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.
Leave it as it is and we will show you what each category allows, so you can pick yours.
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 Greater Sudbury’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? By-law 2021-111 — signs and advertising devices ↗ — base enactment — not consolidated. An out-of-date copy of it is also still online — we flag which one is current.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 Greater Sudbury’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 Greater Sudbury’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 Greater Sudbury’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 2021-111 · Base enactment — not consolidated · PDF, 67 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wall / fascia signs | Part 6 tables — 25% of the external façade of the part of the building the business occupies; By-law 2024-116 replaced the commercial height limit with “2.75 m (9 ft) minimum clearance above Grade” | open ↗ |
| Ground signs | Part 6, Table 3 (commercial) — 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) per metre of street line to 15 m² (161 sq ft) and 7.5 m (25 ft) tall; the 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) columns beside it are menu boards | open ↗ |
| Variance | Part 9 — variances (who decides is not confirmed from the text we hold) | open ↗ |
| Structure | s.20(1)(g)–(i) — construction drawings with attachment, foundation and column details and sign weight; building drawings if the Permit Issuer asks; engineer-designed drawings where the Building Code requires structural design | open · p.21 ↗ |
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 Greater Sudbury’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 Greater Sudbury 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.
“iv. Under Wall Sign, Maximum Sign Height, by deleting "Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor" and replacing it with "2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade".”
Wall / fascia signs: Part 6 tables — 25% of the external façade of the part of the building the business occupies; By-law 2024-116 replaced the commercial height limit with “2.75 m (9 ft) minimum clearance above Grade”
“Maximum Sign Area 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 4.0 m2 2.0 m2 3.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business 0.5 m2”
Wall / fascia signs: Part 6 tables — 25% of the external façade of the part of the building the business occupies; By-law 2024-116 replaced the commercial height limit with “2.75 m (9 ft) minimum clearance above Grade”
Ground signs: Part 6, Table 3 (commercial) — 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) per metre of street line to 15 m² (161 sq ft) and 7.5 m (25 ft) tall; the 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) columns beside it are menu boards
“Maximum Sign Height 7.5 m 3.0 m 3.0 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
Ground signs: Part 6, Table 3 (commercial) — 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) per metre of street line to 15 m² (161 sq ft) and 7.5 m (25 ft) tall; the 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) columns beside it are menu boards
“(g) in the case of a Permanent Sign, complete drawings and specifications covering the construction of the Sign and Sign Structure including but not limited to drawing of the proposed Sign drawn to scale setting out: (i) particulars of the proposed method of attachment of the Sign to the Property or Building as the case may be; (ii) dimensional elevation drawings indicating the Sign Height; (iii) foundation base and column details, if applicable; (iv) the weight of the proposed Sign; (v) the construction materials to be used in the Sign; and (vi) where applicable, such other information as the Permit Issuer may require to determine that the Sign has been designed and will be constructed in compliance with the applicable structural provisions of the Ontario Building Code;”
Structure: s.20(1)(g)–(i) — construction drawings with attachment, foundation and column details and sign weight; building drawings if the Permit Issuer asks; engineer-designed drawings where the Building Code requires structural design
“(h) where required by the Permit Issuer, in the case of a Permanent Sign, scaled drawings of any Building upon which it is proposed to locate the Sign and the Sign Structure, as may be necessary to determine whether the structure of such Building will carry the additional loads and stresses imposed by the Erection of such Sign and Sign Structure”
Structure: s.20(1)(g)–(i) — construction drawings with attachment, foundation and column details and sign weight; building drawings if the Permit Issuer asks; engineer-designed drawings where the Building Code requires structural design
“(i) where the application relates to a Sign which requires structural design in accordance with the Ontario Building Code, drawings which have been designed by a registered professional engineer;”
Structure: s.20(1)(g)–(i) — construction drawings with attachment, foundation and column details and sign weight; building drawings if the Permit Issuer asks; engineer-designed drawings where the Building Code requires structural design
“Schedule "P&G-8" Signs”
Sign fees are Schedule P&G-8 of User Fees By-law 2026-04, which repealed By-law 2025-02. The schedule is a scanned table whose amounts do not line up with their rows in the text layer, so we hold no Sudbury fee; read it on the schedule itself.
“Table 3 Commercial Sign District - Part 2”
Sudbury sets its sign districts by zone: each of Tables 1 to 7 is headed with the zones it covers under the City’s Zoning By-law. There is no separate sign-district map — find the zone on the City’s zoning map and pick the row that contains it.
“iv. Under Wall Sign, Maximum Sign Height, by deleting "Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor" and replacing it with "2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade".”
The bottom of the sign must be at least 2.75 m (9 ft) above the ground or walkway below.
By-law 2024-116 replaced the commercial wall-sign height limit with a 2.75 m (9 ft) minimum clearance above grade. No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
By-law 2024-116 replaced the commercial wall-sign height limit with a 2.75 m (9 ft) minimum clearance above grade. No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Area 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 4.0 m2 2.0 m2 3.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business 0.5 m2”
Wall signs may cover up to 25% of the external façade of the part of the building your business occupies. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 10 m² (108 sq ft).
“(2) Despite paragraph 44.-(1)(a) a Wall Sign may be Erected on the uppermost Storey of a Building provided the Sign Area of the Wall Sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the uppermost Storey.”
the first storey, or the uppermost storey if the sign is no more than 10% of the area of that storey (s.44(2))
“Maximum Sign Area 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 4.0 m2 2.0 m2 3.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business 0.5 m2”
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).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 for each 200 m or less of the Street Line 1 per drive through lane 1 per drive through lane 1 per Premises”
One ground sign for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line.
Number, per what: for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line
“Maximum Sign Height 7.5 m 3.0 m 3.0 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The ground sign can be no taller than 7.5 m (25 ft).
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 20.0 m2 0.3 m2 0.40 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign”
An electronic message board may be part of the ground sign, up to 30% of the ground sign’s maximum area (Table 3 Part 1, s.42). A gas bar may add a lit fuel price sign of up to 1 m² (11 sq ft) as part of the ground sign (s.43).
“an Illuminated Fuel Price Sign with a maximum Sign Area of 1 m2 is permitted as part of a Ground Sign.”
An electronic message board may be part of the ground sign, up to 30% of the ground sign’s maximum area (Table 3 Part 1, s.42). A gas bar may add a lit fuel price sign of up to 1 m² (11 sq ft) as part of the ground sign (s.43).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines 3.0 m 3.0 m 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in a C2, C3, C5 or C7 zone
“If more than one Ground Sign is permitted on a Property, each Ground Sign shall be located no less than 60 m. from any other Ground Sign on the same Property.”
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in a C2, C3, C5 or C7 zone
“Shall be located no less than 15 m from a residential zone in a C2, C3, C5 or C7 zone.”
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in a C2, C3, C5 or C7 zone
“iii. Under Direction Sign, Maximum Sign Area, by deleting "0.3m 2 " and replacing it with "0.5m 2 "; and”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.5 m² (5.4 sq ft).
“Maximum Sign Area 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 4.0 m2 2.0 m2 3.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business 0.5 m2”
A projecting sign can be no larger than 3 m² (32 sq ft).
“Maximum Sign Height 7.5 m 3.0 m 3.0 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The bottom of the sign must be at least 2.75 m (9 ft) above the ground or walkway below.
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 for each 200 m or less of the Street Line 1 per drive through lane 1 per drive through lane 1 per Premises”
One projecting sign per premises.
“Maximum Sign Height 8.0 m 1.5 m — 7.5 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any Storey above the ground floor”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 4). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 4). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Area 20.0 m2 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum Sign Area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 1.0 m2 25% of the external Fapade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
Wall signs may cover up to 25% of the external façade of the part of the building your business occupies. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 10 m² (108 sq ft).
“(2) Despite paragraph 44.-(1)(a) a Wall Sign may be Erected on the uppermost Storey of a Building provided the Sign Area of the Wall Sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the uppermost Storey.”
the first storey, or the uppermost storey if the sign is no more than 10% of the area of that storey (s.44(2))
“Maximum Sign Area 20.0 m2 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum Sign Area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 1.0 m2 25% of the external Fapade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
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).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 — 1 as part of a Ground Sign 1 for each 200 m or less of the Street Line 1 per Premises”
One ground sign for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line.
Number, per what: for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line
“Maximum Sign Height 8.0 m 1.5 m — 7.5 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any Storey above the ground floor”
The ground sign can be no taller than 7.5 m (25 ft).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines 3.0 m — 3.0 m 3.0 m 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in the M1-1 or M1 zone
“If more than one Ground Sign is permitted on a Property each Ground Sign shall be located no less than 60 m from any other Ground Sign on the same Property.”
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in the M1-1 or M1 zone
“Shall be located no less than 15 m from a residential zone in a M1-1 or W11 zone.”
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in the M1-1 or M1 zone
“Maximum Sign Area 20.0 m2 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum Sign Area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 1.0 m2 25% of the external Fapade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft).
“Maximum Sign Height 8.0 m 1.5 m — 7.5 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any Storey above the ground floor”
The directional sign can be no taller than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
“Maximum Sign Area 20.0 m2 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum Sign Area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 1.0 m2 25% of the external Fapade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
A projecting sign can be no larger than 1 m² (11 sq ft).
“Maximum Sign Height 8.0 m 1.5 m — 7.5 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any Storey above the ground floor”
The bottom of the sign must be at least 2.75 m (9 ft) above the ground or walkway below.
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 — 1 as part of a Ground Sign 1 for each 200 m or less of the Street Line 1 per Premises”
One projecting sign per premises.
“Zones Permitted M1, M1-1, M3 All All All All except M5 & M6 All”
Note: Not in the M5 or M6 zones (Table 4).
“Maximum Sign Height 2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade — — 7.5 m Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 5). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 5). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
Wall signs may cover up to 25% of the external façade of the part of the building your business occupies. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 10 m² (108 sq ft).
“(2) Despite paragraph 44.-(1)(a) a Wall Sign may be Erected on the uppermost Storey of a Building provided the Sign Area of the Wall Sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the uppermost Storey.”
the first storey, or the uppermost storey if the sign is no more than 10% of the area of that storey (s.44(2))
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
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).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 per Premise — 1 as part of a Ground Sign 1 for each 200 m or less of the Street Line”
One ground sign for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line.
Number, per what: for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line
“Maximum Sign Height 2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade — — 7.5 m Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The ground sign can be no taller than 7.5 m (25 ft).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines — — 3.0 m 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property
“If more than one Ground Sign is permitted on a Property, each Ground Sign shall be located no less than 60 m from any other Ground Sign on the same Property.”
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft).
“Maximum Sign Height 2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade Ground Sign 1.2 m 4.0 m Ground Sign 1.2 m Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 2). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 2). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 0.40 m2 2.0 m2 0.40 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
Wall signs may cover up to 25% of the external façade of the part of the building your business occupies. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 10 m² (108 sq ft).
“(2) Despite paragraph 44.-(1)(a) a Wall Sign may be Erected on the uppermost Storey of a Building provided the Sign Area of the Wall Sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the uppermost Storey.”
the first storey, or the uppermost storey if the sign is no more than 10% of the area of that storey (s.44(2))
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 0.40 m2 2.0 m2 0.40 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 2 m² (22 sq ft), however big the building or lot. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 2 m² (22 sq ft).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 per Premise 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign”
One ground sign per property.
“Maximum Sign Height 2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade Ground Sign 1.2 m 4.0 m Ground Sign 1.2 m Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The ground sign can be no taller than 4 m (13 ft).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines — Ground Sign 3.0 m 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
Setback: 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines
“Maximum Sign Height Ground Sign - 1.2 m Ground Sign 1.2 m — Maximum Sign Area 0.40 m2 0.40 m2 1.0 m2”
The wall sign allowance tops out at 1 m² (11 sq ft), however big the building or lot. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 1 m² (11 sq ft).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1”
One wall sign per property.
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Height Ground Sign - 1.2 m Ground Sign 1.2 m — Maximum Sign Area 0.40 m2 0.40 m2 1.0 m2”
Table 1 allows a ground sign in the Residential A district only for a bed and breakfast or a home occupation, and then only 0.40 m² (4.3 sq ft) and 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) tall, in place of a wall sign.
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1”
Table 1 allows a ground sign in the Residential A district only for a bed and breakfast or a home occupation, and then only 0.40 m² (4.3 sq ft) and 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) tall, in place of a wall sign.
“Maximum Sign Height 4.0 m — 3.0 m — Maximum Sign Area 3.0 m2 0.55 m2 0.3 m2 4.0 m2 0.55 m2 2.0 m2”
The wall sign allowance tops out at 2 m² (22 sq ft), however big the building or lot. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 2 m² (22 sq ft).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Height 4.0 m — 3.0 m — Maximum Sign Area 3.0 m2 0.55 m2 0.3 m2 4.0 m2 0.55 m2 2.0 m2”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 4 m² (43 sq ft), however big the building or lot. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 4 m² (43 sq ft).
The ground sign can be no taller than 3 m (9 ft 10 in).
By-law 2024-116 deleted the footnote that limited the rural ground and wall signs to permitted non-residential uses. An agricultural directional ground sign of up to 3.0 m² (32 sq ft) and 4.0 m (13 ft) may also be erected within 10 km of the farm it relates to (s.39).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 1 Ground or 1 Wall Sign — 1”
One ground sign per property.
“e. In Table 6, by: i. Deleting the footnote for Ground Sign and Wall Sign and replacing it with dashed line; and”
By-law 2024-116 deleted the footnote that limited the rural ground and wall signs to permitted non-residential uses. An agricultural directional ground sign of up to 3.0 m² (32 sq ft) and 4.0 m (13 ft) may also be erected within 10 km of the farm it relates to (s.39).
“39. No Person shall Erect, cause or authorize an Agricultural Directional Ground Sign to be Erected or continue to be Erected more than 10 kilometres from the Property to which the Agricultural Directional Ground Sign relates.”
By-law 2024-116 deleted the footnote that limited the rural ground and wall signs to permitted non-residential uses. An agricultural directional ground sign of up to 3.0 m² (32 sq ft) and 4.0 m (13 ft) may also be erected within 10 km of the farm it relates to (s.39).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines 3.0 m Ground Sign 3.0 m — 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
Setback: 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines
“Only for permitted non-residential uses.”
Only for a permitted non-residential use (Table 7, footnote 2). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
Only for a permitted non-residential use (Table 7, footnote 2). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Height — — Ground Sign 1.2 m 7.5 m Maximum Sign Area 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.40 m2 4.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
Wall signs may cover up to 25% of the external façade of the part of the building your business occupies. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 10 m² (108 sq ft).
“(2) Despite paragraph 44.-(1)(a) a Wall Sign may be Erected on the uppermost Storey of a Building provided the Sign Area of the Wall Sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the uppermost Storey.”
the first storey, or the uppermost storey if the sign is no more than 10% of the area of that storey (s.44(2))
“Maximum Sign Height — — Ground Sign 1.2 m 7.5 m Maximum Sign Area 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.40 m2 4.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 4 m² (43 sq ft), however big the building or lot. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 4 m² (43 sq ft).
The ground sign can be no taller than 7.5 m (25 ft).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property — 1 as part of a Ground Sign 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1”
One ground sign per property.
“Only for permitted non-residential uses.”
Note: Only for a permitted non-residential use (Table 7, footnote 2).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines — Ground Sign 3.0 m Ground Sign 3.0 m 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
Setback: 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines
“Maximum Sign Height — — Ground Sign 1.2 m 7.5 m Maximum Sign Area 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.40 m2 4.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft).
“(d) the intensity of the Illumination of the Electronic Message Board is maintained at a constant level; and”
None for a permanent sign. Instead, a message board’s illumination intensity must be “maintained at a constant level” and may not exceed 300 nits between sunset and sunrise. A portable electronic sign may not be illuminated after sunset or before sunrise.
s.8(5) says the grandfathering in s.8(1) does not exempt a message board from “Section 41” — but the message-board rules are s.42 (s.41 is electronic billboards, and the billboard reference to Section 40 is off in the same way). Whether an older board keeps its lawful status is therefore unclear; do not assume either way. s.42(d) also demands a constant illumination intensity, which arguably conflicts with an auto-dimming sensor — get a written interpretation before you specify a sensor as compliance evidence.
“(iv) does not exceed 300 nits during the period between sunset and sunrise.”
None for a permanent sign. Instead, a message board’s illumination intensity must be “maintained at a constant level” and may not exceed 300 nits between sunset and sunrise. A portable electronic sign may not be illuminated after sunset or before sunrise.
“(4) No Person shall Illuminate or cause or authorize the illumination or continuing Illumination of a Portable Electronic Sign after sunset or before sunrise on any day.”
None for a permanent sign. Instead, a message board’s illumination intensity must be “maintained at a constant level” and may not exceed 300 nits between sunset and sunrise. A portable electronic sign may not be illuminated after sunset or before sunrise.
“(c) there are no visible effects on the Electronic Message Board including but not limited to motion, fading, dissolving, flashing, intermittent or blinking light, scrolling or the illusion of such effects;”
No motion, fading, dissolving, flashing, intermittent or blinking light, scrolling, or the illusion of any of it
“(a) the Electronic Message Board is part of a Permanent Ground Sign;”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“All except C5, C7”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“30% of the maximum Sign Area of a Ground Sign”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“OSR, OSC, OSP, FD”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“Table 5 Institutional Sign District I & P”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“(b) the Copy on an Electronic Message Board is displayed continuously in a static manner without animation and without any change or any visual effects for not less than 30 seconds;”
Not less than 30 seconds, displayed continuously in a static manner with no animation, change or visual effect
“(5) Subsection 8(1) does not apply to exempt an Electronic Billboard Sign from the requirements of Section 40 or to exempt an Electronic Message Board from the requirement of Section 41 of this By-law.”
s.8(5) says the grandfathering in s.8(1) does not exempt a message board from “Section 41” — but the message-board rules are s.42 (s.41 is electronic billboards, and the billboard reference to Section 40 is off in the same way). Whether an older board keeps its lawful status is therefore unclear; do not assume either way. s.42(d) also demands a constant illumination intensity, which arguably conflicts with an auto-dimming sensor — get a written interpretation before you specify a sensor as compliance evidence.
“g. In 42, by adding the following provision: "(f) the Electronic Message Board is Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more from any other Electronic Message Board".”
100 m (328 ft) from any other message board, added as s.42(f) by By-law 2024-116. As drafted, s.42(f) is written in the negative (“Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more”) but sits in a list that begins “unless”, so read literally it says the reverse; the intent is plainly a minimum distance — confirm with the City. The 200 m (656 ft) and 120 m (394 ft) distances in s.41(f) belong to electronic billboards, and a portable electronic sign must be 200 m (656 ft) from a ground sign with a message board on another property (s.55(3)(e))
“42. No Person shall Erect, cause or authorize an Electronic Message Board to be Erected or continue to be Erected unless:”
100 m (328 ft) from any other message board, added as s.42(f) by By-law 2024-116. As drafted, s.42(f) is written in the negative (“Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more”) but sits in a list that begins “unless”, so read literally it says the reverse; the intent is plainly a minimum distance — confirm with the City. The 200 m (656 ft) and 120 m (394 ft) distances in s.41(f) belong to electronic billboards, and a portable electronic sign must be 200 m (656 ft) from a ground sign with a message board on another property (s.55(3)(e))
“No Person shall Erect, cause or authorize an Electronic Billboard Sign to be Erected or continue to be Erected if:”
100 m (328 ft) from any other message board, added as s.42(f) by By-law 2024-116. As drafted, s.42(f) is written in the negative (“Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more”) but sits in a list that begins “unless”, so read literally it says the reverse; the intent is plainly a minimum distance — confirm with the City. The 200 m (656 ft) and 120 m (394 ft) distances in s.41(f) belong to electronic billboards, and a portable electronic sign must be 200 m (656 ft) from a ground sign with a message board on another property (s.55(3)(e))
“(f) the Electronic Billboard Sign is Erected in a location which is not: (i) 200.0 metres or more from any other Electronic Billboard Sign or any Ground Sign with an Electronic Message Board; or (ii) 120.0 metres or more from the centerline of a street intersection with Traffic Control Devices or an at Grade railway crossing.”
100 m (328 ft) from any other message board, added as s.42(f) by By-law 2024-116. As drafted, s.42(f) is written in the negative (“Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more”) but sits in a list that begins “unless”, so read literally it says the reverse; the intent is plainly a minimum distance — confirm with the City. The 200 m (656 ft) and 120 m (394 ft) distances in s.41(f) belong to electronic billboards, and a portable electronic sign must be 200 m (656 ft) from a ground sign with a message board on another property (s.55(3)(e))
“(e) 200.0 metres or more from any Electronic Billboard or any Ground Sign with an Electronic Message Board Erected on another Property.”
100 m (328 ft) from any other message board, added as s.42(f) by By-law 2024-116. As drafted, s.42(f) is written in the negative (“Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more”) but sits in a list that begins “unless”, so read literally it says the reverse; the intent is plainly a minimum distance — confirm with the City. The 200 m (656 ft) and 120 m (394 ft) distances in s.41(f) belong to electronic billboards, and a portable electronic sign must be 200 m (656 ft) from a ground sign with a message board on another property (s.55(3)(e))
“2021-111 June 29, 2021 To Regulate the Erection of Signs and Advertising Devices City Council Repeals By - law 2007 - 250 and amendments Amended by 2021-166, 2024-116, 2026-37”
Sudbury publishes no consolidation. Its by-law index lists 2021-111 as “Amended by 2021-166, 2024-116, 2026-37”. We have read 2024-116: mostly housekeeping, but it also added the message-board spacing rule above and a 100 m (328 ft) distance from lands zoned for residential uses (2024-116 s.6). 2026-37 is titled “To Amend Various By-laws to Reflect Changes Resulting from an Organizational Restructuring”; we have read only its title in the index, not its text.
“2024-116 July 9, 2024 To Amend By-law 2021-111 being By-law of the City of Greater Sudbury to Regulate the Erection of Signs and Advertising Devices”
Sudbury publishes no consolidation. Its by-law index lists 2021-111 as “Amended by 2021-166, 2024-116, 2026-37”. We have read 2024-116: mostly housekeeping, but it also added the message-board spacing rule above and a 100 m (328 ft) distance from lands zoned for residential uses (2024-116 s.6). 2026-37 is titled “To Amend Various By-laws to Reflect Changes Resulting from an Organizational Restructuring”; we have read only its title in the index, not its text.
“2026-37 March 10, 2026 To Amend Various By-laws to Reflect Changes Resulting from an Organizational Restructuring”
Sudbury publishes no consolidation. Its by-law index lists 2021-111 as “Amended by 2021-166, 2024-116, 2026-37”. We have read 2024-116: mostly housekeeping, but it also added the message-board spacing rule above and a 100 m (328 ft) distance from lands zoned for residential uses (2024-116 s.6). 2026-37 is titled “To Amend Various By-laws to Reflect Changes Resulting from an Organizational Restructuring”; we have read only its title in the index, not its text.
“ii. Adding the following provision: "(iii) 100.0 metres or more from lands Zoned for residential uses".”
Sudbury publishes no consolidation. Its by-law index lists 2021-111 as “Amended by 2021-166, 2024-116, 2026-37”. We have read 2024-116: mostly housekeeping, but it also added the message-board spacing rule above and a 100 m (328 ft) distance from lands zoned for residential uses (2024-116 s.6). 2026-37 is titled “To Amend Various By-laws to Reflect Changes Resulting from an Organizational Restructuring”; we have read only its title in the index, not its text.
“(a) the Sign and source of Illumination are designed and located so as to prevent light trespass beyond the Sign Structure and the Display Surface; (b) the Sign is illuminated only using down-lighting or back-lighting or both; (c) any down-lights used to illuminated the Sign are designed to emit direct light below or at the horizontal, only; and”
s.15(1): an illuminated sign and its light source must be designed and located to prevent light trespass beyond the sign structure and the display surface; the sign may be illuminated only by down-lighting or back-lighting or both; and any down-light must emit direct light at or below the horizontal only.
s.15(1)(b) allows only down-lighting or back-lighting, and s.15(1)(c) requires down-lights to emit light at or below the horizontal, so ground-mounted up-lights on a monument sign are out.
Lighting from below, shining up at the sign, is allowed.
“(ii) does not increase the light levels within 10.0 metres of all points of the Display Surface 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.
“(iii) does not exceed 5,000 nits during the period between sunrise and sunset; and (iv) does not exceed 300 nits during the period between sunset and sunrise.”
A digital or lit sign can be no brighter than 5,000 nits in daylight (a nit is the standard measure of screen brightness).
At night it must dim to no more than 300 nits.
“on any non-residential use Premises or Property, in a location that is less than 30 metres from a Zone that permits only residential uses unless: (a) the Sign is Erected on the opposite side of the Road Allowance to a Zone Permitting only residential uses; and (b) the Sign is a Wall Sign facing a Road Allowance.”
The sleeper clause: on a non-residential property, an illuminated sign less than 30 metres from a zone that permits only residential uses is prohibited unless it is on the opposite side of the road allowance from that zone and is a wall sign facing a road allowance. An illuminated ground sign that close to such a zone is not permitted, even across the street.
By-law 2021-111 — signs and advertising devices, base enactment — not consolidated. 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.
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 | Depends on district | Part 6 tables — 25% of the external façade of the part of the building the business occupies; By-law 2024-116 replaced the commercial height limit with “2.75 m (9 ft) minimum clearance above Grade” read it ↗ | ||
Freestanding Pylon or monument out front | Depends on district | Part 6, Table 3 (commercial) — 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) per metre of street line to 15 m² (161 sq ft) and 7.5 m (25 ft) tall; the 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) columns beside it are menu boards read it ↗ | ||
Projecting Blade sign off the wall | Depends on district | Depends on the sign district. Start a check and pick the district to get the figure. | ||
Small directional Entrance or drive-aisle sign | Depends on district | Usually falls under the ground sign rules unless the by-law carves out directional signs — Part 6, Table 3 (commercial) — 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) per metre of street line to 15 m² (161 sq ft) and 7.5 m (25 ft) tall; the 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) columns beside it are menu boards read it ↗ | ||
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. “Depends on district” means we do calculate it, but the figure changes with the sign district, so pick one to see it.
Permitted — down-light or back-light only, and not near housing. s.15(1): an illuminated sign and its light source must be designed and located to prevent light trespass beyond the sign structure and the display surface; the sign may be illuminated only by down-lighting or back-lighting or both; and any down-light must emit direct light at or below the horizontal only.
| Brightness | 5,000 nits by day · 300 nits at night (nits: screen brightness) These apply to digital signs only. A conventional internally lit sign has no numeric cap in this by-law. |
| Light spill | 3 lux above ambient light (lux: light landing on neighbours), measured within 10 m (33 ft) of the sign face |
| Hours it must be off or dimmed | None for a permanent sign. Instead, a message board’s illumination intensity must be “maintained at a constant level” and may not exceed 300 nits between sunset and sunrise. A portable electronic sign may not be illuminated after sunset or before sunrise. s.42(d), s.42(e)(iv), s.55(4) |
| Up-lighting | Prohibited Ground-mounted up-lights on a monument sign are out. s.15(1)(b)–(c) |
| Near housing | The sleeper clause: on a non-residential property, an illuminated sign less than 30 metres from a zone that permits only residential uses is prohibited unless it is on the opposite side of the road allowance from that zone and is a wall sign facing a road allowance. An illuminated ground sign that close to such a zone is not permitted, even across the street. s.15(2) |
s.15(1)(b) allows only down-lighting or back-lighting, and s.15(1)(c) requires down-lights to emit light at or below the horizontal, so ground-mounted up-lights on a monument sign are out.
You said this one has no digital or changing message, so we have left those rules out. If that changes, they are in s.42.
Read it yourself: s.15, s.42 of By-law 2021-111 — signs and advertising devices ↗
No fee schedule is encoded for Greater Sudbury yet, so we are not going to guess one. Ask the municipality, or tell us and we will encode it.
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. Official Code source: https://www.publications.gov.on.ca/store/20170501121/Free_Download_Files/301880.pdf
By-law 2021-111 · Base enactment — not consolidated · PDF, 67 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wall / fascia signs | Part 6 tables — 25% of the external façade of the part of the building the business occupies; By-law 2024-116 replaced the commercial height limit with “2.75 m (9 ft) minimum clearance above Grade” | open ↗ |
| Ground signs | Part 6, Table 3 (commercial) — 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) per metre of street line to 15 m² (161 sq ft) and 7.5 m (25 ft) tall; the 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) columns beside it are menu boards | open ↗ |
| Variance | Part 9 — variances (who decides is not confirmed from the text we hold) | open ↗ |
| Structure | s.20(1)(g)–(i) — construction drawings with attachment, foundation and column details and sign weight; building drawings if the Permit Issuer asks; engineer-designed drawings where the Building Code requires structural design | open · p.21 ↗ |
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:
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.
“iv. Under Wall Sign, Maximum Sign Height, by deleting "Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor" and replacing it with "2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade".”
Wall / fascia signs: Part 6 tables — 25% of the external façade of the part of the building the business occupies; By-law 2024-116 replaced the commercial height limit with “2.75 m (9 ft) minimum clearance above Grade”
“Maximum Sign Area 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 4.0 m2 2.0 m2 3.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business 0.5 m2”
Wall / fascia signs: Part 6 tables — 25% of the external façade of the part of the building the business occupies; By-law 2024-116 replaced the commercial height limit with “2.75 m (9 ft) minimum clearance above Grade”
Ground signs: Part 6, Table 3 (commercial) — 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) per metre of street line to 15 m² (161 sq ft) and 7.5 m (25 ft) tall; the 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) columns beside it are menu boards
“Maximum Sign Height 7.5 m 3.0 m 3.0 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
Ground signs: Part 6, Table 3 (commercial) — 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) per metre of street line to 15 m² (161 sq ft) and 7.5 m (25 ft) tall; the 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) columns beside it are menu boards
“(g) in the case of a Permanent Sign, complete drawings and specifications covering the construction of the Sign and Sign Structure including but not limited to drawing of the proposed Sign drawn to scale setting out: (i) particulars of the proposed method of attachment of the Sign to the Property or Building as the case may be; (ii) dimensional elevation drawings indicating the Sign Height; (iii) foundation base and column details, if applicable; (iv) the weight of the proposed Sign; (v) the construction materials to be used in the Sign; and (vi) where applicable, such other information as the Permit Issuer may require to determine that the Sign has been designed and will be constructed in compliance with the applicable structural provisions of the Ontario Building Code;”
Structure: s.20(1)(g)–(i) — construction drawings with attachment, foundation and column details and sign weight; building drawings if the Permit Issuer asks; engineer-designed drawings where the Building Code requires structural design
“(h) where required by the Permit Issuer, in the case of a Permanent Sign, scaled drawings of any Building upon which it is proposed to locate the Sign and the Sign Structure, as may be necessary to determine whether the structure of such Building will carry the additional loads and stresses imposed by the Erection of such Sign and Sign Structure”
Structure: s.20(1)(g)–(i) — construction drawings with attachment, foundation and column details and sign weight; building drawings if the Permit Issuer asks; engineer-designed drawings where the Building Code requires structural design
“(i) where the application relates to a Sign which requires structural design in accordance with the Ontario Building Code, drawings which have been designed by a registered professional engineer;”
Structure: s.20(1)(g)–(i) — construction drawings with attachment, foundation and column details and sign weight; building drawings if the Permit Issuer asks; engineer-designed drawings where the Building Code requires structural design
“Schedule "P&G-8" Signs”
Sign fees are Schedule P&G-8 of User Fees By-law 2026-04, which repealed By-law 2025-02. The schedule is a scanned table whose amounts do not line up with their rows in the text layer, so we hold no Sudbury fee; read it on the schedule itself.
“Table 3 Commercial Sign District - Part 2”
Sudbury sets its sign districts by zone: each of Tables 1 to 7 is headed with the zones it covers under the City’s Zoning By-law. There is no separate sign-district map — find the zone on the City’s zoning map and pick the row that contains it.
“iv. Under Wall Sign, Maximum Sign Height, by deleting "Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor" and replacing it with "2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade".”
The bottom of the sign must be at least 2.75 m (9 ft) above the ground or walkway below.
By-law 2024-116 replaced the commercial wall-sign height limit with a 2.75 m (9 ft) minimum clearance above grade. No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
By-law 2024-116 replaced the commercial wall-sign height limit with a 2.75 m (9 ft) minimum clearance above grade. No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Area 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 4.0 m2 2.0 m2 3.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business 0.5 m2”
Wall signs may cover up to 25% of the external façade of the part of the building your business occupies. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 10 m² (108 sq ft).
“(2) Despite paragraph 44.-(1)(a) a Wall Sign may be Erected on the uppermost Storey of a Building provided the Sign Area of the Wall Sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the uppermost Storey.”
the first storey, or the uppermost storey if the sign is no more than 10% of the area of that storey (s.44(2))
“Maximum Sign Area 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 4.0 m2 2.0 m2 3.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business 0.5 m2”
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).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 for each 200 m or less of the Street Line 1 per drive through lane 1 per drive through lane 1 per Premises”
One ground sign for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line.
Number, per what: for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line
“Maximum Sign Height 7.5 m 3.0 m 3.0 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The ground sign can be no taller than 7.5 m (25 ft).
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 20.0 m2 0.3 m2 0.40 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign”
An electronic message board may be part of the ground sign, up to 30% of the ground sign’s maximum area (Table 3 Part 1, s.42). A gas bar may add a lit fuel price sign of up to 1 m² (11 sq ft) as part of the ground sign (s.43).
“an Illuminated Fuel Price Sign with a maximum Sign Area of 1 m2 is permitted as part of a Ground Sign.”
An electronic message board may be part of the ground sign, up to 30% of the ground sign’s maximum area (Table 3 Part 1, s.42). A gas bar may add a lit fuel price sign of up to 1 m² (11 sq ft) as part of the ground sign (s.43).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines 3.0 m 3.0 m 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in a C2, C3, C5 or C7 zone
“If more than one Ground Sign is permitted on a Property, each Ground Sign shall be located no less than 60 m. from any other Ground Sign on the same Property.”
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in a C2, C3, C5 or C7 zone
“Shall be located no less than 15 m from a residential zone in a C2, C3, C5 or C7 zone.”
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in a C2, C3, C5 or C7 zone
“iii. Under Direction Sign, Maximum Sign Area, by deleting "0.3m 2 " and replacing it with "0.5m 2 "; and”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.5 m² (5.4 sq ft).
“Maximum Sign Area 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 4.0 m2 2.0 m2 3.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business 0.5 m2”
A projecting sign can be no larger than 3 m² (32 sq ft).
“Maximum Sign Height 7.5 m 3.0 m 3.0 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The bottom of the sign must be at least 2.75 m (9 ft) above the ground or walkway below.
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 for each 200 m or less of the Street Line 1 per drive through lane 1 per drive through lane 1 per Premises”
One projecting sign per premises.
“Maximum Sign Height 8.0 m 1.5 m — 7.5 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any Storey above the ground floor”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 4). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 4). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Area 20.0 m2 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum Sign Area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 1.0 m2 25% of the external Fapade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
Wall signs may cover up to 25% of the external façade of the part of the building your business occupies. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 10 m² (108 sq ft).
“(2) Despite paragraph 44.-(1)(a) a Wall Sign may be Erected on the uppermost Storey of a Building provided the Sign Area of the Wall Sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the uppermost Storey.”
the first storey, or the uppermost storey if the sign is no more than 10% of the area of that storey (s.44(2))
“Maximum Sign Area 20.0 m2 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum Sign Area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 1.0 m2 25% of the external Fapade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
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).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 — 1 as part of a Ground Sign 1 for each 200 m or less of the Street Line 1 per Premises”
One ground sign for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line.
Number, per what: for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line
“Maximum Sign Height 8.0 m 1.5 m — 7.5 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any Storey above the ground floor”
The ground sign can be no taller than 7.5 m (25 ft).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines 3.0 m — 3.0 m 3.0 m 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in the M1-1 or M1 zone
“If more than one Ground Sign is permitted on a Property each Ground Sign shall be located no less than 60 m from any other Ground Sign on the same Property.”
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in the M1-1 or M1 zone
“Shall be located no less than 15 m from a residential zone in a M1-1 or W11 zone.”
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property · 15 m (49 ft) from a residential zone, for a lot in the M1-1 or M1 zone
“Maximum Sign Area 20.0 m2 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum Sign Area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 1.0 m2 25% of the external Fapade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft).
“Maximum Sign Height 8.0 m 1.5 m — 7.5 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any Storey above the ground floor”
The directional sign can be no taller than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
“Maximum Sign Area 20.0 m2 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum Sign Area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 1.0 m2 25% of the external Fapade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
A projecting sign can be no larger than 1 m² (11 sq ft).
“Maximum Sign Height 8.0 m 1.5 m — 7.5 m Minimum 2.75 m above Grade Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any Storey above the ground floor”
The bottom of the sign must be at least 2.75 m (9 ft) above the ground or walkway below.
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 — 1 as part of a Ground Sign 1 for each 200 m or less of the Street Line 1 per Premises”
One projecting sign per premises.
“Zones Permitted M1, M1-1, M3 All All All All except M5 & M6 All”
Note: Not in the M5 or M6 zones (Table 4).
“Maximum Sign Height 2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade — — 7.5 m Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 5). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 5). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
Wall signs may cover up to 25% of the external façade of the part of the building your business occupies. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 10 m² (108 sq ft).
“(2) Despite paragraph 44.-(1)(a) a Wall Sign may be Erected on the uppermost Storey of a Building provided the Sign Area of the Wall Sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the uppermost Storey.”
the first storey, or the uppermost storey if the sign is no more than 10% of the area of that storey (s.44(2))
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
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).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 per Premise — 1 as part of a Ground Sign 1 for each 200 m or less of the Street Line”
One ground sign for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line.
Number, per what: for each 200 m (656 ft) or less of the street line
“Maximum Sign Height 2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade — — 7.5 m Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The ground sign can be no taller than 7.5 m (25 ft).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines — — 3.0 m 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property
“If more than one Ground Sign is permitted on a Property, each Ground Sign shall be located no less than 60 m from any other Ground Sign on the same Property.”
3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines · 60 m (197 ft) between ground signs on the same property
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.3 times the length of the Street Line, maximum 15 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft).
“Maximum Sign Height 2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade Ground Sign 1.2 m 4.0 m Ground Sign 1.2 m Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 2). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
The wall sign may be no higher than the lesser of 4.5 m (15 ft) or the base of the windows on any storey above the ground floor (Table 2). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 0.40 m2 2.0 m2 0.40 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
Wall signs may cover up to 25% of the external façade of the part of the building your business occupies. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 10 m² (108 sq ft).
“(2) Despite paragraph 44.-(1)(a) a Wall Sign may be Erected on the uppermost Storey of a Building provided the Sign Area of the Wall Sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the uppermost Storey.”
the first storey, or the uppermost storey if the sign is no more than 10% of the area of that storey (s.44(2))
“Maximum Sign Area 50% of the area of the Awning or the Canopy 0.40 m2 2.0 m2 0.40 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a Business”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 2 m² (22 sq ft), however big the building or lot. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 2 m² (22 sq ft).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 per Premise 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign”
One ground sign per property.
“Maximum Sign Height 2.75 m minimum clearance above Grade Ground Sign 1.2 m 4.0 m Ground Sign 1.2 m Lesser of 4.5 m or the base of windows on any story above the ground floor”
The ground sign can be no taller than 4 m (13 ft).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines — Ground Sign 3.0 m 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
Setback: 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines
“Maximum Sign Height Ground Sign - 1.2 m Ground Sign 1.2 m — Maximum Sign Area 0.40 m2 0.40 m2 1.0 m2”
The wall sign allowance tops out at 1 m² (11 sq ft), however big the building or lot. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 1 m² (11 sq ft).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1”
One wall sign per property.
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Height Ground Sign - 1.2 m Ground Sign 1.2 m — Maximum Sign Area 0.40 m2 0.40 m2 1.0 m2”
Table 1 allows a ground sign in the Residential A district only for a bed and breakfast or a home occupation, and then only 0.40 m² (4.3 sq ft) and 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) tall, in place of a wall sign.
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1”
Table 1 allows a ground sign in the Residential A district only for a bed and breakfast or a home occupation, and then only 0.40 m² (4.3 sq ft) and 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) tall, in place of a wall sign.
“Maximum Sign Height 4.0 m — 3.0 m — Maximum Sign Area 3.0 m2 0.55 m2 0.3 m2 4.0 m2 0.55 m2 2.0 m2”
The wall sign allowance tops out at 2 m² (22 sq ft), however big the building or lot. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 2 m² (22 sq ft).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Height 4.0 m — 3.0 m — Maximum Sign Area 3.0 m2 0.55 m2 0.3 m2 4.0 m2 0.55 m2 2.0 m2”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 4 m² (43 sq ft), however big the building or lot. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 4 m² (43 sq ft).
The ground sign can be no taller than 3 m (9 ft 10 in).
By-law 2024-116 deleted the footnote that limited the rural ground and wall signs to permitted non-residential uses. An agricultural directional ground sign of up to 3.0 m² (32 sq ft) and 4.0 m (13 ft) may also be erected within 10 km of the farm it relates to (s.39).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property 1 1 Ground or 1 Wall Sign — 1”
One ground sign per property.
“e. In Table 6, by: i. Deleting the footnote for Ground Sign and Wall Sign and replacing it with dashed line; and”
By-law 2024-116 deleted the footnote that limited the rural ground and wall signs to permitted non-residential uses. An agricultural directional ground sign of up to 3.0 m² (32 sq ft) and 4.0 m (13 ft) may also be erected within 10 km of the farm it relates to (s.39).
“39. No Person shall Erect, cause or authorize an Agricultural Directional Ground Sign to be Erected or continue to be Erected more than 10 kilometres from the Property to which the Agricultural Directional Ground Sign relates.”
By-law 2024-116 deleted the footnote that limited the rural ground and wall signs to permitted non-residential uses. An agricultural directional ground sign of up to 3.0 m² (32 sq ft) and 4.0 m (13 ft) may also be erected within 10 km of the farm it relates to (s.39).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines 3.0 m Ground Sign 3.0 m — 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
Setback: 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines
“Only for permitted non-residential uses.”
Only for a permitted non-residential use (Table 7, footnote 2). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
“(b) extends beyond the extremity of the wall to which it is attached; (c) extends more than 0.5 m from the wall to which it is attached; (d) is not parallel to the wall to which it is attached; or”
Only for a permitted non-residential use (Table 7, footnote 2). No part of a wall sign may extend beyond the edge of the wall, stand off it by more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), or sit other than parallel to it (s.44(1)).
It can stick out no more than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) from the wall.
“Maximum Sign Height — — Ground Sign 1.2 m 7.5 m Maximum Sign Area 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.40 m2 4.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
Wall signs may cover up to 25% of the external façade of the part of the building your business occupies. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 10 m² (108 sq ft).
“(2) Despite paragraph 44.-(1)(a) a Wall Sign may be Erected on the uppermost Storey of a Building provided the Sign Area of the Wall Sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the uppermost Storey.”
the first storey, or the uppermost storey if the sign is no more than 10% of the area of that storey (s.44(2))
“Maximum Sign Height — — Ground Sign 1.2 m 7.5 m Maximum Sign Area 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.40 m2 4.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 4 m² (43 sq ft), however big the building or lot. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 4 m² (43 sq ft).
The ground sign can be no taller than 7.5 m (25 ft).
“Maximum Number of Signs Per Property — 1 as part of a Ground Sign 1 Ground Sign or 1 Wall Sign 1”
One ground sign per property.
“Only for permitted non-residential uses.”
Note: Only for a permitted non-residential use (Table 7, footnote 2).
“Minimum Setback from all Property Lines — Ground Sign 3.0 m Ground Sign 3.0 m 3.0 m”
Keep it at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) back from the property line.
Setback: 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) from all property lines
“Maximum Sign Height — — Ground Sign 1.2 m 7.5 m Maximum Sign Area 0.3 m2 30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign 0.40 m2 4.0 m2 25% of the external Fagade of that part of the Building occupied by a business”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft).
“(d) the intensity of the Illumination of the Electronic Message Board is maintained at a constant level; and”
None for a permanent sign. Instead, a message board’s illumination intensity must be “maintained at a constant level” and may not exceed 300 nits between sunset and sunrise. A portable electronic sign may not be illuminated after sunset or before sunrise.
s.8(5) says the grandfathering in s.8(1) does not exempt a message board from “Section 41” — but the message-board rules are s.42 (s.41 is electronic billboards, and the billboard reference to Section 40 is off in the same way). Whether an older board keeps its lawful status is therefore unclear; do not assume either way. s.42(d) also demands a constant illumination intensity, which arguably conflicts with an auto-dimming sensor — get a written interpretation before you specify a sensor as compliance evidence.
“(iv) does not exceed 300 nits during the period between sunset and sunrise.”
None for a permanent sign. Instead, a message board’s illumination intensity must be “maintained at a constant level” and may not exceed 300 nits between sunset and sunrise. A portable electronic sign may not be illuminated after sunset or before sunrise.
“(4) No Person shall Illuminate or cause or authorize the illumination or continuing Illumination of a Portable Electronic Sign after sunset or before sunrise on any day.”
None for a permanent sign. Instead, a message board’s illumination intensity must be “maintained at a constant level” and may not exceed 300 nits between sunset and sunrise. A portable electronic sign may not be illuminated after sunset or before sunrise.
“(c) there are no visible effects on the Electronic Message Board including but not limited to motion, fading, dissolving, flashing, intermittent or blinking light, scrolling or the illusion of such effects;”
No motion, fading, dissolving, flashing, intermittent or blinking light, scrolling, or the illusion of any of it
“(a) the Electronic Message Board is part of a Permanent Ground Sign;”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“All except C5, C7”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“30% of the maximum Sign Area of a Ground Sign”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“OSR, OSC, OSP, FD”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“Table 5 Institutional Sign District I & P”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“30% of the maximum area of a Ground Sign”
Part of a permanent ground sign, with an area of 30% of the maximum area of a ground sign on that property — not 30% of your sign. Permitted in every Commercial zone except C5 and C7, in the Industrial (Table 4) and Institutional I and P (Table 5) zones, and the OSR, OSC, OSP and FD open space zones
“(b) the Copy on an Electronic Message Board is displayed continuously in a static manner without animation and without any change or any visual effects for not less than 30 seconds;”
Not less than 30 seconds, displayed continuously in a static manner with no animation, change or visual effect
“(5) Subsection 8(1) does not apply to exempt an Electronic Billboard Sign from the requirements of Section 40 or to exempt an Electronic Message Board from the requirement of Section 41 of this By-law.”
s.8(5) says the grandfathering in s.8(1) does not exempt a message board from “Section 41” — but the message-board rules are s.42 (s.41 is electronic billboards, and the billboard reference to Section 40 is off in the same way). Whether an older board keeps its lawful status is therefore unclear; do not assume either way. s.42(d) also demands a constant illumination intensity, which arguably conflicts with an auto-dimming sensor — get a written interpretation before you specify a sensor as compliance evidence.
“g. In 42, by adding the following provision: "(f) the Electronic Message Board is Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more from any other Electronic Message Board".”
100 m (328 ft) from any other message board, added as s.42(f) by By-law 2024-116. As drafted, s.42(f) is written in the negative (“Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more”) but sits in a list that begins “unless”, so read literally it says the reverse; the intent is plainly a minimum distance — confirm with the City. The 200 m (656 ft) and 120 m (394 ft) distances in s.41(f) belong to electronic billboards, and a portable electronic sign must be 200 m (656 ft) from a ground sign with a message board on another property (s.55(3)(e))
“42. No Person shall Erect, cause or authorize an Electronic Message Board to be Erected or continue to be Erected unless:”
100 m (328 ft) from any other message board, added as s.42(f) by By-law 2024-116. As drafted, s.42(f) is written in the negative (“Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more”) but sits in a list that begins “unless”, so read literally it says the reverse; the intent is plainly a minimum distance — confirm with the City. The 200 m (656 ft) and 120 m (394 ft) distances in s.41(f) belong to electronic billboards, and a portable electronic sign must be 200 m (656 ft) from a ground sign with a message board on another property (s.55(3)(e))
“No Person shall Erect, cause or authorize an Electronic Billboard Sign to be Erected or continue to be Erected if:”
100 m (328 ft) from any other message board, added as s.42(f) by By-law 2024-116. As drafted, s.42(f) is written in the negative (“Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more”) but sits in a list that begins “unless”, so read literally it says the reverse; the intent is plainly a minimum distance — confirm with the City. The 200 m (656 ft) and 120 m (394 ft) distances in s.41(f) belong to electronic billboards, and a portable electronic sign must be 200 m (656 ft) from a ground sign with a message board on another property (s.55(3)(e))
“(f) the Electronic Billboard Sign is Erected in a location which is not: (i) 200.0 metres or more from any other Electronic Billboard Sign or any Ground Sign with an Electronic Message Board; or (ii) 120.0 metres or more from the centerline of a street intersection with Traffic Control Devices or an at Grade railway crossing.”
100 m (328 ft) from any other message board, added as s.42(f) by By-law 2024-116. As drafted, s.42(f) is written in the negative (“Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more”) but sits in a list that begins “unless”, so read literally it says the reverse; the intent is plainly a minimum distance — confirm with the City. The 200 m (656 ft) and 120 m (394 ft) distances in s.41(f) belong to electronic billboards, and a portable electronic sign must be 200 m (656 ft) from a ground sign with a message board on another property (s.55(3)(e))
“(e) 200.0 metres or more from any Electronic Billboard or any Ground Sign with an Electronic Message Board Erected on another Property.”
100 m (328 ft) from any other message board, added as s.42(f) by By-law 2024-116. As drafted, s.42(f) is written in the negative (“Erected in a location which is not 100.0 metres or more”) but sits in a list that begins “unless”, so read literally it says the reverse; the intent is plainly a minimum distance — confirm with the City. The 200 m (656 ft) and 120 m (394 ft) distances in s.41(f) belong to electronic billboards, and a portable electronic sign must be 200 m (656 ft) from a ground sign with a message board on another property (s.55(3)(e))
“2021-111 June 29, 2021 To Regulate the Erection of Signs and Advertising Devices City Council Repeals By - law 2007 - 250 and amendments Amended by 2021-166, 2024-116, 2026-37”
Sudbury publishes no consolidation. Its by-law index lists 2021-111 as “Amended by 2021-166, 2024-116, 2026-37”. We have read 2024-116: mostly housekeeping, but it also added the message-board spacing rule above and a 100 m (328 ft) distance from lands zoned for residential uses (2024-116 s.6). 2026-37 is titled “To Amend Various By-laws to Reflect Changes Resulting from an Organizational Restructuring”; we have read only its title in the index, not its text.
“2024-116 July 9, 2024 To Amend By-law 2021-111 being By-law of the City of Greater Sudbury to Regulate the Erection of Signs and Advertising Devices”
Sudbury publishes no consolidation. Its by-law index lists 2021-111 as “Amended by 2021-166, 2024-116, 2026-37”. We have read 2024-116: mostly housekeeping, but it also added the message-board spacing rule above and a 100 m (328 ft) distance from lands zoned for residential uses (2024-116 s.6). 2026-37 is titled “To Amend Various By-laws to Reflect Changes Resulting from an Organizational Restructuring”; we have read only its title in the index, not its text.
“2026-37 March 10, 2026 To Amend Various By-laws to Reflect Changes Resulting from an Organizational Restructuring”
Sudbury publishes no consolidation. Its by-law index lists 2021-111 as “Amended by 2021-166, 2024-116, 2026-37”. We have read 2024-116: mostly housekeeping, but it also added the message-board spacing rule above and a 100 m (328 ft) distance from lands zoned for residential uses (2024-116 s.6). 2026-37 is titled “To Amend Various By-laws to Reflect Changes Resulting from an Organizational Restructuring”; we have read only its title in the index, not its text.
“ii. Adding the following provision: "(iii) 100.0 metres or more from lands Zoned for residential uses".”
Sudbury publishes no consolidation. Its by-law index lists 2021-111 as “Amended by 2021-166, 2024-116, 2026-37”. We have read 2024-116: mostly housekeeping, but it also added the message-board spacing rule above and a 100 m (328 ft) distance from lands zoned for residential uses (2024-116 s.6). 2026-37 is titled “To Amend Various By-laws to Reflect Changes Resulting from an Organizational Restructuring”; we have read only its title in the index, not its text.
“(a) the Sign and source of Illumination are designed and located so as to prevent light trespass beyond the Sign Structure and the Display Surface; (b) the Sign is illuminated only using down-lighting or back-lighting or both; (c) any down-lights used to illuminated the Sign are designed to emit direct light below or at the horizontal, only; and”
s.15(1): an illuminated sign and its light source must be designed and located to prevent light trespass beyond the sign structure and the display surface; the sign may be illuminated only by down-lighting or back-lighting or both; and any down-light must emit direct light at or below the horizontal only.
s.15(1)(b) allows only down-lighting or back-lighting, and s.15(1)(c) requires down-lights to emit light at or below the horizontal, so ground-mounted up-lights on a monument sign are out.
Lighting from below, shining up at the sign, is allowed.
“(ii) does not increase the light levels within 10.0 metres of all points of the Display Surface 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.
“(iii) does not exceed 5,000 nits during the period between sunrise and sunset; and (iv) does not exceed 300 nits during the period between sunset and sunrise.”
A digital or lit sign can be no brighter than 5,000 nits in daylight (a nit is the standard measure of screen brightness).
At night it must dim to no more than 300 nits.
“on any non-residential use Premises or Property, in a location that is less than 30 metres from a Zone that permits only residential uses unless: (a) the Sign is Erected on the opposite side of the Road Allowance to a Zone Permitting only residential uses; and (b) the Sign is a Wall Sign facing a Road Allowance.”
The sleeper clause: on a non-residential property, an illuminated sign less than 30 metres from a zone that permits only residential uses is prohibited unless it is on the opposite side of the road allowance from that zone and is a wall sign facing a road allowance. An illuminated ground sign that close to such a zone is not permitted, even across the street.
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.
