How to Sign a Document Electronically the First Time
Please follow the instructions below to create a digital signature for the first time. If you have any questions about creating an electronic signature please read our Electronic Submission Q&A or email the Electronic Service Delivery Team at bldesd@toronto.ca.
To sign a document you will need:
- An Electronic Copy of the form you want to sign. All of Toronto Building's forms are available on our forms page.
- A free version of Adobe Reader X. Please download a copy here.
Note: Adobe Reader X is required for forms that need multiple electronic signatures.
To sign a document for the first time:
- Save the form from our forms website onto your computer.
- Fill out the form. Once the form is complete click the signature field. Make sure you are viewing the form in Adobe Reader X.
- You will be prompted to create a Digital ID. The Digital ID is used to create a secure signature.
- You will be asked to entre identity information. You can add as much detail as you like, however an Email address is required. Once you've inputted your information select "Next >"
- Save your Digital ID and give your signature a password. Every time you use your signature you will need to input a password. Select "Finish".
You have now created a secure digital signature. The default digital signature uses standard text (Arial) as pictured below. It is a valid digital signature and will be accepted by the Building Division.
If you want to change the appearance of your signature see steps 8-15. However, if you are happy with the appearance of your signature you are ready to sign your document. Enter your password and click sign to apply you signature to the document.
- Save the signed document. Now your document has been signed and is ready to be copied onto a DVD-RW for submission.
Note: Steps 8 to 15 are optional. If you want to change the appearance there are a number of different methods. Below is an example of one method.
- Scan your handwritten signature into the computer and save in PDF format. You can either scan directly to a PDF via the scanner's software or use Adobe Acrobat’s File -> Create PDF -> From Scanner command. Alternately, you can first scan your signature as a graphic and then convert it to PDF format. Whatever technique you use to get your signature into PDF format, the important thing is that it must be a PDF cropped to the size of the signature itself.
For best results, write your signature using solid black strokes such as those you’d get from a felt tip pen, and a little larger than normal.
- Once you have your signature PDF ready and saved in a convenient, permanent location on your hard drive, open the Adobe Reader X Preferences and go to the Security pane.
- Beside the Appearance block, click "Create new Appearance" to open the "Configure Signature Appearance" dialog box.
- In Create New Appearance dialogue, title your new signature with a descriptive name, something along the lines of “Name Handwritten.” In the Configure Graphic section, select "Imported Graphic" and click "File..."
- Browse for and open the PDF containing your scanned signature created in steps 8 and 9. It will open in the Select Picture dialog to give you the opportunity to confirm visually that it's the image you want. Once satisfied, click OK to return to the Configure Signature Appearance dialog. You’ll notice that your hand signature is now a part of the digital signature preview.
- Fine-tune the appearance of your digital signature by deselecting some of the checkboxes in the Configure Text section or changing options under Text Properties. To create a digital signature that is exclusively your handwritten signature, for example, uncheck all the boxes in the Configure Text section.
- When you're satisfied, click OK to save the digital signature appearance, and then OK again to leave Acrobat’s Preferences.
- Your signature appearance is now ready to use with a digital ID for signing new documents.
