Gov't & Regulatory Affairs

Toronto - Permit guide, forms, Historical Database and 2012 fees

The forms and guide you are going to need in order to complete a sign permit at the City of Toronto can be downloaded below.

The Link on the City of Toronto's Web site for the Sign Bylaw Unit is: http://www.toronto.ca/signbylawunit/index.htm

 At the right, you will see a link to "Sign View".  When you click on this, you can access the City's cool software that allows you to enter the project address and see an image of the zoning around the site.  Clicking on the "I" for info and then the zone of the property will refresh the page and scrolling down below the map you will see a tab for sign bylaw regulations.  This will give you the specific regulations for the site.

The Link on the City of Toronto's Web site for Application forms and Guide is: www.toronto.ca Sign Permit Forms

The Link to the City of Toronto's Heritage Inventory Listing is: http://www.toronto.ca/heritage-preservation/heritage_properties_inventory.htm

NOTE: Under the separate division requirements, a sign permit and a building permit is now required. The building permit form must be completed and submitted along with the required fees.

If you need a sign variance, there are 3 levels to consider.

• Level 1) Payment of fee and review of the application for MINOR variance to the bylaw by the CBO and approval by the CBO.
• Level 2) If you want to appeal the decision of the CBO, then you need to complete the form and have your application pass before the Sign Variance Commitee. Additional fees are required. See "Sign Variance Committee Form" below.
• Level 3) If your proposal is not permitted at all in the sign bylaw, you may make an application for a Sign Bylaw Amendment. This creates a site specific amendment to a municipal address. An application, drawings and fees will be required. See "Sign Bylaw Amendment Application" below.

There are various special sign districts. Below are the maps to these districts.

Toronto Building Mandatory Electronic Sumissions

Starting November 7, 2011, the Sign Bylaw Unit will be moving to a fully electronic service.

All documnets including forms, reports, specificaitons, calculations and plans will be required to be submitted in electronic format.

This can be done in person via re-writable DVD, or
By email to: signbylawunit@toronto.ca

Permits will also be issued electronically.

Details can be found at:
http://www.toronto.ca/building/elec-submission-guidelines.htm

The official PDF notification is also attached.

First Party Sign Permits may qualify to be fast-tracked and issued in 2 business days.

The details of the program are as follows

• This new service is to be offered by the Toronto Sign Bylaw Unit effective February 7th, 2011
• This service will be available for First Party Sign Permit applications where:
  • There are a maximum of 3 signs and/or sign structures proposed;
  • All signs and/or sign structures included in the application must be designed by a professional architect or engineer and are stamped or sealed accordingly; and,
  • All Sign Permits as of Nov 2011 must be submitted via email. A non-password protected PDF is required for the application.
• The application can not be for a property or sign where approvals from any of the following would be required:
  • Ministry of Transportation;
  • Toronto and Region Conservation Authority;
  • Heritage Preservation Services;
  • General Manager of Transportation Services; or,
  • Tree Preservation Services, Parks Forestry and Recreation.
• The expected turnaround time for applications that qualify for this service will be 2 business days*

* After 2 business days, the permit will be issued, or a detailed notice describing all deficiencies will be issued. Once a deficiency notice has been issued, the permit will be processed at the discretion of the Sign Bylaw Unit staff. All other Sign Permit applications will have a target turnaround time of 10 business days.

Related File Downloads

SAC's Guide to City of Toronto Permits

Toronto's Permit Information Guide

2012 Toronto Permit Fee's

Sign Permit Application Form

Designers Form

Building Permit Form

Sign Variance application form

Gardiner Gateway Map

Spadina China Town Map

City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square Map

University Ave Parade Route Map

Yonge St BIA Map

Dundas Square Map

Kamloops Letter of Appreciation for our help

The BC Chapter of the Sign Association of Canada worked extensively with the City of Kamloops and their review of Electronic Message Centres.
David Atkinson from the BC Chapter was instrumental in assisting the City with the development of its regulations as well as providing various studies and background information.

At the Recent UBCM conference in Sept 2011, the BC Chapter had a booth where the Sign Association was able to field questions and offer suggestions and services to a vast array of municipalities that dropped by the Booth.

The BC Chapter welcomes all inquiries pertaining to municipalities from all parties.  Municipal officials to customers, we are here to help!

Attached is the letter from the City of Kamloops.

Related File Downloads

Letter of Appreciation from Kamloops

Letter of Thanks from MTO

For the past 2 years, the Ontario Chapter of the Sign Association of Canada has been working extensively with the Ministry of Transportation to revise its sign bylaws.   To that end, there have been many successes which have benefited our industry tremendously.

One item that was a constant issue which had not been resolved was the issue of the highway expansion and re-classification in northern Ontario.  These rural areas which in the past benefited from being identified as bush country were permitted signage along certain highways which would not be permitted in other areas of Ontario. This was due to the fact that the highways were less travelled and the areas were distinct in their environs.  With the expansion of the highways to four lanes and 100km per hour the Ministry automatically re-classified these as Class 1 which meant that the bush country exemption could not be applied. 

We were able to; through the formation of a grass roots initiative; harbour support and gain a powerful voice that was able to demonstrate that the environs had not changed and that the classification of bush country should remain.

This grass roots initiative was able to secure the involvement of Local, Provincial and business officials.  Here is a partial list of who were involved:

Northern Advertisers Association of Ontario (NAAO) – focused on letter writing campaign.
Sudbury Chamber of Commerce - Full support. Instrumental in access to the Ministers Office.
North Bay Chamber of Commerce - Full support. Organizing meeting with Nipissing MPP.
Sudbury MPP, Rick Bartalucci.  He helped open the Minister of Transportation’s door.
Vic Fedeli (past North Bay Mayor). Tabled the issue at the Conservative Caucus meeting.
Muskoka MPP, Norm Miller. In support of keeping the existing billboards on Hwy 11.
CFIB – letter of support
Meetings with local Municipalities: Powassan, Central Almaguin Economic Development Association (Cover Sundridge, South River, Strong, Joly & Machar) & Burk’s Falls.
Meeting with MPP Klees Conservative Transportation Critic.

After extensive work, the Ministry of Transportation considered our request and amended its bylaws to allow the continued use of these signs.  They rescinded the orders to remove that had been issued in 2010 to the owners of the signs.

A hearty congratulations is sent out to all who generously donated their time and effort to this cause.

The new MTO Regulations and details can be found at the MTO Web site here:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/engineering/management/corridor/signs.shtml
 

Related File Downloads

mto_thank_you_letter.pdf

Toronto - Electronic Message Centres Lighting Study

The City of Toronto conducted a study to evaluate the impact of Digital LED boards vers regular billboard signs or paper boards.

This lighting study concludes that Digital LED boards are less of an impact than traditional paper boards.

Read the report by clicking the attached link.

Related File Downloads

Toronto Sign Bylaw Unit lighting study