | Window-sign calculations are not yet verified for this municipality and category. Confirm classification, coverage, placement and permit requirements with the municipality. | ||
Temporary promotional Banners, mobile signs and short-term promotions | Review guidance only | Review guidance only. No size limit, fee, exemption or permitted display period has been validated for this category. Confirm the exact sign format, location, display period and any renewal or repeat-display limits. Temporary use does not itself establish a permit exemption. | ||
Construction & development Development marketing, builder signs and hoarding | Review guidance only | Review guidance only. No size limit, fee, exemption or permitted display period has been validated for this category. Confirm whether this is development advertising, builder identification, hoarding graphics or a required notice. Provide the project stage, proposed copy and location; these purposes may follow different requirements. | ||
Real estate For sale, for lease and open-house signs | Review guidance only | Review guidance only. No size limit, fee, exemption or permitted display period has been validated for this category. Confirm the property use, whether the sign is at the listed property or off-site, and the applicable removal deadline. New-development marketing may be classified separately from an ordinary sale or lease sign. | ||
Event signage Commercial, community and private events | Review guidance only | Review guidance only. No size limit, fee, exemption or permitted display period has been validated for this category. Confirm the organizer, commercial content, sign format, location and display dates. Community events, private celebrations and election signs may follow separate rules; an event permit does not establish permission for every sign. |
“Up to” means we have the rule but not your dimensions — start a check and enter them to get your actual numbers. “Rule on file” means we have read the section and can take you to it, but have not turned it into a calculation — so no number, on purpose.
Permitted — with a hard clock curfew. No general grant. The by-law says any sign not expressly permitted is prohibited (s.5.1), then restricts illumination in particular areas; it has no definition of “illuminated sign”.
| Brightness | No numeric limit in this by-law No cap means no safe harbour either — the City can still object to a sign as a nuisance. |
| Hours it must be off or dimmed | Every illuminated sign adjacent to and visible from a residential zone must be off from 2300 to 0700 hours, with no distance qualifier; signs designating essential services are exempt. In the Schedule B and D areas every fascia sign goes dark from 2300 to 0700 hours regardless of any residential trigger. s.5.6, s.6.2.7 |
| Up-lighting | Not addressed The by-law says nothing about the direction of light. Not the same as permission. |
| Near housing | No illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone may sit closer than 15 m (49 ft) to a residential boundary, motor vehicle uses excepted. s.6.2.3 |
In Schedules B and D a fascia sign may only be externally illuminated, unless it consists of individual letters, numbers or symbols. Internally lit box and cabinet fascia signs are effectively banned in Downtown and Aldershot — channel letters are the route through.
You said this one has no digital or changing message, so we have left those rules out. If that changes, they are in s.3.4, s.3.42, s.5.1(b).
Read it yourself: s.5.6, s.6.2.3, s.6.2.6–6.2.8 of Consolidated Signs By-law 034-2007 ↗
Tiered by sign area — $377 up to 2.5 m² (27 sq ft), $526 to 8 m² (86 sq ft), $1,047 above that.
Burlington publishes 5 to 7 business days; up to three weeks where a variance is involved.
Base fee; the 2026 schedule also lists a $1,160 variable fee without saying when it applies.
The entered details do not establish whether professional design or construction review is required. The 2024 Ontario Building Code Compendium, Division C, Articles 1.2.1.2.(6)–(7) and 1.2.2.1.(8)–(9), distinguishes design from construction review and permits an architect, professional engineer or both for these sign provisions. Confirm the applicable Code edition, sign classification, each face area, total weight, height and mounting with the municipal building-permit office. Being below a listed threshold does not clear other structural or local requirements. Local source note (confirm applicability): The City’s sign permit page lists an engineer’s drawing as required for a fascia or ground sign of 2.5–8 m² (86 sq ft), and says structural review may apply above 8 m² (86 sq ft). The by-law itself leaves an engineer’s stamp to the Director. Official Code source: https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/store/20170501121/Free_Download_Files/301880.pdf
By-law 34-2007 · Consolidated 8 July 2026 · PDF, 34 pages
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fascia signs | s.6.2 — total fascia area no more than 0.75 × the linear metres of facade | open · p.15 ↗ |
| Ground signs | s.6.1 — 0.30 × frontage in metres; height 3.6 m (12 ft) to 10.5 m (34 ft) by zone | open · p.13 ↗ |
| Variance | s.9 — variances (who decides is not confirmed from the text we hold) | open · p.29 ↗ |
| Construction | s.7 Building Code loads and CSA electrical; s.8.2.2 engineer’s calculations where the Director requires them | open · p.23 ↗ |
Also worth having open:
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.
“Fascia / Ground 2.5–8 m² $526 Engineer’s drawing required”
The City’s sign permit page lists an engineer’s drawing as required for a fascia or ground sign of 2.5–8 m² (86 sq ft), and says structural review may apply above 8 m² (86 sq ft). The by-law itself leaves an engineer’s stamp to the Director.
Permit fee tiers follow the same boundaries: up to 2.5 m² (27 sq ft), 2.5–8 m² (86 sq ft), and over 8 m² (86 sq ft).
“Fascia / Ground > 8 m² $1047 Structural review may apply”
The City’s sign permit page lists an engineer’s drawing as required for a fascia or ground sign of 2.5–8 m² (86 sq ft), and says structural review may apply above 8 m² (86 sq ft). The by-law itself leaves an engineer’s stamp to the Director.
Permit fee tiers follow the same boundaries: up to 2.5 m² (27 sq ft), 2.5–8 m² (86 sq ft), and over 8 m² (86 sq ft).
“Fascia / Ground ≤ 2.5 m² $377 Apply at least 7 days prior”
Permit fee tiers follow the same boundaries: up to 2.5 m² (27 sq ft), 2.5–8 m² (86 sq ft), and over 8 m² (86 sq ft).
“Most standard sign permit applications are reviewed within 5 to 7 business days. Sign variances may take up to 3 weeks”
The City quotes five to seven business days for a standard application and up to three weeks where a variance is involved.
“6.2.1 The total sign area of all fascia signs on any one facade of a building shall not exceed 0.75 times the linear meters of the facade on which the fascia sign is erected. The maximum area of any individual fascia sign shall not exceed 26 m2 • On a building located 15 m or less from a street any individual fascia sign shall not exceed 13 m2”
The wall sign allowance tops out at 26 m² (280 sq ft), however big the building or lot.
26 m² (280 sq ft) for any individual fascia sign, dropping to 13 m² (140 sq ft) where the building stands 15 m (49 ft) or less from a street. The 0.75 figure is the aggregate for all fascia signs on that facade, not per sign.
You get 0.75 m² (8.1 sq ft) of wall sign for every metre (3 ft 3 in) of the linear metres of the facade the sign sits on. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 7.5 m² (81 sq ft).
“(d) Projection sign. (e) Roof sign.”
s.6.2.8 permits a projecting sign in the Schedule B and D areas “notwithstanding subsection 5.1 (e)”, but s.5.1(e) prohibits roof signs. The prohibition next to it, s.5.1(d), is “Projection sign” — a term the by-law never defines (it defines “projecting sign”). Confirm with the City before quoting a projecting sign.
“6.2.8 Notwithstanding subsection 5.1 (e), within the geographic area shown on the attached Schedule "B" and Schedule “D” "Façade", a projecting sign not exceeding 0.5 m2 in area is permitted”
s.6.2.8 permits a projecting sign in the Schedule B and D areas “notwithstanding subsection 5.1 (e)”, but s.5.1(e) prohibits roof signs. The prohibition next to it, s.5.1(d), is “Projection sign” — a term the by-law never defines (it defines “projecting sign”). Confirm with the City before quoting a projecting sign.
“PROJECTING SIGN means a sign attached to and projecting from the face of a building where the sign face is not parallel to the face of the building to which it is attached.”
s.6.2.8 permits a projecting sign in the Schedule B and D areas “notwithstanding subsection 5.1 (e)”, but s.5.1(e) prohibits roof signs. The prohibition next to it, s.5.1(d), is “Projection sign” — a term the by-law never defines (it defines “projecting sign”). Confirm with the City before quoting a projecting sign.
“No part of any fascia sign shall project more than 610 mm from the face of the wall of a building except in the case of a sign painted on a canopy provided such canopy is located at least 2.45 m above the surface of any sidewalk or pedestrian walkway”
A sign painted on a canopy may project further than 610 mm, provided the canopy is at least 2.45 m (8 ft) above the sidewalk or walkway (s.6.2.3). On a multi-tenant building the 0.75 applies to the linear metres of the tenant units the signs sit on (s.6.2.2). On a building with both commercial and residential uses, a fascia sign may be no more than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade (s.6.2.5). The by-law limits the total area of fascia signs, not their number. An illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone (other than a motor vehicle use) may not be within 15 m (49 ft) of the boundary of a residential zone (s.6.2.3); at a service station abutting a residential use, an illuminated fascia sign visible from it may be no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall (s.6.2.4).
It can stick out no more than 0.61 m (2 ft) from the wall.
“On a multi-tenant building or buildings, the total sign area of all individual fascia signs of the tenants shall not exceed 0.75 times the linear meters of the exterior facade of the tenant units on which the fascia signs are erected.”
A sign painted on a canopy may project further than 610 mm, provided the canopy is at least 2.45 m (8 ft) above the sidewalk or walkway (s.6.2.3). On a multi-tenant building the 0.75 applies to the linear metres of the tenant units the signs sit on (s.6.2.2). On a building with both commercial and residential uses, a fascia sign may be no more than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade (s.6.2.5). The by-law limits the total area of fascia signs, not their number. An illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone (other than a motor vehicle use) may not be within 15 m (49 ft) of the boundary of a residential zone (s.6.2.3); at a service station abutting a residential use, an illuminated fascia sign visible from it may be no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall (s.6.2.4).
“the maximum area of a fascia sign shall be no greater than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade of the building on which it is erected.”
A sign painted on a canopy may project further than 610 mm, provided the canopy is at least 2.45 m (8 ft) above the sidewalk or walkway (s.6.2.3). On a multi-tenant building the 0.75 applies to the linear metres of the tenant units the signs sit on (s.6.2.2). On a building with both commercial and residential uses, a fascia sign may be no more than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade (s.6.2.5). The by-law limits the total area of fascia signs, not their number. An illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone (other than a motor vehicle use) may not be within 15 m (49 ft) of the boundary of a residential zone (s.6.2.3); at a service station abutting a residential use, an illuminated fascia sign visible from it may be no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall (s.6.2.4).
“No illuminated fascia sign located in an employment or commercial zone with the exception of motor vehicle uses, shall be located closer than 15 m to the boundary of a residential zone.”
A sign painted on a canopy may project further than 610 mm, provided the canopy is at least 2.45 m (8 ft) above the sidewalk or walkway (s.6.2.3). On a multi-tenant building the 0.75 applies to the linear metres of the tenant units the signs sit on (s.6.2.2). On a building with both commercial and residential uses, a fascia sign may be no more than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade (s.6.2.5). The by-law limits the total area of fascia signs, not their number. An illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone (other than a motor vehicle use) may not be within 15 m (49 ft) of the boundary of a residential zone (s.6.2.3); at a service station abutting a residential use, an illuminated fascia sign visible from it may be no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall (s.6.2.4).
“On a property used as a motor vehicle service station and abutting a residential use, no illuminated fascia sign visible from the residential use shall have a vertical dimension greater than 1m.”
A sign painted on a canopy may project further than 610 mm, provided the canopy is at least 2.45 m (8 ft) above the sidewalk or walkway (s.6.2.3). On a multi-tenant building the 0.75 applies to the linear metres of the tenant units the signs sit on (s.6.2.2). On a building with both commercial and residential uses, a fascia sign may be no more than 15 percent of the commercial portion of the facade (s.6.2.5). The by-law limits the total area of fascia signs, not their number. An illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone (other than a motor vehicle use) may not be within 15 m (49 ft) of the boundary of a residential zone (s.6.2.3); at a service station abutting a residential use, an illuminated fascia sign visible from it may be no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall (s.6.2.4).
“No ground sign shall have any single face greater than 28 m2 in area, and a total sign area greater than 56 m2”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 28 m² (301 sq ft), however big the building or lot.
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“No more than two ground signs shall be located on any property and shall be located no closer than 45 m to each other.”
2 ground signs per property.
Two ground signs per property maximum, and they must stand 45 m (148 ft) apart (s.6.1.6). Multiple frontages add area: 0.30 × the longest, plus 0.20 × each of the others.
Two of these signs must be at least 45 m (148 ft) apart.
“The maximum ground sign area on a property shall be not more than 0.30 times the linear meters of frontage of the property. Where a property has frontage on more than one street, the maximum ground sign area shall be not more than 0.30 times the linear metres of frontage on the longest frontage plus 0.20 times the linear metres of frontage on all other frontages of the property”
Two ground signs per property maximum, and they must stand 45 m (148 ft) apart (s.6.1.6). Multiple frontages add area: 0.30 × the longest, plus 0.20 × each of the others.
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).
“Where a property is used as a shopping centre or plaza and does not have any frontage on a public street or has frontage that is less than 15 percent of the total length of the perimeter of the property”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“then 15 percent of the total length of the perimeter of the property may be deemed to be its frontage for the purpose of calculating the maximum ground sign area, which shall be 0.30 times 15 per cent of the total length of the perimeter of the property.”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“which shall not exceed 0.30 times 10 percent of the total length of the perimeter of the property or 7.2 m2 of ground sign area for each hectare of lot area to a maximum of 56 m2”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“the maximum ground sign area shall not be more than 20% of the maximum ground sign area entitlement as otherwise calculated in this By-law. This does not apply to a Home Based Business, or Cottage Home Industry.”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“2.7 times the 1.5 m 1.2 times the 3.6m 15 m 4.5m height setback (metres) (metres) of from the closest the ground street to a sign maximum height of 10.5 m”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
commercial zone: 1.2 × the sign’s setback from the closest street, up to 10.5 m (34 ft) · employment zone: 3.6 m (12 ft) · a motor vehicle use in a commercial zone next to a residential zone: 5.5 m (18 ft)
Keep it at least 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) back from the property line.
“a ground sign on a property shall be setback 0.5 m from a property line and shall not exceed 2 m in height and 1.5 m2 in sign area.”
A plaza or shopping centre with no frontage, or frontage under 15% of its perimeter, may deem 15% of the perimeter to be the frontage (s.6.1.1(a)). Any other use in that position gets 0.30 times 10% of the perimeter, or 7.2 m² (78 sq ft) of ground sign area per hectare, to a maximum of 56 m² (s.6.1.1(b)). A commercial or office use, school, church or hospital on residentially-zoned land gets 20% of whatever it would otherwise be entitled to; this does not apply to a home-based business or cottage home industry (s.6.1.3). No single face may exceed 28 m² (301 sq ft) and no sign may total more than 56 m² (s.6.1.4). Each face is also limited to 2.7 m² (29 sq ft) per metre of the sign’s height (s.6.1.7). In the Downtown and Aldershot areas on Schedules B and D the numbers collapse to 1.5 m² (16 sq ft), 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) back (s.6.1.11).
“the height of a ground sign, located on a motor vehicle use in a commercial zone and adjacent to a residential zone, shall not exceed 5.5 m.”
commercial zone: 1.2 × the sign’s setback from the closest street, up to 10.5 m (34 ft) · employment zone: 3.6 m (12 ft) · a motor vehicle use in a commercial zone next to a residential zone: 5.5 m (18 ft)
“Every illuminated sign adjacent to and visible from a residential zone shall have its illumination extinguished by 2300 hours each day, and shall not be re-illuminated before 0700 hours of the following day. This section shall not apply to illuminated signs designating essential services.”
Every illuminated sign adjacent to and visible from a residential zone must be off from 2300 to 0700 hours, with no distance qualifier; signs designating essential services are exempt. In the Schedule B and D areas every fascia sign goes dark from 2300 to 0700 hours regardless of any residential trigger.
“no fascia sign shall be illuminated between 2300 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the following day.”
Every illuminated sign adjacent to and visible from a residential zone must be off from 2300 to 0700 hours, with no distance qualifier; signs designating essential services are exempt. In the Schedule B and D areas every fascia sign goes dark from 2300 to 0700 hours regardless of any residential trigger.
“4) ANIMATED SIGN means a video screen that electronically displays or projects visual images including, but not limited to, video, trailers, digital or computer images and does not include a read-o-graph.”
A video screen IS an animated sign and is prohibited (s.3.4, s.5.1(b))
A read-o-graph, which the by-law defines to include an electronically controlled message centre and expressly excludes from “animated sign”
“5.1 Any sign not expressly permitted by this By-law is prohibited and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following signs are specifically prohibited: (a) Abandoned sign. (b) Flashing or animated sign.”
A video screen IS an animated sign and is prohibited (s.3.4, s.5.1(b))
No general grant. The by-law says any sign not expressly permitted is prohibited (s.5.1), then restricts illumination in particular areas; it has no definition of “illuminated sign”.
“42) READ-0-GRAPH means any part of a sign which is designed so that any identification or advertisement is readily interchangeable by manual or electronic means and includes an electronically controlled message centre.”
A read-o-graph, which the by-law defines to include an electronically controlled message centre and expressly excludes from “animated sign”
The read-o-graph route is a gap in an older by-law rather than a permission: no dwell time, no area cap, no zone schedule and no residential separation. That means staff discretion does the work and you cannot point to a compliance standard.
“A billboard sign may be illuminated but shall not be otherwise electrically animated, have any moving parts or automated message changes.”
A billboard may be illuminated but may not be electrically animated, have moving parts or automated message changes. Static digital billboards are permitted only on the lands named in section 6.8.
“the following signageshall be permitted on the lands identified in 6.8.1 and 6.8.2; i. one static digital billboard”
A billboard may be illuminated but may not be electrically animated, have moving parts or automated message changes. Static digital billboards are permitted only on the lands named in section 6.8.
“6.2.6 Within the geographic area shown on the attached Schedule "B" and Schedule “D” of this By-law, a fascia sign shall only be illuminated by external illuminations, except where the fascia sign consists of individual letters, numbers, or symbols.”
In Schedules B and D a fascia sign may only be externally illuminated, unless it consists of individual letters, numbers or symbols. Internally lit box and cabinet fascia signs are effectively banned in Downtown and Aldershot — channel letters are the route through.
Confirm the Schedule B and D boundaries before quoting Burlington. They decide both the illumination method and the curfew, and we could not extract their extents.
“No illuminated fascia sign located in an employment or commercial zone with the exception of motor vehicle uses, shall be located closer than 15 m to the boundary of a residential zone.”
No illuminated fascia sign in an employment or commercial zone may sit closer than 15 m (49 ft) to a residential boundary, motor vehicle uses excepted.
“6.2.7 Within the geographic area shown on the attached Schedule 11B " and Schedule “ D” of this By-law, no fascia sign shall be illuminated between 2300 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the following day.”
Confirm the Schedule B and D boundaries before quoting Burlington. They decide both the illumination method and the curfew, and we could not extract their extents.
“Most standard sign permit applications are reviewed within 5 to 7 business days. Sign variances may take up to 3 weeks”
5 to 7 business days; up to three weeks where a variance is involved
“Fascia / Ground ≤ 2.5 m² $377 Apply at least 7 days prior”
“Fascia / Ground 2.5–8 m² $526 Engineer’s drawing required”
“Fascia / Ground > 8 m² $1047 Structural review may apply”
“SIGN VARIANCE - Base Fee $1,420.00 3.0% $1,465.00 NO SIGN VARIANCE - Variable Fee $1,125.00 3.0% $1,160.00”
Asking for a variance (permission to go beyond the by-law) costs $1,465.
base fee; the 2026 schedule also lists a $1,160 variable fee without saying when it applies
“2025 Base Rate 2026 Base Increase 2026 Base Rate”
Asking for a variance (permission to go beyond the by-law) costs $1,465.
base fee; the 2026 schedule also lists a $1,160 variable fee without saying when it applies
What we collect, why, and who handles it
The check itself runs in your browser. The address you type, the measurements you enter, the answers you give the checklist, the result and the report are worked out on your own device. Address lookup and picked coordinates are processed as described below. Local checks stay on your device unless you explicitly choose Save to my account. That optional action sends the saved project name, address, measurements and selected answers to SignAllow, together with a dated result summary and the full research and customer-summary PDFs. These reports include the government map findings and source dates shown at the time of saving. Local history is never uploaded automatically.
While you fill in a check before submission, the tool automatically keeps one unfinished draft in this browser. It contains your address, municipality, sign type, form inputs and measurements, manual review choices, form step, last-edit time and, if you selected an address suggestion, its coordinates. Automatic map findings, calculated reports, account identifiers and payment details are not saved in the draft. Purpose: restore unfinished work without signing in or using a check. Drafts are not uploaded to your account or synchronized to other devices. Anyone using this browser profile can see the restored draft.
A draft expires 7 days after its last edit and is removed when the tool is next opened. Start fresh, a successful check, or clearing this site’s browser data removes it earlier. Opening a different check and editing it replaces the unfinished draft; existing saved projects and past checks are not deleted. Other tabs cannot silently overwrite a changed draft. Storage restrictions or private browsing may prevent saving or retaining it, and the tool shows a message when a save fails. On restoration, saved coordinates refresh the existing same-origin government map lookups described below; only the point is forwarded to those map servers. Old automatic findings are not treated as current.
Some things do leave your browser. This notice says exactly which, why, who handles them and for how long. It describes what the site does today.
To avoid charging again for a property refinement, your browser sends SignAllow a one-way fingerprint of the normalised address and municipality, plus a signed allowance when returning. The meter does not receive the raw address or measurements. A fingerprint may still be linkable to an address; we do not treat it as anonymous. The signed allowance contains that fingerprint, the municipality, issue and expiry times, and an opaque account or browser identifier. It is used only to validate the 90-day revision period, not for advertising or analytics, and is not sent to map providers.
Visitors receive an essential, secure browser-identification cookie lasting up to 90 days; each new visitor check can renew the cookie, but never extends an existing allowance. Browser storage keeps up to 100 recent allowances until removed or replaced. Clearing past checks removes those local allowances; clearing cookies removes visitor access to them. When you explicitly save a project, its allowance is stored with the inputs in our existing Cloudflare database and bound to your account, with the same expiry. People authorised to open the project can use it under that account. It remains with the project until updated or deleted; it is excluded from customer reports, share links and personal project-detail exports.
When you choose Notes & next steps and save, we store the current notes text (up to 4,000 characters), next step (up to 500 characters), completion status, last editor’s membership email, save date, revision and accepted Privacy Notice version in our existing Cloudflare database. These are internal working notes to help you and selected project collaborators coordinate work. Anyone currently allowed to edit the project can read and update them; removing shared access also removes access to notes. They do not change the by-law assessment and are not included in report PDFs, web reports, shared check links or private project duplicates. Saving replaces the current notes; we do not keep a notes revision history. Clear text and save to remove it. The latest save date, editor email and revision remain with the project until its creator deletes the project or asks us to delete it. Project deletion removes these notes and metadata too. Existing database backups may retain deleted data temporarily as described below.
When you choose Give feedback and send the form, we store the category, message (up to 4,000 characters), optional reply email, a random submission reference, submission date and accepted Privacy Notice version in our existing Cloudflare review queue. If you tick Include basic diagnostics, we also store the page category, screen-size group and site build shown in the form. We do not attach the URL, address, project, report, account identity or browsing history. We use this to investigate problems and plan improvements, and may use your supplied email to respond about your message. No marketing subscription is created. Feedback is deleted after 12 months when the next feedback submission triggers cleanup; you may request earlier deletion from the Privacy Officer. Existing provider backups may retain deleted records temporarily. A separate keyed connection counter limits submissions for one hour; the connection address is not stored with feedback.
You may optionally save an internal job number of up to 64 characters with a project, alongside its existing name. It follows the project’s existing access, sharing and deletion rules. It is used for account display and search and included in your personal project-details export. It is excluded from customer PDFs, web reports and shared check links. Editing names or job numbers changes current project metadata without replacing earlier report versions.
If you have an active membership, you can explicitly save up to 200 projects to your account. We store the project name, check inputs (including address, municipality, sign type, dimensions and selected checklist answers), creation and update dates, the Privacy Notice version confirmed when saving, and an account-linked identifier in our existing Cloudflare database. Each new save can also retain a dated result summary, report reference, software and rules versions, and both generated PDFs in the same database, including map findings and source dates contained in the reports. Up to 20 dated versions are retained per project, with no automatic removal of older versions. This lets you reopen inputs or view and download the original saved reports on another device after signing in. New projects are private to the person who saved them, including individual teammates. On an active Pro account, the creator can explicitly share a project and all its dated versions with selected current teammates. Those selected can view and edit inputs, save new versions, download reports and make private duplicates. Only the creator can manage sharing or delete the project and its versions. We store the sharing selection and update date, creator and selected teammate email addresses, and the email address of the person saving each new report version. Selected collaborators can see the creator and saver email addresses. The sharing chooser lists existing team email addresses so a creator can select the intended people; it does not add people to the billing account.
We retain saved projects and dated versions until the creator deletes them or asks us to delete them. Sharing selections remain until the creator changes them, deletes the project, or a relevant teammate is removed. Removing a teammate revokes their shared access, and removes sharing on projects they created; re-adding the person does not restore those grants. Shared access is paused without an active Pro plan. Removing access cannot recall reports already downloaded or private duplicates already created. The creator can delete an individual dated version, or delete a project and all its versions. Cancelling a membership does not automatically delete projects: the account holder can still sign in to open, download or delete them, but an active membership is required to save changes. A removed teammate loses access; contact the Privacy Officer for access or deletion assistance. Deleting a project removes it and all its dated versions from the active database; provider recovery copies may remain under Cloudflare’s backup retention. Clearing browser history does not delete account-saved projects.
When you choose System, Light or Dark while signed in, we store that choice, an account-linked identifier, a revision number and the latest save time in our existing Cloudflare database. Each teammate has a separate preference. It is used only to apply your theme across signed-in devices; it is not a marketing event and contains no check or project details. We keep the current preference until you replace it or ask the Privacy Officer to delete it. System follows each device’s own appearance setting. The effective browser choice is cached locally to apply it before the page loads; visitors use this browser-only storage. Clearing browser data removes the local copy, not the account preference. We do not upload an existing browser choice until you explicitly select or save a theme, or use the header theme switch while signed in.
SRD Media Group Inc., carrying on business as SignAllow, is responsible for personal information under its control, including information that service providers handle for us. Our privacy contact is the Privacy Officer: admin@signallow.ca.
For each top-up, our existing Cloudflare database stores your Stripe customer, payment and checkout identifiers, amount paid including tax, five-check credit amount, counts used and reversed following refunds or disputes, and creation and update times. We use these records to deliver the purchase once, show the remaining balance, preserve it after subscription cancellation and handle refunds without removing unrelated purchases. They contain no addresses, measurements or reports. The records are kept while a purchased balance remains available, then under the purchase-record retention period below. Purchased checks have no expiry.
Stripe processes payments for us. Your card details go directly to Stripe; we never see or store a card number. From Stripe we receive only the items listed under "If you pay". Stripe also handles some information under its own privacy policy for its own purposes, such as fraud prevention and its legal obligations. Cancelling, changing a card and downloading receipts happen in Stripe's billing portal, which we open for you.
If you choose to use Ask Scout, your questions, recent conversation, relevant project specifications and maintained by-law evidence are sent to OpenAI to prepare an answer. Scout is AI, is in beta and can make mistakes. Do not include confidential business information, personal information you do not need to share, credentials or payment details. Project names, internal job numbers, addresses, internal project notes, account emails, billing records, owner information and development records are not automatically sent. Information you type into chat may still contain those details; omit them.
Scout conversations are private to the signed-in person, including within a Pro team, and remain in our existing Cloudflare database. We keep up to 50 conversations with up to 60 questions each. Conversations expire after 90 days without activity and are removed during the next Scout cleanup request. You can delete a conversation in Ask Scout. Deletion removes the conversation content from our active database; it does not recall a request already processed by OpenAI or erase provider security logs. Saved projects and reports are separate and are not changed by chat.
OpenAI is an additional service provider for this optional feature. We use its API with response storage disabled. API content is not used to train OpenAI models by default; abuse-monitoring logs may contain content and ordinarily remain for up to 30 days, subject to OpenAI’s stated exceptions. We do not promise zero provider retention or Canada-only processing. See OpenAI API data controls.
We retain message counts, model names, token usage and estimated cost for up to 90 days, with removal during subsequent cleanup, to enforce allowances and control operating costs. These usage records do not contain question or answer text. Our normal service logs and backup handling also apply. Contact admin@signallow.ca for privacy requests, including after membership ends.
We use these service providers to run SignAllow. Each handles only what it needs to for the service it provides to us:
These providers process information in the United States and may do so in other countries. Information processed outside Canada is subject to the laws of those countries and may be accessible to their courts, law enforcement and national security authorities. We remain responsible for information we transfer to them for processing, and each provider also has its own privacy practices.
Project save and delete requests also use hourly counters linked to a hashed account identifier, to prevent automated abuse.
We collect as little as the service allows. Your proposed sign measurements and checklist answers stay on your device unless you explicitly save an account project. Generated reports stay on your device. Address suggestions and picked coordinates are processed only as described above. Beyond that, all traffic is encrypted, access tokens are random and held in cookies your browser's scripts cannot read, recovery codes are stored only as hashes, and access to the database and provider accounts is limited to the person who operates SignAllow.
If a breach of security safeguards involving personal information under our control creates a real risk of significant harm, we will report it to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and notify the people affected as soon as feasible. We keep a record of every breach of security safeguards involving personal information for at least 24 months.
You can ask what personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it. Write to admin@signallow.ca from the email address concerned; that is how we confirm the request is yours. We answer within 30 days. Deleting a purchase record ends the access it holds, and records the law requires us to keep, such as tax records, are kept for the required period and then deleted.
If you are not satisfied with how we have handled your information or a request, tell us first at admin@signallow.ca. You can also complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Three cookies, all strictly functional, all unreadable by the page's scripts: one counts your free checks, one lists the municipalities you have checked in the last 24 hours, and one carries your access token if you have paid.
A fourth cookie is set only if you arrive from one of our ads: it holds that ad’s click identifier for up to 90 days, as described above. It is our own cookie, not Google’s. You can remove it by clearing this site’s cookies.
Your browser's own storage (not a cookie) also keeps things for your convenience, on your device only: which version of the terms you accepted and its reference number, so you are not asked again; the kind of user you said you are, if you chose one; and your past checks, with any project name you gave them (the address, municipality, sign type, building type, lighting choice and measurements, and the headline answer). Local history is not sent to us automatically. Account projects are stored only when you choose to save them, as described above. You can see and clear local history on the Account page in the checker, or by clearing your browser's site data.
There is no analytics cookie and no third-party tracker: no Google, social media or other advertising script runs on this site, and no one else’s cookie is set. Page statistics come from Cloudflare Web Analytics, which does not use cookies.
When address suggestions are switched on, the text you type in the address field is sent to SignAllow as you type it, and SignAllow passes it to Geoapify, a geocoding service, which returns matching addresses. Geoapify receives only the text typed; it does not receive your IP address from us, your other choices, or any cookie. Address suggestions do not create a saved project; SignAllow's server may hold a copy of the suggestions for up to an hour so the same partial address is not looked up twice. Purpose: to help you type an address and set the municipality. When suggestions are off, the address field is a plain text box and what you type there stays in your browser unless you explicitly save an account project. Whether suggestions are on is shown by whether a list appears under the field.
When you pick a suggested address in one of the municipalities that publishes its zoning as a map service (today: Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Mississauga, Burlington and Milton), SignAllow sends the coordinates of that address — a latitude and longitude, nothing else — to SignAllow and on to that municipality’s own public zoning map server, which returns the zone at that point. The municipality receives a point; it does not receive the address text, your IP address from us, your other choices, or any cookie. SignAllow’s server may hold the answer for that point for up to an hour. Purpose: to set the sign district from the zoning, which you can change. This happens only after you choose a suggestion, never as you type, and only for those municipalities.
After you pick an address suggestion, your browser sends its latitude, longitude and selected municipality to SignAllow to screen available government map layers. External map servers receive only the point and fixed query parameters, not the address text, your IP address from us, your cookies, sign measurements or report. SignAllow may cache a map answer at the edge for up to one hour. Results and source dates are displayed in the check and included in the full PDF and saved web report; the customer summary excludes the overlay cards. Manual answers remain yours to change. Typing an address without selecting a suggestion does not trigger this lookup. If you go to checkout, the picked point is temporarily kept in your browser tab so the maps can be checked again when you return. This temporary copy is removed when the check is restored.
“Copy link for your team” makes a link that carries the details of your check (the address, municipality, sign type, building type, lighting choice, measurements and project name) in the part of the link after the # sign. Browsers do not send that part to any server, so it does not reach us; anyone you send the link to can open it and see those details. Share it as you would share the address itself.
A PDF or web page you download is generated in your browser and saved to your device. We do not receive a copy.
Each version of this notice has a version number and an effective date, shown below, and earlier versions are kept.
Privacy Notice, version 2026-09-27.14, effective 27 September 2026.
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.
