What the published sign by-law allows at an address, with the source behind every number — early, while you are still estimating. Two short steps to an answer. Start with the location; add dimensions when you have them.
Start with the location. You do not need sign dimensions yet.
Saved in this browser only. Nothing here is sent to SignAllow. Loading one fills in the form; running it again follows the normal check rules.
Choose an address suggestion to check available government maps. You can also type an address and select the municipality for a manual check, or leave the address blank to explore the general rules.
Not identified automaticallyToronto sign districts need a manual check in SignView. Automatic sign-district selection is not available here yet. Heritage map checks are separate.
Don’t know it? SignView — the sign-district map, not the zoning map ↗ — search your address there.
The map area or by-law category used to select sign rules. It may differ from zoning. Confirm the applicable category using the municipality’s map or written advice.
General explanation; local definitions and measurement rules control. Check Toronto’s source ↗
This changes the presentation and available report options, not the rules or calculation. You can change it after the check.
Want to read it as written? Municipal Code Chapter 694 — Signs, General ↗ — consolidated 3 June 2024.
Choose the type that matches your sign. Dimensions can come later.
Other sign purposes
These categories currently prepare a municipal review. Size limits, fees and permit exemptions are not calculated yet.
Count display faces on this one sign, not separate signs. Dimensions can come later.
Each municipality can count faces differently. A per-face limit is not permission to multiply the total allowance.
Review guidance only: no size allowance, permit exemption, fee or permitted display period is calculated for these categories yet. You can record a proposal and save a preliminary report with the open questions.
Enter your intended dates, not a permitted duration. Renewal, repeat displays and removal deadlines still need confirmation.
Initial coverage: Oakville’s commercial, employment, mixed-use and institutional categories. Other municipalities and special uses need a separate review. This is a preliminary check against the published 2022 consolidation; later amendments remain unverified.
Motor vehicle businesses, drive-through facilities and third-party advertising need separate review. Choose “Other content or a special use” above. Illuminated signs and electronic displays are outside this initial calculation.
Measure one rectangular window, excluding its frame. Use explicit units: m, cm, ft or inches; bare numbers mean feet. Do not combine panes or transfer spare area between windows. For the proposed sign, enter the enclosing rectangle around the complete message; irregular layouts need confirmation.
This is the building’s storey count, not the sign’s location. Clarington uses it to select the shared wall-and-awning allowance. Subdivision sales offices have a separate table provision.
Exclude the sign you are proposing or replacing and any signs being removed. Leave uncertain quantities blank. Your answer is not independently verified.
No single sign-count limit is calculated for this selection. Confirm how the municipality counts existing signs.
A size limit for one sign is not automatically spare capacity on a wall or property. No shared-area deduction is calculated for this selection.
Not sure about placement? Leave it as “Not sure” and review the limits first. A sign type that is not listed needs a separate review.
Review what the maps found, then work through one follow-up at a time. You can leave questions open while exploring a sign before it is designed.
You can download a preliminary report before a sign is designed. Missing dimensions and unresolved reviews remain clearly identified.
Local history and team links keep basic details: location, sign type, district, building type, lighting and building measurements. They do not keep proposed sign dimensions, site-review answers or reports. Choose Save to my account to retain the full proposal and dated reports. For a customer handoff, download the neutral customer assessment.
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No sign design yet? That is fine. A wall or frontage measurement helps calculate the size allowance; proposed sign dimensions are optional. Use feet/inches or metric: 12 ft, 6 in, 3.5m or 150mm. Numbers without a unit are read as feet. Leave anything unknown blank.
Wall signs are usually sized off the wall they sit on, so this is the measurement that turns the rule into a number. A rough answer is fine.
The length of the property along the relevant street. Building frontage can mean something different. Use the measurement basis in your result; do not add street edges together unless the rule allows it.
General explanation; local definitions and measurement rules control. Check Toronto’s source ↗
The display area counted toward the sign-size limit. Separate letters, borders and multiple faces can be counted differently. Confirm the local method before entering the sign’s width and height.
General explanation; local definitions and measurement rules control. Check Toronto’s source ↗
Sign height is the display’s vertical size. Overall height runs from the required ground reference to the top of the sign. Check the local ground reference and what must be included.
General explanation; local definitions and measurement rules control. Check Toronto’s source ↗
Type them exactly as the drawing reads — 54'-1", 16m (52 ft), 11' 4" all work.
Manual review of the property and sign location. Address, zoning and heritage checks do not settle this overlay. Open the official district index and maps. If the boundary is unclear, ask Building Services and leave this unchecked.
Manual confirmation — an address or projecting sign does not establish an overhang. Compare the proposed sign with the property line on a survey or reliable site plan. Leave “Haven’t checked” if the location is undecided.
| Standard | Allowable | Proposed | Ref |
|---|
Every reference in that last column is a link into the by-law text itself.
Chapter 694 · Consolidated 3 June 2024 · PDF
A consolidation is the by-law’s text with its later amendments folded in; the date says how current that copy is.
Open the by-law ↗Straight to the sections the numbers above come from:
| What you want | Where it is | |
|---|---|---|
| Wall / fascia area | §694-20, then the district table in §694-21 | open ↗ |
| Ground sign area and height | §694-21, district tables | open ↗ |
| Variance | §694-30; Sign Variance Committee at §§694-32–694-39 | open ↗ |
| Structure | §694-5B(6) — no sign permit until the Chief Building Official’s approval under the Building Code Act is obtained, where applicable | open · p.14 ↗ |
Page jumps are close, not exact — a cover sheet or table of contents can shift a PDF by a page or two. The section number is the reliable part.
Also worth having open:
Permission requested to depart from a by-law requirement. Approval is not guaranteed, and a variance does not replace any other permits or approvals the proposal needs.
General explanation; local definitions and measurement rules control. Check Toronto’s source ↗
Each figure shows when it was last checked and against what. Anything over a year old, or a fee we checked before the most recent January (when most cities raise their fees), is marked out of date and is not shown as current. How we keep it current →
Search quotes, rule labels and citations on file for Toronto across all sign districts. This is not the complete by-law. A match may not apply to your address; check its district and source.
Showing the original excerpts for this check below. Search uses no additional checks.
Each figure above, in the by-law’s own words. Every quote was checked against the published document, and is re-checked whenever the document is re-read; a figure without one is not published.
“B. No sign permit shall be issued until approvals have been obtained, where applicable, from the following: (1) Ontario Ministry of Transportation; (2) Toronto and Region Conservation Authority; (3) City's General Manager, Transportation Services, in accordance with § 694-17 of this chapter; (4) City's Heritage Preservation Services, City Planning; (5) City's Tree Preservation Services, Parks Forestry and Recreation; and (6) The Chief Building Official, pursuant to the Building Code Act, 1992 .”
Structure: §694-5B(6) — no sign permit until the Chief Building Official’s approval under the Building Code Act is obtained, where applicable
“the total sign face area of all wall signs erected on an office building shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the first storey on which the signs are erected”
“The total sign face area for all wall signs erected on a wall shall not exceed 15 percent of the area of the wall at the first storey on which the signs are erected less the sign face area of any electronic wall signs erected on the wall at that storey”
Wall signs may cover up to 15% of first-storey wall area, less any electronic wall sign on that wall. For example, a storefront 10 m (33 ft) wide with a 4 m (13 ft) tall first storey works out to 6 m² (65 sq ft).
“wall sign - a sign erected on and entirely supported by the wall of a building with a sign face which projects no more than 0.60 metre from the wall”
It can stick out no more than 0.6 m (2 ft) from the wall.
“There shall be no more than one sign erected on each wall of a building to a maximum of two signs”
“The sign shall only be erected on an office building containing 10 or more storeys”
Building: an office building of 10+ storeys
“The sign face area shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the uppermost storey, mechanical penthouse or parapet wall on which the sign is erected”
The upper-storey sign may cover up to 20% of the wall.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.3 square metres for each 1.0 metre or part thereof of frontage at which the sign is erected to a maximum of 15.0 square metres”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 15 m² (161 sq ft), however big the building or lot.
You get 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) of ground sign for every metre (3 ft 3 in) of frontage. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 9 m² (97 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than one such sign erected at each frontage”
One ground sign per frontage.
“The height shall not exceed 7.5 metres”
The ground sign can be no taller than 7.5 m (25 ft).
“The sign shall not be erected within 6.0 metres of the intersection of two street lines”
Keep it at least 6 m (20 ft) from an intersection.
“The sign shall not be erected within 2.0 metres of any property line”
Keep it at least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) back from the property line.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.5 square metres”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.5 m² (5.4 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than two such signs erected at each point of vehicular ingress and egress to the premises”
2 directional signs per vehicular entrance.
“The height shall not exceed 1.5 metres”
The directional sign can be no taller than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
“Where erected at the first storey, the height shall not exceed 1.5 times the vertical distance between grade and the top boundary of the first storey of the building wall upon which the sign is located, and the sign shall not extend above the sill of the lowest window at the second storey of the wall on which the sign is erected”
at the first storey, no taller than 1.5 times the height of that storey (grade to the top of the first storey), and never above the sill of the lowest second-storey window
“The total sign face area of all wall signs erected at the first storey shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the first storey on which the signs are erected”
Wall signs may cover up to 20% of first-storey wall area.
“wall sign - a sign erected on and entirely supported by the wall of a building with a sign face which projects no more than 0.60 metre from the wall”
It can stick out no more than 0.6 m (2 ft) from the wall.
“The total sign face area of all wall signs erected at the second storey shall not exceed 10 percent of the area of the wall at the second storey on which the signs are erected”
At the second storey the allowance is 10% of the wall.
“There shall be no more than one sign erected on each wall of a building to a maximum of two signs”
“The sign shall only be erected on an office building containing 10 or more storeys”
Building: an office building of 10+ storeys
“The sign face area shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the uppermost storey, mechanical penthouse or parapet wall on which the sign is erected”
The upper-storey sign may cover up to 20% of the wall.
“where a frontage exceeds 200 metres, two signs may be erected provided they are separated by a distance of 100 metres”
A second sign is only possible where the frontage is more than 200 m (656 ft), with the two at least 100 m (328 ft) apart.
Where two signs are allowed, they must stand at least 100 m (328 ft) apart.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.3 square metre for each 1.0 metre or part thereof of frontage at which the sign is erected to a maximum of 20.0 square metres”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 20 m² (215 sq ft), however big the building or lot.
You get 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) of ground sign for every metre (3 ft 3 in) of frontage. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 9 m² (97 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than one ground sign or one electronic ground sign per frontage”
One ground sign per frontage.
“3.5 metres when erected at a frontage less than or equal to 20 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“5.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 20 metres but less than or equal to 30 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“6.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 30 metres but less than or equal to 40 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“8.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 40 metres but less than or equal to 60 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“10.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 60 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“The sign shall not be erected within 6.0 metres of the intersection of two street lines”
Keep it at least 6 m (20 ft) from an intersection.
“The sign shall not be erected within 2.0 metres of any property line”
Keep it at least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) back from the property line.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.5 square metre”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.5 m² (5.4 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than two such signs erected at each point of vehicular ingress and egress to the premises”
2 directional signs per vehicular entrance.
“The height shall not exceed 1.5 metres”
The directional sign can be no taller than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
“The sign face area shall not exceed 1.0 square metre”
A projecting sign can be no larger than 1 m² (11 sq ft).
“The sign shall not project more than 1.0 m from the wall on which the sign is erected”
It can stick out no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) from the wall.
“The sign shall not be erected closer than 6.0 metres, measured horizontally from any point on the sign, from another projecting sign on the same premises”
Two of these signs must be at least 6 m (20 ft) apart.
“The sign shall not be erected above the second storey”
not above the second storey, with at least 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) clear from the ground or sidewalk to its lowest point
“There shall be a minimum vertical clearance of 2.5 metres from the ground, sidewalk or walkway to the lowest point of an overhanging structure sign, electronic overhanging structure sign, projecting sign”
not above the second storey, with at least 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) clear from the ground or sidewalk to its lowest point
“Where erected at the first storey, the height shall not exceed 1.5 times the vertical distance between grade and the top boundary of the first storey of the building wall upon which the sign is located, and the sign shall not extend above the sill of the lowest window at the second storey of the wall on which the sign is erected”
at the first storey, no taller than 1.5 times the height of that storey (grade to the top of the first storey), and never above the sill of the lowest second-storey window
“The total sign face area of all wall signs erected at the first storey shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the first storey on which the signs are erected less the sign face area of any electronic wall signs erected on the wall at that storey”
Wall signs may cover up to 20% of first-storey wall area, less any electronic wall sign on that wall.
“wall sign - a sign erected on and entirely supported by the wall of a building with a sign face which projects no more than 0.60 metre from the wall”
It can stick out no more than 0.6 m (2 ft) from the wall.
“The total sign face area of all wall signs erected at the second storey shall not exceed 10 percent of the area of the wall at the second storey on which the signs are erected less the sign face area of any electronic wall signs erected on the wall at that storey”
At the second storey the allowance is 10% of the wall.
“There shall be no more than one sign erected on each wall of a building to a maximum of two signs”
“The sign shall only be erected on an office building containing 10 or more storeys”
Building: an office building of 10+ storeys
“The sign face area shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall at the uppermost storey, mechanical penthouse or parapet wall on which the sign is erected”
The upper-storey sign may cover up to 20% of the wall.
“where a frontage exceeds 200 metres, two signs may be erected provided they are separated by a distance of 100 metres”
A second sign is only possible where the frontage is more than 200 m (656 ft), with the two at least 100 m (328 ft) apart.
Where two signs are allowed, they must stand at least 100 m (328 ft) apart.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.3 square metre for each 1.0 metre or part thereof of frontage at which the sign is erected to a maximum of 20.0 square metres”
The ground sign allowance tops out at 20 m² (215 sq ft), however big the building or lot.
You get 0.3 m² (3.2 sq ft) of ground sign for every metre (3 ft 3 in) of frontage. For example, a lot with 30 m (98 ft) of street frontage works out to 9 m² (97 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than one such sign erected at each frontage”
One ground sign per frontage.
“3.5 metres when erected at a frontage less than or equal to 20 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“5.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 20 metres but less than or equal to 30 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“6.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 30 metres but less than or equal to 40 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“8.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 40 metres but less than or equal to 60 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“10.0 metres when erected at a frontage more than 60 metres”
Maximum height by frontage: up to 20 m (66 ft) → 3.5 m (11 ft); 20 m (66 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) → 5 m (16 ft); 30 m (98 ft) to 40 m (131 ft) → 6 m (20 ft); 40 m (131 ft) to 60 m (197 ft) → 8 m (26 ft); over 60 m (197 ft) → 10 m (33 ft).
graduated by frontage — 3.5 m (11 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft), 5.0 m (16 ft) to 30 m (98 ft), 6.0 m (20 ft) to 40 m (131 ft), 8.0 m (26 ft) to 60 m (197 ft), 10.0 m (33 ft) beyond
“The sign shall not be erected within 6.0 metres of the intersection of two street lines”
Keep it at least 6 m (20 ft) from an intersection.
“The sign shall not be erected within 2.0 metres of any property line”
Keep it at least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) back from the property line.
“The sign face area shall not exceed 0.5 square metre”
A directional sign can be no larger than 0.5 m² (5.4 sq ft).
“There shall be no more than two such signs erected at each point of vehicular ingress and egress to the premises”
2 directional signs per vehicular entrance.
“The height shall not exceed 1.5 metres”
The directional sign can be no taller than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
“The sign face area shall not exceed 1.0 square metre”
A projecting sign can be no larger than 1 m² (11 sq ft).
“The sign shall not project more than 1.0 m from the wall on which the sign is erected”
It can stick out no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) from the wall.
“The sign shall not be erected closer than 6.0 metres, measured horizontally from any point on the sign, from another projecting sign on the same premises”
Two of these signs must be at least 6 m (20 ft) apart.
“The sign shall not be erected above the second storey”
not above the second storey, with at least 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) clear from the ground or sidewalk to its lowest point
“There shall be a minimum vertical clearance of 2.5 metres from the ground, sidewalk or walkway to the lowest point of an overhanging structure sign, electronic overhanging structure sign, projecting sign”
not above the second storey, with at least 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) clear from the ground or sidewalk to its lowest point
“Between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., except where”
Dark 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., subject to the exceptions in §694-18C. 9 p.m. in an R or RA district, or within 30 m (98 ft) of an R premises.
“Between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. where the sign is located in an R sign district”
Dark 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., subject to the exceptions in §694-18C. 9 p.m. in an R or RA district, or within 30 m (98 ft) of an R premises.
“Between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. where the sign is located in an RA sign district”
Dark 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., subject to the exceptions in §694-18C. 9 p.m. in an R or RA district, or within 30 m (98 ft) of an R premises.
“Between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. where the sign is located within 30 metres of a premises in an R sign district”
Dark 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., subject to the exceptions in §694-18C. 9 p.m. in an R or RA district, or within 30 m (98 ft) of an R premises.
“Electronic Fuel Pump Sign, Electronic Ground Sign, Electronic Overhanging Structure Sign, Electronic Projecting Sign, Electronic Roof Sign, Electronic Topiary Sign, Electronic Window Sign or Electronic Wall Sign.”
Electronic wall and ground signs, by district
“The message duration shall not be less than 1.0 minute for a first party sign”
1 minute minimum; an electronic wall or ground sign may not hold a message for more than 3 minutes
“The message duration of any electronic static copy displayed shall not exceed 3.0 minutes”
1 minute minimum; an electronic wall or ground sign may not hold a message for more than 3 minutes
“The sign shall not be erected at a frontage of less than 100 metres”
In a C district: not at a frontage of less than 100 m (328 ft), and only on a commercial plaza of 10 or more units. In an E district: not on a premises with a residential use.
“A Commercial Plaza containing 10 or more units”
In a C district: not at a frontage of less than 100 m (328 ft), and only on a commercial plaza of 10 or more units. In an E district: not on a premises with a residential use.
“The sign may only be erected on a premises which contains no building containing an occupancy which is a residential use”
In a C district: not at a frontage of less than 100 m (328 ft), and only on a commercial plaza of 10 or more units. In an E district: not on a premises with a residential use.
“The sign shall not be erected within 60.0 metres of any R, RA, CR, I or OS sign district”
60 m (197 ft) from any R, RA, CR, I or OS district (quoted for the C district)
“shall be no greater than 25 percent of the average illumination of the immediately preceding electronic static copy”
Illumination may not change more than 25% between successive messages
“The message transition shall not exceed 1.0 second”
1 second, with no motion, dissolve, blink or flash during it
“During the message transition the sign shall not include any other visible effects, including but not limited to motion, dissolving, blinking, intermittent or flashing light”
1 second, with no motion, dissolve, blink or flash during it
“E. Unless otherwise expressly prohibited by this chapter, all signs may be illuminated provided the following requirements are met: (1) The sign shall not be up-lit; (2) The light shall not project onto any adjacent premises located in an R, RA, CR, I, or OS sign district;”
§694-18E opens with “all signs may be illuminated provided the following requirements are met”.
“The illumination shall not increase the light levels within 10.0 metres of all points of the sign face by more than 3.0 lux above the ambient lighting level”
It may add no more than 3 lux of light (roughly, the glow it throws on its surroundings) above normal levels, measured 10 m (33 ft) away.
Light spill is measured 10 m (33 ft) from the sign.
“The illumination shall not exceed 5,000 nits during the period between sunrise and sunset”
A digital or lit sign can be no brighter than 5,000 nits in daylight (a nit is the standard measure of screen brightness).
“The illumination shall not exceed 300 nits during the period between sunset and sunrise”
At night it must dim to no more than 300 nits.
“No first party sign shall be illuminated at any time when a smog alert is in effect”
No first-party sign may be lit while a smog alert is in effect, and all first-party signs must go dark within four hours of the alert being issued (§694-18A–B).
“All first party signs shall cease to be illuminated within four hours of the issuance of the smog alert”
No first-party sign may be lit while a smog alert is in effect, and all first-party signs must go dark within four hours of the alert being issued (§694-18A–B).
“(2) The light shall not project onto any adjacent premises located in an R, RA, CR, I, or OS sign district;”
Light may not project onto adjacent premises in an R, RA, CR, I or OS district — institutional and open space count, so a school or park next door triggers it.
“(1) The sign shall not be up-lit;”
Lighting from below, shining up at the sign, is allowed.
“Appeal to Sign Variance Committee with respect to a First Party Sign variance application $883.00”
20 days to the Sign Variance Committee, $883
“the 20-day appeal period will begin”
20 days to the Sign Variance Committee, $883
“Wall Signs $37.71 per square metre (minimum of $263.87)”
The smallest permit fee is $263.87.
The current first-party permit page lists $37.71/m² with a $263.87 sign-fee minimum for wall, ground, projecting and overhanging structure signs, plus a listed $70.67 building-permit component where applicable. Those minimum components do not equal the general sign page’s stated $334.53 total; that page also retains a $253.72 sign minimum. The enacted fee schedule labels the $37.71 rate per sign, while the application pages say per square metre. Confirm the charging unit, minimum, billable faces, building component and total for the exact work. No confirmed total or fee range is calculated.
The permit costs $37.71 per m² of sign (about $3.50 per sq ft).
“The minimum fee for a Sign Permit is $334.53, which includes a $70.67 fee for the Building Permit”
The smallest permit fee is $334.53.
“Building Permit (DS) $70.67”
The current first-party permit page lists $37.71/m² with a $263.87 sign-fee minimum for wall, ground, projecting and overhanging structure signs, plus a listed $70.67 building-permit component where applicable. Those minimum components do not equal the general sign page’s stated $334.53 total; that page also retains a $253.72 sign minimum. The enacted fee schedule labels the $37.71 rate per sign, while the application pages say per square metre. Confirm the charging unit, minimum, billable faces, building component and total for the exact work. No confirmed total or fee range is calculated.
“Wall Signs $37.71 per square metre (minimum of $253.72)”
The current first-party permit page lists $37.71/m² with a $263.87 sign-fee minimum for wall, ground, projecting and overhanging structure signs, plus a listed $70.67 building-permit component where applicable. Those minimum components do not equal the general sign page’s stated $334.53 total; that page also retains a $253.72 sign minimum. The enacted fee schedule labels the $37.71 rate per sign, while the application pages say per square metre. Confirm the charging unit, minimum, billable faces, building component and total for the exact work. No confirmed total or fee range is calculated.
“The minimum fee for a Sign Permit is $334.53, which includes a $70.67 fee for the Building Permit”
The current first-party permit page lists $37.71/m² with a $263.87 sign-fee minimum for wall, ground, projecting and overhanging structure signs, plus a listed $70.67 building-permit component where applicable. Those minimum components do not equal the general sign page’s stated $334.53 total; that page also retains a $253.72 sign minimum. The enacted fee schedule labels the $37.71 rate per sign, while the application pages say per square metre. Confirm the charging unit, minimum, billable faces, building component and total for the exact work. No confirmed total or fee range is calculated.
“The timeframe to receive the outcome of the review of sign permit applications for the installation of 3 or fewer signs, is 3 days”
Published review-outcome targets: 3 days for three signs or fewer after all required documents; 10 business days for four or more after required documents and fees. Heritage properties have separate conditions; resubmissions have no standard timeline. Confirm the applicable service stream and current target; these are not permit-issuance promises
“reviews sign permit applications for permits to install 4 signs or more”
Published review-outcome targets: 3 days for three signs or fewer after all required documents; 10 business days for four or more after required documents and fees. Heritage properties have separate conditions; resubmissions have no standard timeline. Confirm the applicable service stream and current target; these are not permit-issuance promises
“The standard timeline for a Sign Permit application is 10 business days”
Published review-outcome targets: 3 days for three signs or fewer after all required documents; 10 business days for four or more after required documents and fees. Heritage properties have separate conditions; resubmissions have no standard timeline. Confirm the applicable service stream and current target; these are not permit-issuance promises
“Application for a variance to Chapter 694 with respect to a First-Party Sign $971.16 per application”
Asking for a variance (permission to go beyond the by-law) costs $971.16.
“Application for a variance to Chapter 694 with respect to a Third-Party Sign $2,039.44 per application”
first-party; a third-party sign is $2,039.44
“The Sign Variance process usually takes around three months, from start to finish”
about three months, including the 30-day posting and the appeal period
“You will receive a Notice to post on site for no less than 30 days”
about three months, including the 30-day posting and the appeal period
Preliminary sign by-law research, for business use
Plain version first: SignAllow is a business tool for preliminary research into Ontario municipal sign by-laws. It retrieves the published rules, does the arithmetic on the selections and measurements you give it, and shows you the sections behind each figure. It is not a permit, not a municipal approval and not legal advice. Anything you will rely on for fabrication, installation, a permit application or another financial commitment must be verified with the municipality.
SignAllow is operated by SRD Media Group Inc., a corporation carrying on business as SignAllow, in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Contact: support@signallow.ca. In these terms, "we" means SRD Media Group Inc. and "you" means the business, or the person acting for it, that uses SignAllow or buys from it.
SignAllow is provided for business and commercial use: sign companies, general contractors, project and property managers, permit and sign professionals, and business owners acting for their business. It is not offered to consumers for personal, family or household purposes. When you accept these terms or buy, you confirm that you are using SignAllow for business purposes. Nothing in these terms takes away a right that applicable law gives you and does not allow to be excluded.
Before your first result you are asked to tick a box agreeing to these terms, and you are asked again before you pay. We keep a record of each acceptance (which version, when, and whether it happened at first use or at checkout), as the Privacy Notice describes. If you do not agree, do not use SignAllow.
You choose the municipality, the sign type and, where the by-law needs one, the sign district or category, and you supply the measurements. SignAllow then retrieves the rules it has built in from that municipality's published by-law, calculates what those rules give for your selections, cites the sections it used, and says where a rule could not be verified or can be read more than one way.
SignAllow does not decide how a municipality will classify your property or your sign, whether you are entitled to a permit or a variance, or how a genuinely ambiguous provision should be read. The municipality, or another authority having jurisdiction, makes those decisions and remains the final authority. SignAllow does not issue permits, review drawings, or provide legal, engineering or other professional advice.
SignAllow is designed to speed up preliminary by-law research, early estimating, feasibility and project planning, and you may use it for those. Before you rely on a result for fabrication, installation, a permit application or another financial commitment, verify it with the municipality. Check the selections a result is based on: a wrong district, sign type or measurement produces a wrong figure.
We follow the method set out on the methodology page. A figure is published as a number only where separate checks of the source agree, and where they do not, we say so rather than pick one. Even so, by-laws change, published copies lag behind amendments, site-specific amendments and municipal interpretations exist, and we can make mistakes. We do not promise that any result is complete, current or error-free, or that a municipality will agree with it.
Each report shows when it was generated and which version of SignAllow’s rules it used. We keep every version of the rules we publish, so a past result can be explained if you give us the inputs it was based on. We do not keep your inputs or your reports.
To the extent the law allows:
Nothing in these terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot be excluded or limited by law.
You may use results and reports in your own work, including sharing them with your client, your landlord or the municipality. You may not copy the rules in bulk, scrape or automate the site, resell its output as a service, or use it to build a competing database. The municipal documents we link to belong to the municipalities that publish them.
A number of checks are free. One check with an address includes refinements at that address and municipality for 90 days from its first run, without additional check charges: measurements, checklist answers and supported sign-type changes. Browser-only allowances require the original browser data and cookies; explicitly saving a completed check to your account carries the allowance across devices. Editing or copying a project does not extend the expiry. Changing the address or municipality is a new check. After expiry or when a saved allowance cannot be verified, we ask before using another check. Checks without an address cover refinements in the current visit only. Previously saved dated reports remain records; opening or downloading them uses no checks.
Two monthly plans are sold. Starter gives one person 10 checks in each monthly billing period; checks not used in a period do not carry over. Pro gives unlimited checks to the account holder and up to four teammates the account holder adds. Prices are in Canadian dollars. Applicable sales taxes are added where we are required to collect them. Before you pay, Stripe's checkout page shows the currency, any tax, the amount due and, for a subscription, how it renews. There are no other fees.
A subscription renews automatically each month until you cancel. Cancelling stops the next renewal, and your access continues to the end of the period already paid for. You can cancel at any time from Manage billing in the tool, which opens Stripe's billing portal. You never have to email anyone to stop paying. You can also move between Starter and Pro there; Stripe adjusts the charge for the rest of the period.
Pro teammates. On Pro, the account holder can add up to four teammates by email address. The account holder is responsible for who they add and for their teammates' use of SignAllow under these terms. A teammate's access ends when the account holder removes them or when the Pro plan ends. Teammates cannot manage billing.
An active Starter account holder may explicitly buy five additional checks for $29 CAD plus applicable tax as a one-time purchase. There is no automatic top-up or overage charge. Monthly checks and unused free checks are used before purchased checks. Purchased checks do not expire and remain usable by the account holder after cancellation. They do not add seats, extend a subscription or unlock features requiring an active membership. Pro checks do not consume this balance. Each purchased check follows the same property-refinement allowance described above.
Outside these windows, subscription periods already underway are normally non-refundable, except for billing errors, service failures or rights under applicable law. An unfavourable by-law result alone does not qualify for a refund: identifying a restriction is part of the research. If we materially misrepresented coverage or our error made the result unusable, contact us so we can correct it or offer an appropriate remedy.
Refunds include the applicable tax on the refunded amount and go to the original payment method. We do not deduct a processing or administration fee. Any refund or remedy that applicable law requires remains available.
A full top-up refund or chargeback removes unused checks from that purchase. A partial refund reduces that purchase’s available checks in proportion to the amount refunded, rounded up to a whole check. Other purchases are unaffected, and no extra charge is made automatically. If a subscription payment is refunded or charged back, we may end the plan it paid for.
To request a refund, email support@signallow.ca from the email address you paid with. Include the purchase date, receipt reference if available and a brief explanation; do not send card details. We aim to respond within two business days. This is a response target, not a guarantee of when your bank will post a refund.
Access is tied to a secure sign-in cookie your browser holds, not to a password. On a new device, or after clearing your browser, you get back in with a code sent to the email address you paid with. Keep that address reachable; it is the only way we can return access to you.
SignAllow is a small service and is not sold with an uptime guarantee.
Each version of these terms has a version number and an effective date, shown at the end of this page, and earlier versions are kept. If we make a material change, we will ask you to accept the new version before your next check. If you have a subscription, we will email you at least 30 days before a change that affects it, so you can cancel before it takes effect.
SignAllow is offered in Ontario. These terms are governed by the laws of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada that apply there, and the courts of Ontario decide any dispute. If any part of these terms is found unenforceable, the rest still applies.
Terms of Use, version 2026-09-27.4, 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.
