March 19, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner, Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:Technical Amendments to Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code, Signs, of the former City of Toronto, respecting
Mural Signs
Purpose:To bring forward minor amendments to the existing provisions for mural signs. These changes are required to
further clarify the provisions and correct errors in Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code, Signs, of the former City of Toronto.
Source of Funds:Not Applicable.
Recommendation:
- That the City Solicitor be requested to submit a draft by-law, in consultation with the Commissioner of Urban Planning
and Development Services, to amend Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code of the former City of Toronto, substantially as
follows:
- Clarify that the height restriction of up to the fourth floor or 15 metres above grade, whichever is less, applies to
non-illuminated mural signs not facing a street in I districts and to all mural signs not facing a street in CR, MCR,
RA, T and Tr zones.
- Delete the minimum projection requirement of 0.45 metres for three-dimensional sign copy in conjunction with a
mural sign permitted under Section 12.O.
- Clarify that the separation distance between fascia, ground, roof, pedestal and illuminated mural signs used for the
purposes of third-party advertising is 60 metres measured radially.
Comments:
1.0Background
At its meeting of October 6 and 7, 1997, the City Council of the former City of Toronto adopted my reports dated July 30,
1997 and September 19, 1997 concerning proposed amendments to fascia and mural sign regulations. City Council also
enacted By-law 1997-0606 which implemented these proposals.
This by-law amended the provisions for third party fascia and all types of mural signs. The signs were restricted to a
maximum height of four floors or 15 metres above grade, whichever is less. The by-law also introduced an area-specific
permission that allows three-dimensional sign components in conjunction with non-illuminated mural signs in two
downtown areas. These districts include a portion of King-Spadina east of Spadina Avenue and Yonge Street, between
Bloor Street and Front Street, as well as the area bounded by Yonge Street, Gerrard Street East, Front Street and Jarvis
Street which contains the Yonge-Dundas Reinvestment Area and Theatre Block (Map 1).
2.0Technical Amendments for Mural Signs
Prior to October, 1997 there was no height limit for third party fascia signs in CR, MCR, RA, T and Tr zoned districts nor
for mural signs in any district where they are permitted. My reports dated July 30, 1997 and September 19, 1997 outlined
some of the problems that occurred when such signs are located on the side walls of tall buildings including impacts on
residential dwellings in nearby buildings.
The Council of the former City of Toronto adopted my recommendation to apply a height limit of up to four floors or 15
metres above grade to third party fascia signs in commercial districts and to all types of mural signs (non-illuminated and
illuminated) where they are permitted. The amendment also standardized the height provisions for these types of wall signs
since third party fascia signs were already limited to 15 metres in I zoned districts.
The implementing by-law (By-law 1997-0606) included minor typographical errors and did not implement the
recommendations effectively. To correct these errors, the following amendments should be made to Chapter 297-10D(11)
concerning general regulations for mural signs in the former City of Toronto:
Remove the word Anon-illuminated@ in the following subsection:
(c)In the case of a non-illuminated mural sign located on a wall not facing a street in a CR, MCR, RA, T and Tr zone
district, the maximum permitted height of the sign does not exceed the fourth storey or fifteen (15) metres above grade,
whichever is less;
and add the following subsection:
(x)In the case of a non-illuminated mural sign located on a wall not facing a street in an I zoned district, the maximum
permitted height of the sign does not exceed the fourth storey or fifteen (15) metres above grade, whichever is less;
3.0Amendments to Area-Specific Provisions for Three-Dimensional Sign Copy in Conjunction with Mural Signs
Chapter 297-12.O permits the inclusion of three-dimensional sign elements in conjunction with non-illuminated mural
signs in certain entertainment and shopping districts in the downtown. These Athree-dimensional@ sign attributes are a
relatively new phenomenon and were not permitted prior to By-law 1997-0606. Examples of this type of multi-media mural
sign which have been erected in the former City of Toronto are attached in Appendix A.
In these types of signs the text or graphics may appear as if in Arelief@. Portions of the sign copy project outward from the
painted surface of the wall. The overall effect is a sign where the image appears stamped or carved out, such as a contour
map. The degree of projection is not standardized and is dependent upon the scale of the object being depicted among other
factors. The purpose of the amendments approved in October, 1997 was to facilitate these types of signs.
Section 12.O (3) of Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code specifically stipulates that:
AFor the purposes of this exception, Athree-dimensional copy@ means copy that renders a recognizable object in
three-dimensions and projects not less than forty-five hundredths (0.45) metre and not more than one (1) metre from the
wall or parapet wall, but does not include a flag , banner, pennant or poster panel.@
A 0.45 metre minimum requirement was introduced as a measure to ensure that the Athree-dimensional@ sign copy
provision does not result in the installation of a standard outdoor advertising poster panel on a painted background. The
intent of the provision was to permit signs in which the painted mural and three-dimensional elements are integrated
visually.
Sign industry representatives have indicated that the 0.45 metre (approximately 18 inches) minimum projection
requirement is difficult to achieve on most of their sites. Furthermore, this requirement does not effectively ensure that the
two sign components are integrated.
The by-law clearly stipulates that three-dimensional sign copy refers to copy that renders a recognizable object in
three-dimensions and that it must be an integrated part of the whole sign copy. In addition, the by-law stipulates that a
poster panel, an industry term for a standard billboard sign, does not constitute three-dimensional copy. In light of these
other requirements, the minimum projection requirement can be removed without affecting the intent of this provision.
Deleting this restriction still implements the planning objectives of the October, 1997 amendments and, at the same time,
allows more flexibility for the sign companies who create these multi-media signs.
4.0Separation of Signs
Section 10.F(2) of Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code deals with the separation distance between signs used for the
purposes of third party advertising. The separation requirement is necessary to prevent sign clutter. Prior to 1996, the
required separation distance varied dependent upon the type of sign. As the present requirement is 60 metres (measured
radially) for all kinds of advertising signs excluding non-illuminated mural signs, this provision should be simplified by
removing the table contained in Section F(2) and inserting the following:
F(2)The required separation distance between fascia, ground, roof, pedestal and illuminated mural signs used for the
purposes of third party advertising is a minimum radius of 60 metres.
Conclusion:
The technical amendments proposed in this report will simplify the current regulations and clarify the intent of specific
provisions associated with mural signs. In addition, a minor amendment is proposed that would allow sign companies
greater flexibility in designing and erecting three-dimensional mural signs without compromising planning objectives for a
visually integrated sign.
Contact Name:Paulina Mikicich
Telephone: (416) 392-0872
Fax: (416) 392-7536
E-Mail: pmikicic@city.toronto.on.ca
Beate Bowron
Director, Development Approval and Deputy Chief Building Official
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