Sign Permits

 The Sign By-law 72-96 sets the rules for signs in the City, including their size, type, location, use, and upkeep.

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.  

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.

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

Ontario Building Code

Sign structures must be designed in accordance with Part 4 of the Ontario Building Code and where required in Division C, Sentences 1.2.1.1.(6), 1.2.2.1.(8), 1.2.2.2.(1) and 1.2.2.2.(2), they shall be designed and field reviewed by an architect or professional engineer.

Permit application requirements

For your project, you will need to submit:

The site plan must include the following:

  • Entire property with lot dimensions
  • The location, dimensions and setbacks to property lines of the proposed sign 

Please note an up-to-date plan of survey of the property prepared and signed by an Ontario Land Surveyor may be required. 

Plans should include:

  • Design wind force
  • Soil bearing capacity
  • Type of soil
  • Material of sign face
  • Dimensions and grade of material of all structural members and connections

Please refer to Pylon Sign B for an example of required information for a typical ground/pylon sign or Pylon Sign A for signs with anchor bolts/metal plates.

Additional approval requirements

The applicant is responsible for obtaining approvals, where applicable, from other agencies prior to the issuance of a building permit such as:

159 Sir William Hearst Ave., 7th Floor, 
Downsview, ON M3M 1J8, 
Tel: 416-235-5385, Toll-free: 1-866-636-0663, 
Fax: 416-235-4267,
Website: hcms.mto.gov.on.ca
Re: Building, structures, advertising, and land use located within a¼ mile (400m) of Hwy 401 and 407 (Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act).

Works Department
105 Consumers Dr.,
Whitby L1N 6A3 
Tel: 905-668-7721, Fax: 905-668-2051
Email: works-reception@durham.ca
Re: Permit to project a sign in any regional street or highway

100 Whiting Ave, 
Oshawa, ON L1H 3T3 
Tel:905-579-0411, Fax: 905-579-0994,
Website: cloca.com
Re: Construction in flood plain and/or pacing of fill in restricted areas (Conservation Authorities Act).

The City of Oshawa issues a (temporary) sign permit for the erection of signs including:

A commercial mobile sign is a temporary mobile sign which contains a commercial message or reference or directs persons to a commercial enterprise.

Regulations

Description Distance
Minimum front yard setback 1 m
Minimum side yard setback 7.5 m
Minimum rear yard setback 7.5 m
Minimum setback from a residential zone 7.5 m
Minimum separation of mobile signs located on the same lot 15 m

Requirements

  1. Only permitted in commercial, industrial and airport zones as set out in Zoning By-law 60-94. They are not permitted in the Central Business District 
  2. Not permitted on vacant or residential lots.
  3. Must be accessory to the lawful business on the lot.
  4. The maximum display period per year for a commercial mobile sign is 120 days.
  5. The maximum sign height is 2.3 m, and the maximum sign area is 6.0 m2.
  6. The sign cannot be illuminated by a flashing, intermittent, or rotating, or changing light, beacon or beam.
  7. The sign cannot obstruct pedestrian traffic.
  8. The sign must comply with the electrical safety code.
  9. Electrical wires are not permitted on a parking lot, driveway or walkway.

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 zoningexaminer@oshawa.ca to confirm whether the property is eligible for commercial mobile signage.

A sandwich board sign is a free standing portable temporary sign supported by its own weight and includes an A-frame, A-board and a T-frame sign with advertising.

Requirements

  1. Only permitted in the Central Business District (C.B.D.).
  2. Must maintain both a 1.8 m, minimum width for pedestrian traffic within the boulevard and a 0.6 m minimum setback from the curb or edge of the travelled portion of the street.
  3. Must be made of plastic, metal or wood and must include an additional weight attached for stability and wind resistance that is situated under the tent of the sandwich board sign.
  4. Must be accessory to a lawful business within 3 m of the sign. 
  5. Must be 3 m from any other Sandwich Board sign. 
  6. Must be at least 1m from any pay and display parking machines, street furniture or waste receptacles.
  7. May not interfere with or obstruct any snow removal or maintenance.
  8. Must not be erected outside the hours of operation of any business relating to the sandwich board sign.
  9. Must clearly indicate the name of the business or the building unit number where the business is located.
  10. The maximum sign height is 1m, and the maximum width is 0.6 m.
  11. Only one sandwich board sign is permitted for each business unit identified by a municipal address within the C.B.D.
  12. A business unit located on an upper floor of a building is eligible for a sandwich board sign provided the business unit has a separate front entrance from the street/road such that the upper
    floor entrance is separated from the ground floor entrance.

  1. Only permitted over streets and are permitted in all commercial zones.
  2. Must have a minimum clearance of 5.5 m from the street.
  3. Shall not be attached to any street hardware, utility pole or tree.
  4. If a special event banner connects to private property, permission from affected property owner must be obtained.
  5. Shall remain a minimum of 4 weeks after erection, except where when the event is complete, in which case it must be removed immediately.
  6. Public liability insurance must be in place in form, content and amount satisfactory to the City. This insurance policy must name the City as a co-insured and shall be in place for the time
    required for the installation and removal of the special event banner and/or support system.

  1. Must be located on or within 50m of an approved temporary sales office.
  2. A building permit must also be obtained once a temporary sign permit is approved by the Commissioner.

Sign permit fees

The fee for signs requiring a building permit can be found in our Building By-law (item 74).

The fee for temporary signs can be found in our General Fees and Charges By-law - (Schedule D, sign permit (signs under the Sign By-law not regulated by the Ontario Building Code)

We accept cash, cheque (payable to the City of Oshawa), debit, Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Permit fees must be paid before a permit is issued.

How to apply on portal for sign (building) permit 

  1. From the drop-down menu please select sign as the application type.
  2. In the description field please write a brief description of the type of sign that is being installed.
  3. Choose the appropriate work items (based on the type of sign that is being erected) that apply.
  4. Enter the number of signs that are being erected.
  5. Enter the address of the proposed sign.
  6. Upload the PDF files of the required documents.
  7. Review and submit the application.

How to apply on portal for sign a temporary sign

  1. From the drop-down menu please select temporary sign as the application type.
  2. In the description field please write a brief description of the type of sign that is being installed.
  3. Enter the sign height, area and sign display period.
  4. Choose the appropriate work items that apply (based on the type of temporary sign that is being erected).
  5. Enter the number of signs that are being erected.
  6. Enter the address of the proposed sign.
  7. Upload the PDF files of the required documents.
  8. Review and submit the application.

Apply for a sign or temporary sign permit on our application portal

Contact Us

Service Oshawa
Oshawa City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7
Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: service@oshawa.ca

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