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Sign Permits
Sign By-law 72-96 controls the details of signs in the City by defining rules related to their size, location and the type of sign permitted.
The City of Oshawa issues building permits for the construction and installation of signs, including:
- Fascia signs
- Ground signs
- Canopy signs
- Pylon signs
- Projecting signs
- Banner signs
- LED message boards (read-o-graphs)
- Billboards
By getting a Building Permit, you ensure your sign meets all the requirements of the Ontario Building Code and Sign By-law.
The City of Oshawa issues a (Temporary) Sign Permit for the erection of signs including:
- Commercial Mobile Signs
- Sandwich Board Signs (in the Central Business District only)
- Special Event Banners erected over streets / roads
- All signs associated with a Temporary Sales office
Learn more about (Temporary) Signs on our Info Sheet
By getting a (Temporary) Sign Permit, you ensure your sign meets all the requirements of the Sign By-law.
The Sign By-law sets the size, use, location and maintenance of signs and advertising devices within the City. If your proposed sign does not meet the Sign By-law regulations, you can apply for a Sign Variance by completing the Application for a Sign Variance and submit it through the Oshawa Application Portal. In addition to the Oshawa Application Portal submission, one original hard copy of the application form must be commissioned and mailed/dropped off to Planning Services, as well as one copy of all submission materials.
Commercial Mobile Signs are also subject to the requirements outlined in applicable Site Plan Agreements. Before submitting your temporary sign permit application, kindly forward the site address to our Zoning team at [email protected] to confirm whether the property is eligible for commercial mobile signage.
A building permit or sign permit is not required for:
- an incidental sign with a sign area of 0.4 m2 or less.
- a window sign, provided that the sign is placed inside, upon, marked, inscribed on, or attached to the inside of a window or door for the purpose of viewing from outside the premises.
- the following Temporary Signs, provided each sign complies with the provisions of the Sign By-law:
- Home builders identification signs
- Real Estate open house signs
- Community event signs
- For a Permanent Sign, select application type Sign.
- For a Temporary Sign, select application type Temporary Sign.