HomeMy WebLinkAboutBy-law 8154/25 - Sign By-law
The Corporation of the City of Pickering
By-law No. 8154/25
A By-law to regulate signs in the City of Pickering
Whereas pursuant to paragraph 7 of subsection 11(3) of the Municipal Act, 2001 a lower-tier
municipality may pass by-laws respecting signs;
And whereas signs are necessary to advertise or identify services, businesses, locations and
provide other information;
And whereas, if not effectively regulated, signs may create a nuisance, affect public safety and
detract from the character of the community;
And whereas the Municipal Act, 2001 provides the ability for a municipality to impose fines in
excess of $5,000.00 under the Provincial Offences Act R.S.O. 1990, and further allows for
special fines that may exceed $100,000.00;
Now therefore be it resolved that the Council of The Corporation of the City of Pickering enacts
as follows:
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 2
Part 1 – Administration and Interpretation
Title
1. This By-law and any amendments thereto shall be known as the “City of Pickering Sign
By-law”.
Other Applicable Laws
2. The applicant shall be responsible for obtaining the approval from any other government
authority having jurisdiction over the installation of a proposed sign.
Scope
2.1 This By-law applies to all signs that are or are to be located, erected, or displayed within
the boundaries of the City, save and except any other sign prescribed by statue, and shall
regulate the location, size, number, construction, alteration, repair, and maintenance of
signs.
2.2 All tables within the body of this By-law and schedules attached to this By-law shall form
part of this By-law.
2.3 This By-law does not apply to a sign that was lawfully elected, located, or displayed on
the day the By-law comes into force and effect if the sign is not substantially altered, and
the maintenance and repair of the sign or a change in the message or contents displayed
is deemed not in itself to constitute a substantial alteration.
Objectives
3. This By-law shall be applied and interpreted in a manner consistent with the following
objectives:
(a) reasonable means should be available to the public to erect signs on a property in
order to identify facilities, businesses and services located thereon;
(b) signs should not create any distraction or safety hazard for pedestrians or motorists,
or create any other danger to the public;
(c) signs should not create any adverse impacts on adjacent public or private property;
(d) signs should not detrimentally alter the physical appearance and architecture of any
building;
(e) to regulate signs placed on lands, buildings, and other structures within the
Corporate limits of the Municipality of Pickering;
(f) signs should not create unnecessary visual clutter due to their size, number or
location; and
(g) temporary signs should be strictly regulated in order to limit the visual impact on the
built environment and the consumption of resources.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 3
Definitions
4. In this By-law,
“address sign” means a sign that depicts the municipal address or civic number of a
property as regulated by this By-law and By-law 7686/19, as amended or replaced from
time to time;
“animation” means a method in which graphics, images or figures are manipulated to
appear as moving images and indicates colour or light changes through electronic means;
“applicant” means an owner, or any person authorized by an owner, who applies for a
sign permit, sign licence or sign permit variance;
“automobile service station” means an establishment where vehicle fuels, lubricants,
and automobile-related accessories are offered for retail sale, and which may include a
car washing establishment and a convenience store;
“automobile service station sign” means a sign on top of gasoline service pumps or on
the columns of a gas bar canopy, on guard posts or freestanding on a gasoline pump
apron and shall include signage for electrical vehicle charging stations;
“banner sign” means a temporary sign of lightweight fabric, plastic or similar material;
“billboard sign” means a sign that is fastened, posted, painted or projected in such a
manner as to permit its periodic replacement and that advertises goods, products or
services that are not available at the location of the sign or that directs a person to a
location different from where the sign is located. A billboard sign displays third-party
advertising with images that may change mechanically and/or displays information or
images on a digital or electronic screen;
“boulevard” means all parts of a highway except the roadway, shoulder and sidewalk;
“canopy sign” means any single-faced sign that is part of or attached to an awning,
canopy or other fabric, plastic or structural protective element installed over a window,
door, entrance, outdoor service area or similar type of entrance way, movable or
immovable;
“Chief Building Official” means the City’s Chief Building Official (CBO) or a designate;
“City” means The Corporation of the City of Pickering or the geographical area of
Pickering, as the context requires;
“community event sign” means a temporary sign that advertises a public event to be
held in the City organized for a non-profit, civic, cultural, religious or recreational purpose;
“construction information sign” means a temporary sign located on a property where a
building is to be built, renovated or demolished indicating information related to design,
construction, renovation, demolition, ownership and rental or sale, and may include the
name of the project, the architect, engineer, and other firms associated with the project;
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 4
“demising wall” means a wall that separates two adjacent tenants or a tenant from one
of the building’s common areas;
“development sales office sign” means a temporary sign located on a property where a
temporary sales office has been legally erected, to identify the builder,
subdivision/condominium marketing name and any other relevant information related to
the sales office;
“development sales sign” means a temporary sign directing people to a temporary
sales office where new homes and other residential developments are marketed to the
public;
“development sign” means a temporary sign that advertises a proposed development to
be constructed and may include the project name and graphic depictions, the developer(s)
and builder(s) names and contact information, and other pertinent information. A
development sign shall not include a construction information sign, a development sales
office sign, or a development sales sign;
“directional sign” means a sign that is intended solely for public information, safety or
convenience in directing persons or traffic and shall contain no commercial advertising,
but may include a corporate logo;
“Director” means the City’s Director, City Development or a designate;
“directory sign” means a sign intended to identify the location of a building containing
multiple occupancies;
“display surface” means the entire sign area which encloses the extreme limits of the
message or content displayed on a sign;
“drive-through facility” shall mean a building or structure or part thereof where goods,
food or services are offered to the public by way of a service window or kiosk while the
patrons are in a parked or in a stationary vehicle, and where goods, money or materials
are exchanged in a designated stacking lane with either a menu board and pre-menu
board signs;
“election sign” has the meaning ascribed to it in Election Sign By-law 7591/17, as
amended or replaced from time to time;
“electronic message display” means a component of a ground sign with moving parts,
flashing lights or fluorescent materials, billboard sign or wall sign that is computer
controlled and illuminated, which displays information to the public by way of prearranged
or variable sequence of electronically generated alphanumeric characters and digital
images;
“erect” means display, attach, affix post, alter, construct, (re)place, locate, install,
relocate and maintain, and cause or permit to be displayed, attached, affixed, posted,
altered, constructed, placed, located, installed, relocated and maintained of any sign or
part thereof;
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 5
“farm sign” means a sign advertising the sale of farm produce grown or produced on the
property where the sign is located;
“fence” means a fence as defined in Fence By-law 6943/09, as amended or replaced
from time to time;
“filming location sign” means a temporary sign identifying a site used for a film
production;
“first storey” means the storey with its floor closet above average grade and having its
ceiling more than 1.8 metres above average grade, and has the same meaning as
defined as Storey, First in the City’s applicable Zoning By-law, as amended;
“fixture” means any structure that the City permits to be located within a boulevard
including, but not limited to, a utility box, newspaper vending box, bench, transit shelter,
telephone pole, telephone booth, transformer box or vault, hydro pole, streetlight,
stoplight pole, recycling waste module, mailbox, tree and street sign;
“flag” means a piece of cloth, or lightweight non-rigid material that is attached by one
edge to a pole or rope, bearing a crest, emblem or insignia of any corporation, federal,
provincial and municipal government agency, or religious, charitable, fraternal, cultural or
community organization with no informational or advertising content;
“flag sign” means a sign made of cloth or lightweight non-rigid material that is attached
by one edge to a pole or rope, and displays information, promotional or advertising
content;
“frontage” means the linear distance along the façade of the building, which is parallel
to, or most close to being parallel to, an abutting public and/or private street. For the
purpose of this By-law, a building may have more than one building frontage this being
determined by the number of public and/or private streets abutting the lot. In a building
with multiple units, a unit is only considered to have building frontage if the main customer
access to the unit/tenancy leads directly outside. If the main customer access of a unit
only leads to an interior sideyard of the site and/or an exterior parking lot, that wall face
may be considered for building frontage per unit/tenancy.
“garage/yard sale sign” means a temporary sign advertising a garage/yard sale of
personal merchandise at a residential property, and includes any directional signs thereto;
“ground sign” means a permanent sign which is free standing in a fixed location and is
wholly supported by a structural base erected on and in or upon the ground, but not part
of a building, and includes a pylon sign, a directional sign, directory sign and drive-through
sign, but does not include a billboard sign;
“heritage conservation district” means a heritage conservation district designated
under the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18;
“heritage property” means property that has been designated under the Ontario
Heritage Act to be of cultural heritage value or interest or a property on the City's registry
of properties that the City believes to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 6
“high density residential” means a residential building other than low density residential;
“hoarding” means any temporary construction barrier continuously enclosing a
construction site that is erected for the purpose of site protection; including any temporary
structure required for safety required by provincial or federal legislation or regulation and
including covered sidewalks, scaffolding, fencing, etc.;
“home-based business sign” means a sign located on a property advertising an
accessory business or occupation used or conducted in a residential premises on the
property where the sign is located;
“home improvement sign” means a temporary sign advertising or promoting
landscaping, home repairs or home renovations;
“inflatable sign” means a temporary sign filled by air or other gas that is either designed
to be airborne or tethered to the ground, a vehicle, a roof or any other structure and
includes balloons;
“interior sign” means a sign located within the interior of a building that is intended to be
seen outside of the building and includes a window sign;
“low density residential” means a single detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling,
duplex, triplex, fourplex, townhouse, mobile home, or any other residential facility housing
six or fewer residents;
“menu board” means a permanent sign erected as part of a drive-through facility and
used to display, provide pricing for goods, food, and/or services and order products and
services available at the premises;
“mixed-use building” means a building or complex that includes mixed land uses;
“model home sign” means a temporary sign located on a property containing a model
home for the purpose of marketing new residential construction;
“mural” means any type of display or artistic endeavour applied to any external wall or
other part of a building or structure which does not include any words, images, logos, or
trademarks that advertise or convey any promotional message;
“new business” means a business at a location that has been in operation for less than
90 days;
“no trespassing sign” means an informational sign which relates exclusively to
regulating access to a property upon which the sign is located;
“officer” means a municipal law enforcement officer employed by the City to enforce
municipal by-laws or a police officer appointed under the Police Services Act ;
“official sign” means a sign to be used, required by, or erected by any federal,
provincial, regional, or municipal government, a public body or agency thereof or board or
commission or public utility, including, but not limited to, signs designating hospitals,
schools, libraries, community centres, arenas or other public government uses. Where
signage is proposed for private use on public lands, authorization from the public body
and a sign permit will be required;
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 7
“open space system” means the Open Space System land use designation identified on
Schedule I of the City of Pickering’s Official Plan, as amended from time to time;
“owner” means the registered owner of a property, person identified in the most recent
tax roll as the owner of a property or a lessee, tenant, mortgagee in possession or any
other person in charge or possession of a property;
“person” means an individual, association, firm, partnership, corporation, trust,
organization, trustee or agent, and the heirs, executors or legal representatives of the
person to whom the context can apply according to law;
“portable sign” means any temporary sign and/or any sign readily moveable from place
to place, which is not anchored to the ground, including signs commonly referred to as
a-frame, t-frame, sandwich boards, signs fixed to a trailer and any type of device used or
capable of being used for advertising purposes;
“poster” means a printed notice conveying information intended to be displayed for a
temporary period of time and includes a bill, handbill, leaflet and placard;
“pre-menu board” shall mean a sign erected at the entry to a stacking lane of a
drive-through facility and used to display goods, food and/or services available at the
premises;
“premises” means the area of a building or part thereof and/or land or part thereof
occupied or used for residential, commercial and/or industrial purposes and in a multiple
occupancy building, occupied by more than one business, each business area shall be
considered a separate premises;
“property” means a parcel of land, with or without a building or structure, that is a legal
property of record;
“pylon sign” means a type of ground sign that is free standing in a fixed location and is
wholly supported by a structural base erected on and in the ground, but not part of a
building;
“real estate sign” means a temporary non-illuminated sign erected to advertise that a
property, building or a portion of a building is offered for sale, rent or lease;
“real estate open house sign” means a temporary sign advertising that a property for
sale, rent or lease is available for public viewing during a specified date and time;
“Region” means The Regional Municipality of Durham;
“setback” means the shortest distance between a property lot line and the closest
portion of a sign;
“sidewalk sign” means a freestanding temporary sign, not affixed to the ground,
advertising a business, service or product and installed on a sidewalk;
“sign” means any device, notice or visual medium including its structure and other
component parts that is used, or is capable of being used, to attract attention to a specific
subject matter for identification, information or advertising purposes;
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 8
“sign area” means,
(a) in the case of a sign having one display surface, the area of the display surface;
(b) in the case of a sign having two display surfaces located on a sign structure
exactly opposite the other, the area of one display surface;
(c) in the case of a free standing number, letter or shape, the smallest rectangle
which will enclose the number, letter or shape; and
(d) in the case of groupings of free standing numbers, letters or shapes, or
combinations thereof, the sum of the areas of the smallest rectangles which will
enclose each separate grouping of letters, numbers or shapes;
“sign height” means the vertical distance from the ground directly below the sign
measured to the highest extremity of the sign, including the sign structure;
“sign licence” means any licence issued by the City pursuant to the provisions of this
By-law;
“sign permit” means any permit issued by the City pursuant to the provisions of this
By-law;
“sign structure” means the framework, bracing or support of a sign;
“Special Sign District” means a Special Sign District identified in Schedule "A";
“stacking lane” shall mean an on-site area used exclusively for queued vehicles
whose occupants are waiting to be provided with goods, materials or services from a
drive-through facility;
“street” includes a common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway, driveway,
square, place, bridge, viaduct or trestle, any part of which is intended for or used by the
general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the area between the lateral
property lines thereof;
“Substantially Altered” or “Alter” means any change to the sign structure or sign face,
with the exception of:
(i) a change in the message being displayed; and/or
(ii) repair and maintenance, including replacement by identical components as
required by this By-law;
“temporary”, when describing a sign, means a sign conveying a message for a limited
period of display;
“temporary operations” means a business in operation for a maximum of 4 months;
“variance” means permission to locate, erect or display a sign in a manner that is not in
compliance with the requirements of this By-law;
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 9
“wall sign” means a sign attached to a building wall, that projects from a wall, and a
single-faced sign directly painted, marked on or inscribed on an exterior wall surface of a
building, but shall not include a mural. A wall sign may include a canopy sign, directional
sign and directory sign.
“window sign” means a sign located on the interior of a premise which is intended to be
seen from off the premises, but shall not include illuminated signs, or upon or marked or
inscribed on, or attached to, the inside of a window or door for the purpose of viewing
from outside the premises.
Application
5. This By-law applies to all signs displayed within the City, unless otherwise stated in this
By-law.
References to Legislation
6. In this By-law, reference to any Act, regulation or by-law is reference to that Act,
regulation or by-law as it is amended or re-enacted from time to time.
7. The issuance of a permit does not relieve the person/applicant/owner of the responsibility
of obtaining all other approvals that may be required by the Corporation, or any level of
government and agencies thereof or compliance with a by-law, legislation or obligation.
Word Usage
8. This By-law shall be read with all changes in gender or number as the context may
require.
9. A grammatical variation of a word or expression defined has a corresponding meaning.
Schedules
10. Schedule "A" (Special Sign Districts) and Schedule "B1 and B2" (Billboard Sign Districts)
are attached to and form part of this By-law.
11. Unless otherwise specified, references in this By-law to Parts, Sections and Schedules
are to Parts, Sections and Schedules in this By-law.
Conflicts
12. If a provision of this By-law conflicts with a provision of any applicable Act, regulation or
by-law, the provision that establishes the higher or more restrictive standard to protect the
health, safety and welfare of the general public shall prevail.
13. Where an industrial building contains commercial uses that are permitted in an industrial
category of the City's Zoning By-law, the sign requirements for a commercial zone shall
apply.
14. Where the provisions for sign exemptions are not met, a sign permit or sign licence as
well as associated sign variance may be required.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 10
Measurements
15. All dimensions in this By-law are in millimetres (mm), centimetres (cm), metres (m),
hectares (ha) or square metres (m²) and all plans, specifications, documents and other
information submitted with any application under this By-law shall use such dimensions.
Severability
16. Each section of this By-law is an independent section, and the holding of any section or
part of any section of this By-law to be void or ineffective for any reason shall not be
deemed to affect the validity of any other section or parts of sections of this By-law.
Fees
17. Any fees charged under this By-law are as outlined in the City’s current General Municipal
Fees By-law, as amended from time to time, and are per sign and non-refundable.
Maintenance
18. The Owner of the building to which a sign is attached, or of the lot upon which a sign is
located, shall maintain or cause the sign to be maintained in a state of good repair. For
the purposes of this section, a sign which is in a state of good repair is a sign which is
clean, neatly painted and property maintained.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 11
Part 2 – Sign Permits
Required Sign Permits
19. (i) No person shall erect any ground sign, wall sign, canopy sign, development sign,
billboard sign or drive-through sign without a sign permit.
(ii) No person shall erect any sign without a sign permit, where a sign permit is required
pursuant to this By-law.
20. Notwithstanding Section 25, any sign lawfully erected prior to the passing of this By-law
shall not require a sign permit provided such sign has continuously remained in its
location and has not been substantially altered.
21. Notwithstanding Sections 25 and 26, any billboard sign lawfully erected prior to the
passing of this By-law shall not require a sign permit provided such billboard sign has
continuously remained in its location, has not been substantially altered and the owner of
the billboard sign has obtained a sign licence.
Sign Permit Applications
22. A sign permit application shall be made by the Owner of the property, building or
business, on which the sign is to be erected or an authorized representative of the owner.
23. The City’s Chief Building Official shall be responsible for administration of all sign permits.
24. All sign permit applications shall be filed with the City's prescribed form.
25. Every sign permit application shall,
(a) identify and describe in detail the proposed sign and all other signs existing on the
property at the time of the application;
(b) describe the property on which the proposed sign is to be erected by legal
description and municipal address or by other equivalent description that will readily
identify the property;
(c) state the name, address, telephone numbers and email of the applicant and any
persons designing or erecting the sign;
(d) be accompanied by plans, specifications, documents and other information
describing the construction, dimensions, materials and specific location of the
proposed sign in sufficient detail to permit the Chief Building Official to determine
whether the sign will comply with this By-law, the building code, an approved site
plan, heritage conservation district guidelines, or any other applicable law;
(e) be accompanied by the applicable fee(s) set out in the City’s current General
Municipal Fees By-law, as amended from time to time;
(f) include, where the applicant is not the owner of the property, authorization for
making the application on behalf of the owner;
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 12
(g) be signed by the applicant who shall certify the accuracy and truth of the contents of
the application; and
(h) the applicant shall obtain approval for the proposed sign, if required, from other
governmental authorities or agencies having jurisdiction.
26. If required by the City, all plans and specifications covering the erection of a sign and
supporting framework that are submitted as part of a sign permit application shall be
certified by a Registered Professional Engineer as to the structural adequacy of the sign.
Sign Permit Issuance
27. The City’s Chief Building Official may approve or refuse any sign permit application, and
may impose any conditions upon an approval as he or she determines to be appropriate.
28. The City shall refuse to issue a permit if the proposed sign does not comply with this
By-law, the building code, an approved site plan, heritage conservation district guidelines,
or any other applicable law.
Revocation of Sign Permit
29. The City’s Chief Building Official may revoke a sign permit under any of the following
circumstances:
(a) the sign permit has been issued in error;
(b) the sign for which the sign permit was issued is erected in contravention of any part
of this By-law, the building code, an approved site plan, heritage conservation
district guidelines, or any other applicable law;
(c) the sign permit has been issued as the result of false, mistaken, incorrect, or
misleading statements, information or undertakings on the application or on any
submitted documents that formed the basis of the issuance;
(d) the business or other subject matter to which the sign relates ceases to exist;
(e) the sign permit holder requests that the sign permit be revoked; or
(f) 6 months have elapsed following the date of sign permit issuance and the sign
authorized by the sign permit has not been erected.
Special Sign Districts
30. In addition to the requirements of Sections 32 to 37, every permit application for a sign in
a Special Sign District shall be accompanied by scale drawings clearly showing,
(a) the proposed sign materials, letter fonts and colours;
(b) the proposed means of any sign illumination; and
(c) in the case of a wall sign, an accurate building elevation drawing showing the size
of the sign and a cross-section of the sign showing the proposed method of affixing
the sign to the building.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 13
Heritage Properties
31. (a) A sign permit for a sign in a heritage conservation district shall not be issued unless
the sign conforms to the applicable heritage conservation district guidelines adopted
by the City.
(b) A sign permit for a sign on heritage property shall not be issued unless the applicant
has met all additional requirements under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Ground Signs
32. (1) Ground signs shall comply with the following restrictions:
Use Maximum
Sign Height
Maximum
Sign Area
Maximum
Number
Minimum
Setback*
Low Density Residential Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
Part of the Open Space System Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
High Density Residential 2.0 metres 4.0 square
metres 1 3.0 metres
Institutional 2.0 metres 4.0 square
metres 1 3.0 metres
Commercial or industrial (less
than 30 metre frontage) 4.0 metres 10.0 square
metres
1 per street
frontage 3.0 metres
Commercial or industrial
(30 metre frontage or more) 6.0 metres 18.0 square
metres
1 per street
frontage 3.0 metres
All Other Uses 3.0 metres 6.0 square
metres
1 per street
frontage 3.0 metres
*setback from property lines
(2) Specific Ground Sign Regulations:
(a) Notwithstanding section 32. (1), no ground sign exceeding 1.5 square metres in
sign area or 1.5 metres in sign height shall be erected in a Special Sign District.
(b) Every ground sign shall contain the municipal address number in numerals (refer
to the City’s By-law pertaining to Civic Numbering of Buildings and Properties,
By-law 7686/19, as amended or replaced from time to time).
(c) Every ground sign shall be located on the property to which the sign relates,
and shall only reference businesses located on that property.
(d) Subject to subsection (e), a maximum of one ground sign shall be permitted for
each street frontage on any one property.
(e) A second ground sign shall be permitted on a property in a commercial or
industrial zone where the street frontage is not less than 200 metres, and the
ground signs are not located within 100 metres of each other.
(f) For regulations specific to an electronic message display, refer to Section 63.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 14
Wall Signs
33. (1) Wall signs shall comply with the following restrictions:
Use Maximum
Sign Area Maximum Number Minimum Height
from Ground
Low Density Residential Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
High Density Residential 4.0 square metres 1 per frontage 2.4 metres
Institutional 4.0 square metres 1 per frontage 2.4 metres
Commercial / Industrial
(multi-tenant & multi-
storey)
15 percent of
tenancy walls
1 per owner/tenant per
frontage of the
tenancy walls
2.4 metres
Mixed-use Building 15 percent of
tenancy walls
1 per owner/tenant per
frontage of the
tenancy walls
2.4 metres
All Other Uses 4.0 square metres 1 per frontage 2.4 metres
(2) Specific Wall Sign Regulations:
(a) Notwithstanding section 33. (1), no wall sign exceeding 1.5 square metres in
sign area shall be erected in a Special Sign District.
(b) Except as permitted by By-law 7686/19, as amended or replaced from time to
time, and Section 61 (home-based businesses), no wall sign shall be erected
for a low density residential use.
(c) A wall sign shall be located within the demising tenancy walls.
(d) The maximum sign area per tenancy includes the combined sign area of wall
signs and canopy signs.
(e) In a commercial or industrial building containing multiple tenancies, the
applicable building face area for a wall sign respecting an individual tenancy
shall be measured only to the limits of the tenancy demising walls adjacent to
the wall on which the sign is located.
(f) No wall sign shall be erected for a high density residential use other than a sign
displaying the building identification, corporate logo or similar content on the
highest storey of the building, a minimum of 2 storeys above grade and shall
not exceed 6.0 square metres in sign area.
(g) No wall sign shall be erected on any building that contains more than 1 storey
above grade other than on the first storey, the second storey, and highest
storey of such building.
(h) A maximum of one wall sign may be erected on each wall face of the highest
storey of a building that is more than 2 storeys above grade.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 15
(i) No part of a wall sign shall project more than 0.5 metres from the building
except in the case of a canopy sign provided it is located a minimum of
2.4 metres above grade and does not project more than 2.0 metres from any
wall it is attached to.
(j) For regulations specific to an electronic message display, refer to Section 63.
(k) For regulations specific to canopy signs, refer to Section 36.
Development Signs
34. Specific Development Sign Regulations:
(a) Development signs shall not be permitted in the Open Space System. For all other
land uses, development signs not exceeding 6.0 metres in sign height and with a
setback of at least 3.0 metres shall be permitted.
(b) A maximum of one development sign having a sign area not exceeding 20 square
metres may be erected on each street frontage on any single development site.
(c) A maximum of two additional development signs having a sign area not exceeding
10 square metres may be erected on any vacant property outside of the
development site.
(d) No more than three development signs shall be erected in relation to any single
development project.
(e) A development sign shall be removed no later than 30 days upon the earlier of,
(i) the completion of sales related to the development; or
(ii) 24 months after the date the sign permit is issued; or
(iii) as prescribed by specific locational City policies/standards which permits
identified periods of time/duration.
Billboard Signs
35. Specific Billboard Sign Regulations:
(a) Billboard signs shall not be permitted in any location other than within the Billboard
Sign District shown in Schedule “B1” and “B2”.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 35.(a), billboard signs are permitted only within an
Employment or Major Tourist Destination Zone.
(c) One billboard sign is permitted per property.
(d) No billboard sign shall exceed a sign area of 20 square metres.
(e) No billboard sign shall exceed a sign height of 7.5 metres.
(f) No billboard sign shall be located within 30 metres from an intersection.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 16
(g) No billboard sign shall be located within 100 metres from a residential zone/use.
(h) No billboard shall be located within 45 metres from a road, street, or railway that
intersects a highway at grade.
(i) No billboard sign shall be erected on a roof of a building.
(j) No billboard sign shall be located within 250 metres of any other billboard sign.
(k) No billboard sign shall be located within 30 metres from any other sign type.
(l) No billboard sign shall be located within 3 metres of a property line.
(m) Where an existing billboard sign is to be revised to an Electronic Display Board a
sign permit is required.
(n) All billboard signs within 400 metres of Highway 401 shall require the approval of a
permit issued by the Ministry of Transportation in addition to the City of Pickering.
(o) All billboard signs located in Schedule “B2” may require the approval of a permit
issued by the Ministry of Transportation and Transport Canada in addition to the City
of Pickering.
(p) For regulations specific to an electronic message display, refer to Section 63.
Canopy Signs
36. Specific Canopy Sign Provisions:
(a) No person shall erect or display, or cause to be erected or displayed, a canopy sign
except in compliance with the provisions of this subsection.
(b) Where a canopy overhangs more than 0.5 metres from a building wall and/or
functions as a sign, a sign permit shall be required.
(c) No canopy sign shall project more than 2.0 metres from any wall to which it is
attached.
(d) No canopy sign shall project more than 1.0 metre above a roof line.
(e) No canopy sign shall extend beyond the end of a wall except to connect with another
canopy sign that is perpendicular to it and of identical dimensions, excluding length.
(f) A canopy sign on a first storey may be located partly above the first storey, provided
at least half of the sign is on the first storey and all of the sign is located below the
lowest window or set of windows on an upper storey.
(g) Canopy signs on the same wall face shall be separated vertically by not less than
1.5 metres.
(h) No person shall erect or maintain any canopy sign attached or affixed to any land or
building so as to project into or over or be suspended over a City Street without an
encroachment permit.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 17
(i) The issuance of a building permit or sign permit shall not be provided for a canopy
sign that projects into or over, or is suspended over a City Street until an
encroachment permit is issued.
Drive-through Signs
37. Specific Drive-Through Sign Regulations:
(a) Drive-Through Signs include:
(i) Menu Board;
(ii) Pre-Menu Board;
(b) No menu board sign shall exceed a sign area of 4 square metres.
(c) No pre-menu board sign shall exceed a sign area of 2 square metres.
(d) No person shall erect a drive-through sign at any location other than entirely on
private property.
(e) A maximum of one menu board sign is permitted per drive-through stacking lane and
one pre-menu board sign is permitted per drive-through stacking lane.
(f) Maximum height per drive-through sign shall be 2.5 metres.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 18
Part 3 – Sign Licences
Required Sign Licences
38. (a) No person shall erect any portable sign, banner sign, flag sign, inflatable sign,
sidewalk sign or billboard sign without a sign licence.
(b) No person shall erect any sign without a sign licence, where a sign licence is
required pursuant to this By-law.
Sign Licence Applications
39. A sign licence application shall be made by an owner of the property on which the sign is
to be erected or an authorized representative of the owner.
40. The City’s Manager, Municipal Law Enforcement, or their designate shall be responsible
for administration of all sign licences.
41. All sign licence applications shall be filed using the City's prescribed form.
42. A separate sign licence application is required for every sign.
43. Every sign licence application shall be accompanied by details of the size and location of
the proposed sign and the applicable fee(s) set out in the City’s current General Municipal
Fees By-law, as amended.
44. Where a sign licence application is for a portable sign for an individual business in a
building containing multiple tenants, the application must include written permission from
the owner or the owner's authorized representative consenting to the placement of the
portable sign.
General Sign Licence Requirements
45. All sign licences shall expire on the date indicated on the sign licence.
46. A maximum of four sign licences for signs may be issued concerning an individual
business or service in any calendar year provided at least 30 days have elapsed since
the expiry of the last sign licence and the sign has been removed.
47. (a) A maximum of one sign licence may be issued for a single property at any one time,
irrespective of the number of business tenancies located on the property.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, new businesses and temporary operations may be
permitted additional temporary signage in accordance with Section 49.
48. No sign licence shall be issued on any heritage property.
Sign Licence Relief
49. Subject to approval by the City’s Manager, Municipal Law Enforcement Services, relief
from the provisions of this By-law for any sign requiring a sign licence may be granted
provided such relief is consistent with the objectives of this By-law and the relief is for a
maximum of 3 months.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 19
Portable Signs
50. (1) Portable signs shall comply with the following restrictions:
Use Maximum
Sign Height
Maximum
Sign Area
Maximum
Number
Minimum
Setback
All Residential (High Density and
Low Density Residential) Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
Special Sign Districts Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
Open Space System Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
All Other Uses 2.0 metres 4.0 square
metres 1* 3.0 metres
* per street frontage where 2 street frontages are > 70 metres
(2) Specific Portable Sign Regulations:
(a) Every portable sign shall be located on the property to which the sign relates.
(b) In the case of corner properties, no portable sign shall be located less than
15.0 metres from the inside curb at the point of intersection of the two streets.
(c) Portable signs may be illuminated but shall not incorporate electronic message
displays, moving parts, or flashing lights or fluorescent materials.
(d) Lettering used on a portable sign shall not be greater than 0.2 metres in sign
height.
(e) No portable sign shall be capable of being connected to a power supply without
written Electrical Safety Authority approval.
(f) A sign licence for a portable sign shall be valid for a period of not more than
30 days, after which the sign shall be immediately removed.
Banner and Inflatable Sign Restrictions
51. (1) Banner and inflatable signs shall comply with the following restrictions:
Use Maximum
Sign Height
Maximum
Sign Area
Maximum
Number
Minimum
Setback
All Residential (High Density
and Low Density Residential) Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
Special Sign Districts Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
Open Space System Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
All Other Uses 6.0 metres
4.0 square
metres per
tenant
1 3.0 metres
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 20
(2) Specific Banner and Inflatable Sign Restrictions:
(a) Every banner or inflatable sign shall be located on the property to which the
sign relates.
(b) No banner or inflatable sign is permitted on canopies, awnings, fences or on
sidewalks.
(c) A banner or inflatable sign shall be securely affixed to the exterior wall or a roof
of a building, or to the ground.
(d) A sign licence for a banner sign shall be valid for a period of not more than
30 days on private property, after which the sign shall be immediately removed.
(e) A sign licence for an inflatable sign shall be valid for a period of not more than
30 days on private property, after which the sign shall be immediately removed.
Flag Signs
52. (1) Flag signs shall comply with the following restrictions:
Use Maximum
Sign Height
Maximum
Sign Area
Maximum
Number
All Residential (High Density and
Low Density Residential) Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
Special Sign Districts Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
Open Space System Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
All Other Uses 1.8 metres 2.0 square
metres 3
(2) Specific Flag Sign Restrictions:
(a) Every flag sign shall be located on the property to which the sign relates.
(b) A sign licence for a flag sign shall be valid for a period of not more than 30 days
on private property, after which the sign shall be immediately removed.
Sidewalk Signs
53. (a) Sidewalk signs shall not exceed a sign height of 1.0 metres or a width of 0.6 metres.
(b) Sidewalk signs shall not be permitted in any location other than within a Special Sign
District.
(c) A sidewalk sign shall be installed immediately in front of the business to which it
pertains, and shall only be erected during the hours of operation of the business.
(d) A sidewalk sign may be located on a public sidewalk provided a minimum of
1.5 metres of unobstructed sidewalk space is maintained.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 21
(e) A maximum of one sign licence for a sidewalk sign may be issued to an owner.
(f) A sign licence for a sidewalk sign shall be valid for a period of 1 year.
Billboard Signs
54. (a) No sign licence shall be issued for a new billboard sign unless a sign permit has
been issued for such billboard sign.
(b) A sign licence for a billboard sign shall be valid for a period of 1 year.
Sign Licence Issuance
55. The City may approve or refuse any sign licence application, and may impose any
conditions upon an approval as the City determines to be appropriate.
56. The City shall refuse to issue a sign licence if the proposed sign does not comply with this
By-law, the building code, an approved site plan, heritage conservation district guidelines,
or any other applicable law.
57. The City may refuse to issue a sign licence if there are reasonable grounds to believe that
the applicant will not operate in accordance with applicable laws or with honesty and
integrity.
58. The City may refuse to issue a licence if the applicant has failed to pay fines imposed for
previous convictions relating to contraventions of any municipal by-laws.
59. The City may refuse any sign licence if there are existing violations of this By-law on the
property where the sign is proposed.
Revocation of Sign Licence
60. The City may revoke a sign licence under any of the following circumstances:
(a) the sign licence has been issued in error;
(b) the sign for which the sign licence was issued is erected in contravention of any
provision of this By-law, the building code, an approved site plan, heritage
conservation district guidelines, or any other applicable law;
(c) the sign licence has been issued as the result of false, mistaken, incorrect, or
misleading statements, information or undertakings on the application or on any
submitted documents that formed the basis of the issuance;
(d) the business or other subject matter to which the sign relates ceases to exist
(excluding Billboard Signs); or
(e) the property owner of the sign licence holder requests that the sign licence be
revoked.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 22
Part 4 – Signs Exempt from Sign Permits and Sign Licences
Permitted Signs
61. Signs described in this Part shall be permitted without a sign permit or a sign licence
provided all restrictions in this By-law applicable to the signs have been complied with.
(1) Signs shall comply with the following restrictions:
Sign Type Maximum Size Regulations
Community Event 1.5 square No person shall erect a community event sign
Signs metres in sign
area
closer than 100 metres to another community
event sign advertising the same community event.
No person shall erect a community event sign
more than 14 days prior to the event.
No person shall erect a community event sign at
any location other than entirely on private
property or on a boulevard.
No person shall permit a community event sign to
remain erected after the day of the event.
Construction Low Density No person shall erect a construction information
Information Signs Residential: sign unless the person has either entered into a
3.0 metres in site plan control agreement with the City or the
sign height or City has issued a building permit or a Fill and
4.0 square Topsoil permit for the construction.
metres in sign No person shall erect a construction information area sign except on a temporary fence or other
All Other Uses:
6.0 metres in
sign height or
10.0 square
physical barrier, hoarding, around the perimeter of
the construction site to which the sign pertains, or
on the subject property at where the construction
is located.
metres in sign No person shall erect a construction information
area sign more than 30 days prior to construction
commencing.
No person shall permit a construction information
sign to remain erected 30 days after construction
has completed or discontinued.
Development Sales 1.0 square No person shall erect a development sales office
Office Signs metres in sign
area
sign except on or immediately surrounding a
temporary sales office.
No person shall erect a development sales office
sign except where it has been shown on building
permit application documents and authorized by
the City through issuance of a building permit.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 23
Sign Type Maximum Size Regulations
Development Sales 1.2 metre height No person shall erect a development sales sign at
Signs and
0.8 metre width
any location other than entirely on private property
or on a boulevard.
No person shall erect a development sales sign
within 500 metres of any other development sales
sign being used to direct attention to the same
temporary sales office.
No person shall permit a development sales sign
to remain erected in its original location, or within
500 metres of its original location, for a total of
more than 72 hours (excluding statutory holidays)
during any consecutive 7 day period.
No person shall erect a development sales sign
with a sign height greater than 0.6 metres within
20 metres of the curb or the edge of the traveled
portion of any intersecting street, private road,
driveway or Regional road.
Directional Signs 1.5 square
metres in sign
area
No person shall erect a directional sign at any
location other than entirely on private property.
No person shall erect a directional sign unless the
sign has no promotional or advertising content.
Directory Signs 1.0 square
metres in sign
area
No person shall erect a directory sign at any
location other than entirely on private property.
No person shall erect more than one directory
sign at each access point from a street to the
building.
Farm Signs 1.5 square
metres in sign
area
No person shall erect more than one farm sign
per property.
No person shall erect a farm sign at any location
other than entirely on private property.
Filming Location N/A No person shall erect a filming location sign
Signs unless the person has received a filming permit
from the City.
No person shall erect a filming location sign other
than at a location that is approved and identified
within a filming permit.
No person shall erect a filming location sign at
any location other than entirely on private property
or on a boulevard.
No person shall erect a filming location sign other
than while the film is in production.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 24
Sign Type Maximum Size Regulations
Flags 2.7 square
metres in sign
area
A maximum of three flags bearing a crest,
emblem or insignia of any corporation, federal,
provincial and municipal government agency,
Country, or religious, charitable, fraternal, cultural
or community organization are permitted on one
property. Such flags do not require a sign licence
or sign permit.
No person shall erect a flag at any location other
than entirely on private property.
No person shall erect more than three flags on a
single property.
One flag (Federal, Provincial or Municipal) on a
commercial or industrial zoned property may
exceed the maximum size.
Garage/Yard Sale
Signs
1.0 square
metres in sign
area
No person shall erect a garage/yard sale sign at
any location other than entirely on private property
or on a boulevard.
No person shall erect a garage/yard sale sign
more than 3 days prior to the day of the sale.
No person shall permit a garage/yard sale sign to
remain erected after the day of the sale.
Automobile Service 1.0 square No person shall erect a sign on an automobile
Station Signs metres in sign
area
service station canopy that contains anything
other than corporate identification of the owner or
operator of the gasoline station.
Automobile service station signs are permitted to
have electronic message boards subject to the
restrictions for electronic message displays set
out in Section 63 of this By-law.
Automobile service station signs are permitted to
be located on the columns of the gas station
canopy, on top of gasoline pumps or free-standing
on gasoline pump aprons or islands.
Home-Based 0.2 square No person shall erect a home-based business
Business Signs metres in sign
area
sign unless a home-based business licence has
been issued by the City.
No person shall erect a home-based business
sign in any location other than on the front wall,
door, mailbox, or on a post not exceeding 1 metre
in height entirely on private low density residential
property.
No person shall erect a home-based business
sign that is internally illuminated.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 25
Sign Type Maximum Size Regulations
Home Improvement 1.0 square No person shall erect a home improvement sign
Signs metres in sign
area
at any location other than entirely on private
property where the home improvement is being
undertaken.
No person shall erect a home improvement sign
more than 2 days prior to the commencement of
the home improvement project.
No person shall permit a home improvement sign
to remain erected for more than 90 days.
Interior Signs 20 percent of
total window
area on first
storey
No person shall erect an interior sign unless it is
erected in a window of a building used for office,
commercial or industrial.
Model Home Signs 2.0 square
metres in sign
area
No person shall erect a model home sign at any
location other than on a property containing a
model home.
No Trespassing
Signs
0.3 square
metres in sign
area
No person shall erect a no trespassing sign at any
location other than entirely on private property.
Posters 0.5 square
metres in sign
area
No person shall erect a poster on a fixture.
No person shall erect a poster on a vehicle or a
trailer.
Real Estate Signs All Residential
or Open Space
System:
1.0 square
metres in sign
area
Other Uses:
2.5 square
metres in sign
area
No person shall erect a real estate sign at any
location other than entirely on the property
advertised for sale.
No person shall erect a real estate sign except for
entirely on private property
No person shall erect more than one real estate
sign per property unless the property is at least
0.5 hectares in size, then no person shall erect
more than two real estate signs on separate street
frontages.
Real Estate Open 1.0 square No person shall display more than eight real
House Signs metres sign
area; and,
1.0 metre sign
height
estate open house signs in connection with any
one open house.
No person shall erect an open house sign except
for between the hours of 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on
the day of the open house as indicated on the
sign.
No person shall erect a real estate open house
sign at any location other than entirely on private
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 26
Sign Type Maximum Size Regulations
property or on a boulevard at least 3.0 metres
from another sign for the same listing.
No person shall display a real estate open house
sign that does not list the date and time of the
open house.
(2) Specific Sign Restrictions:
(a) This section shall not apply to any sign lawfully erected prior to the passing of
this By-law provided such sign has continuously remained in its location and
has not been substantially altered.
(b) No person shall erect a sign that exceeds the size permitted in this By-law.
(c) Should the above provisions not be met, a Sign Permit or Sign Licence may be
required, as well as an associated Sign Variance.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 27
Part 5 – General Restrictions
General Restrictions Applicable to all Signs
62. No person shall erect any sign,
(a) that does not comply with any provision of this By-law;
(b) that does not comply with any condition of a sign permit, sign licence or variance;
(c) that advertises a use not permitted by the City’s Zoning By-law applicable to the
property on which the sign is located, unless expressly permitted by this By-law;
(d) without a sign permit if a sign permit is required;
(e) without a sign licence if a sign licence is required;
(f) on or over, or partly on or over, public property or any part of a street without the
City's approval unless the sign is expressly permitted by this By-law to be erected
on a sidewalk or a boulevard. This includes any sign advertising a business,
service, sale or event unless expressly listed as a permitted sign in this By-law;
(g) with the exception of temporary signs permitted within a boulevard, every sign shall
be authorized by the registered Owner of the lot on which it is to be located;
(h) on or over, or partly on or over a driveway, a parking space, loading space or aisle
required by the City’s Zoning By-law;
(i) within 3.0 metres of a driveway at the streetline;
(j) within 15.0 metres of a traffic light;
(k) on a walkway or other means of egress on a property unless there is a minimum of
1.5 metres of unobstructed footpath space between the sign and the nearest
structure;
(l) that projects less than 2.4 metres above the walking surface of a pedestrian
walkway;
(m) that pertains to a past event or purpose that no longer applies subject to the
timeline criteria as stated which is applicable to the sign type;
(n) that is structurally faulty, has broken, displaced or missing parts, is inappropriately
displayed, contains lettering that is no longer fully legible, or is otherwise not
maintained properly;
(o) on a roof or projecting in whole or in part above the roof, eaves or parapet of a
building;
(p) no sign shall obstruct or impede the functioning of any flue or air intake or any
exhaust;
(q) in a location that obstructs the view of any pedestrian or motorist so as to cause an
unsafe condition;
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 28
(r) that interferes with, or obstructs the view of, an authorized traffic sign, traffic signal
or official sign;
(s) no sign shall screen from view, obstruct or impede any emergency vehicle access,
fire route, fire escape, hydrant, standpipe, fire exit, exit direction marker, fire
fighter’s access panel or other fire safety device, or prevent or impede free access
from or to any part of a building or fire access by fire fighters to any part of a
building;
(t) that advertises a business, service, or product that is not located on the property
where the sign is erected, unless expressly permitted by this By-law;
(u) located within a visibility triangle formed by the intersection of a street line and a
driveway line, or the projections thereof and a straight line connecting 6.0 metres
from their point of intersection or a railway sight triangle;
(v) that obstructs, or is located in, a required parking space;
(w) that has more than two sign faces;
(x) that is obscene or in bad taste;
(y) no sign shall, by reason of its size, location, content, colouring or manner of
illumination, obstruct the vision of drivers entering or leaving a city street, regional
road, or provincial highway from or to another city street, regional road or a
provincial highway or private road or driveway or obstruct, detract from or interfere
with the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or traffic signal light or any City
street, regional road or provincial highway;
(z) no sign shall resemble any regulatory traffic sign established under the Highway
Traffic Act or the regulations made thereunder or be used for the purpose of
attempting to direct the movement of traffic;
(aa) no sign shall have a colour, shape or location which may cause it to be confused
with any traffic control sign, signal or device;
(bb) no sign shall be erected or displayed in such a manner as to interfere with any
public service or utility;
(cc) no person shall erect, paint, mark or inscribe any sign containing any promotional or
advertising content,
(dd) on pavement;
(ee) on the exterior wall of a building except as approved by the City;
(ff) on a utility pole, tree, stone or other natural object, or a fence unless as identified
within this By-law; or
(gg) on a vehicle or on a trailer that is parked or located for the purpose of sign display.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 29
Electronic Message Displays
63. (1) No person shall erect an electronic message display which does not comply with the
following restrictions:
Permitted sign types Only permitted on permanent ground signs,
wall signs and billboard signs
Maximum sign area As per ground sign, wall sign, and billboard
sign provisions
Maximum sign height As per ground sign, wall sign and billboard
sign provisions
Minimum setback from a residential
use/zone 100 metres
Minimum setback from another electronic
message display 100 metres
Minimum setback from property line 3.0 metres
Permitted content Alphanumeric characters and digital images
Minimum dwell time 6 seconds
Maximum day time luminance 5,000 nits
Maximum night time luminance 300 nits
Hours of dimming/turning off
Must operate within maximum night time
luminance between 9:00 pm to 8:00 am for
signs located within 200 metres of a
residential use, and in all other instances,
between 11:00 pm to 7:00 am
(2) Specific Electronic Message Display Restrictions:
(a) No person shall erect an electronic message display that contains full motion
video, animation or movement except for billboard signs. This does not include
menu boards.
(b) No person shall erect an electronic message display on a wall sign or ground
sign that does not relate to the property it is located on.
(c) All electronic message displays require an ambient light sensor that will
automatically adjust the sign luminance according to the environmental
conditions.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 30
Boulevards
64. Where signs are permitted by this By-law to be erected on a boulevard, no such sign shall
be erected closer than 1.0 metres from the curb of a street or, where there is no curb,
closer than within 2.0 metres of the travelled portion of a street.
Vacant Properties
65. No person shall erect any sign, other than a development sign, community event sign,
filming location sign, real estate sign, farm sign or no trespassing sign on vacant property.
Special Sign Districts
66. (a) No development sign, portable sign, banner sign, inflatable sign, flag sign or
electronic message display shall be erected in a Special Sign District.
(b) Section 66. (a) does not apply to community event signs.
Election Signs
67. Election signs must comply with all applicable provisions of Election Sign By-law 7591/17,
as amended or replaced from time to time.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 31
Part 6 – Sign Permit Variances
Variance Provisions
68. Variances for any sign requiring a sign permit must be approved by the Director.
69. An application for a sign variance shall be made on the appropriate form and shall be accompanied with the prescribed fee set out in the City’s current General Municipal Fees By-law.
70. Every sign variance application shall include all of the information required to be
submitted in relation to a permit application under Sections 31 to 37 (if applicable) and shall also include written reasons why the provisions of this By-law cannot be complied with.
71. The Director may recommend authorization for a sign variance from the provisions of this
By-law if the general intent and purpose of this By-law is being maintained.
72. In considering an application for a sign variance, the Director shall have regard for:
(a) special circumstances or conditions applying to the property, building or use referred to in the application;
(b) whether strict application of the provisions of this By-law in the context of the special
circumstances applying to the property, building or use, would result in practical
difficulties or unnecessary and unusual hardship for the applicant that are inconsistent with the objectives of this By-law;
(c) whether such special circumstances or conditions are pre-existing and not created by the owner or applicant; and
(d) whether the sign that is the subject of the variance will alter the character of the
area.
73. Signs approved under the provisions of a site plan control agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of this By-law.
74. Prior to making a determination on any variance application, the application details may
be brought to the attention of the City's Site Plan Review Panel.
75. The Director shall notify the applicant prior to the meeting of the City's Site Plan Review Panel to provide the applicant an opportunity to appear before the City’s Site Plan Review Panel to make representations respecting the application.
76. When commenting on a variance, the City's Site Plan Review Panel shall act under the
authority given to it under this By-law and not under the Planning Act, R.S.O 1990, c.
P.13 and shall have regard for 66(a) to (d).
77. If the applicant does not attend the City's Site Plan Review Panel meeting at the appointed time, the City’s Site Plan Review Panel may proceed in the absence of the applicant and the applicant shall not be entitled to any further notice dealing with the
application.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 32
78. The Director may approve or refuse any variance application, and may impose any
conditions upon an approval as he or she determines to be appropriate.
79. If the Director refuses to grant a variance, he or she shall advise the applicant and
provide the applicant with written reasons for the refusal.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 33
Part 7 – Exemptions
80. This By-law shall apply to all existing and proposed signs in the City other than,
(a) Official Signs;
(b) signs on a property that are less than 0.2 square metres in area provided they do not
contain any promotional or advertising content; and
(c) any advertising on fixtures approved by the City or the Region.
81. This By-law does not apply to any changes to a sign face if,
(a) the sign has been previously approved;
(b) there is no change in sign area, shape, construction or design; and
(c) the sign is not located within a Special Sign District.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 34
Part 8 – Enforcement
Administration and Inspections
82. An officer may, at any reasonable time, enter upon any property for the purpose of
carrying out an inspection to determine whether or not the provisions of this By-law have
been complied with.
83. An Officer(s) is authorized to enforce the provisions of this By-law. No person shall
prevent, hinder or interfere or attempt to prevent, hinder or interfere with an inspection
undertaken by an officer.
84. Where an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has been committed
by a person under this By-law, the officer may require the name, address and proof of
identity of that person, and the person shall supply the requested information.
85. Where a sign is erected or displayed in contravention of any provision of this By-law, any
person named on the sign shall be presumed to have been the person who erected or
displayed the sign, which presumption may be rebutted by evidence to the contrary on a
balance of probabilities.
86. Where a sign is erected or displayed in contravention with any provision of this By-law,
and the sign has no person’s name on it, but a telephone number appears on the sign,
any person to whom the telephone number is listed in a telephone directory, including any
internet directory, shall be presumed to have been the person who erected or displayed
the sign, which presumption may be rebutted by evidence to the contrary on a balance of
probabilities.
87. Where a sign is erected or displayed by a Corporation in contravention of any provision of
this By-law, the directors and officers of the corporation shall be presumed to have
knowingly concurred in the erection or display of the sign in contravention of this By-law,
which presumption may be rebutted by evidence to the contrary on a balance of
probabilities.
Order to Comply
88. (a) Where an officer is satisfied that there has been a contravention of any provision of
this By-law, the officer may issue an order requiring the owner of the property on
which the contravention has occurred or the person who erected the sign to do work
to correct the contravention, including removal of the sign.
(b) An order shall set out,
(i) reasonable particulars of the contravention;
(ii) the location of the property;
(iii) the general nature of the work required to be done to correct the contravention;
and
(iv) the date by which the work must be done.
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 35
(c) An order may be served by,
(i) personally delivering it to the owner;
(ii) sending it by registered mail to the owner at the address of the owner shown on
the last revised assessment roll for the property; or
(iii) sending it by registered mail to the owner at the last known address of the
owner.
(d) If the address of an owner is unknown or the City is unable to effect service on an
owner in accordance with subsection (c), a placard setting out the terms of the order
may be placed in a conspicuous place on or near the owner's property.
(e) Service of an order under this section shall be deemed to have been effected on the
date that it is delivered personally, 3 days after it was mailed, or the date that it is
posted on the property, as the case may be.
89. No person shall fail to comply with an order issued under this By-law.
Remedial Action
90. (a) Where an order has been issued respecting any sign and compliance has not been
achieved by the date specified in the order, the City may cause the work set out in
the order to be done.
(b) The City may recover all costs of doing any work undertaken pursuant to subsection
(a), together with an administration charge equal to 25 percent of such costs, from
the owner by adding the costs to the tax roll and collecting them in the same manner
as property taxes.
Removal of Signs
91. (a) Where a sign is erected on, over, partly on, or partly over, property owned by or
under the jurisdiction of the City, such sign may be removed immediately by the City
without notice or compensation and may be disposed of at the City’s discretion.
signs made of paper or any substance that will degrade will be disposed of
immediately.
(b) A sign removed by the City may be stored for a period of not more than 30 days,
during which time the sign may be redeemed by the person who erected the sign
upon payment of the applicable fee set out in the City’s current General Municipal
Fees By-law.
(c) Signs not redeemed by the person who erected the sign within 30 days of removal
by the City shall be disposed of by the City without notice or compensation.
(d) An Officer may enter onto a Property or Premises at any time and/or may remove a
sign immediately without notice or compensation to the Owner if the sign constitutes
a safety hazard or a concern.
___________________________________
___________________________________
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 36
(e) A person who erects a sign may be responsible for the cost of its removal, storage,
and/or disposal. These costs may be collected by the same manner as taxes as per
the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001.
Liens
92. All costs incurred by the City for the removal, care and storage of a sign that was erected
in contravention of this By-law are a lien upon the sign that may be enforced by the City
under the Repair and Storage Liens Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. R.25.
Offences and Penalties
93. Every person who contravenes any provision of this By-law is guilty of an offence and
upon conviction is liable to:
(a) A fine of not more than $100,000.00
(b) In the case of a continuing offence, a minimum fine for each day or part thereof shall
be a minimum of $500.00 and a maximum of $10,000.00. Daily fines for a continuing
offence shall not be limited to $100,000.00.
(c) In addition to any other fines under this section, a special find may be imposed if the
commission of an offence resulted in economic gain or advantage. The maximum
amount of a special fine may exceed $100,000.00.
94. No person shall make a false or intentionally misleading recital of fact, statement or
representation in any application or other document required by this By-law.
95. If a sign has been erected or displayed in contravention of any provision of this By-law,
and the contravention has not been corrected, the contravention of the provision shall be
deemed to be a continuing offence for each day or part of a day that the contravention
remains uncorrected.
Repeal
By-law 6999/09, as amended, is repealed.
Effective Date
This By-law comes into effect on the date of its passing.
By-law passed this 27th day of January, 2025.
Original Signed By
Kevin Ashe, Mayor
Original Signed By
Susan Cassel, City Clerk
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 37
Schedule “A” – Special Sign Districts
Schedule "A1" Liverpool Road Waterfront District
Schedule "A2" Whitevale District
Schedule "A3" Greenwood District
Schedule "A4" Cherrywood District
Schedule "A5" Green River District
Schedule "A6" Claremont District
Schedule "A7" Brougham District
Schedule "A8" Kinsale District
Schedule "A9" Balsam District
Schedule A1
Liverpool Road Waterfront District
Frenchman's
Bay
Lake Ontario
ISchedule A1 to By-Law 8154/25
Passed This 27th
Day of January, 2025
Schedule A2
Whitevale District
;oC1l 0 0:::lslo•z
lSchedule A2 to By-Law 8154/25
Passed This 27th
Day of January, 2025
Schedule A3 to By-Law 8154/25
Day of January, 2025
Passed This 27th
Schedule A3 Greenwood District
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@re-enf1
Town of Ajax
I
Schedule A4 Cherrywood District
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ISchedule A4 to By-Law 8154/25
Passed This 27th Day of January, 2025
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Schedule AS
Green River District
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ISchedule A5 to By-Law 8154/25
Passed This 27th
Day of January, 2025
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Schedule AG
Claremont District
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Schedule A6 to By-Law 8154/25 !
Passed This 27th
Day of January, 2025
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Schedule A7
Brougham District
Hignway 407 i=n ISchedule A? to By-Law 8154/25
Passed This 27th
Day of January, 2025
Schedule AB Kinsale District
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ISchedule AB to By-Law 8154/25
Passed This 27th
Day of January, 2025
Schedule A9
Balsam District
ISchedule A9 to By-Law 8154/25
Passed This 27th
Day of January, 2025
By-law No. 8154/25 Page 38
Schedule “B” – Billboard Sign Districts
Schedule "B1" Bayly District
Schedule "B2" Seaton Innovation Corridor District
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Schedule B1
Billboard District
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,- - PERMITTED BILLBOARD AREA -J dimension taken from centreline of road JSchedule B1 to By-Law 8154/25
Passed This 27th
Day of January, 2025
Schedule 82
Billboard District
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-"1 SPECIAL SIGN DISTRICT L -dimension taken from edge of road
Schedule 82 to By-Law 8154/25
Passed This 27th
Day of January, 2025
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