August 25, 1999
To:North York Community Council
From:Acting Commissioner, Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:Harmonization of Sign By-law
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to provide, at North York Community Council's request, an update on the status of the
comprehensive City-wide Sign By-law and proposed changes to the existing North York Sign By-law.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Not applicable.
Recommendation:
For the information of the North York Community Council.
Council Reference/Background/History:
This arises from a request by North York Community Council (Report No. 7 of the North York Community Council, as
adopted by City Council at its meeting held on July 27, 1999) to provide an update at the North York Community Council
meeting scheduled for September 14th, 1999 on the status of the comprehensive city-wide Sign By-law and proposed
changes to the existing North York Sign By-law.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Presently, the existing six municipal sign by-laws are still in effect. The comprehensive make-up of these by-laws and the
fact that they regulate signs in different environmental streetscapes (eg., Downtown core), will require that the
harmonization take place in stages to a time frame that is set out in this report.
All six municipal by-laws will be impacted by the harmonization.
The following sets out the time frame for bringing forward a comprehensive harmonized City-wide Sign By-law.
Fees:
Although there are six different sign by-laws, the need to examine plans and carry out inspections for sign permits is
consistent throughout the City. It is reasonable then to harmonize the fees for this service in the immediate future.
The fee schedules of the existing six by-laws have been reviewed and fees reflecting the cost of services provided are being
reviewed by Legal Services, of the Corporate Services Department.
The target date to bring this forward is September 1999.
Signs on Public Property:
Illegal signs placed on public property remain a problem throughout the new City. Previous by-laws and best practices have
been reviewed and it is clear that a consistent approach to enforcement is both desirable and achievable in the short term.
This would encompass the regulation of such signage as: signs posted on public property, mobile trailer signs, open house
real estate signs, builders' A-frame directional signage and election signs. It would also include provisions for transit
shelter and bench advertising as well as parking lot pedestal signs. Since signs on public property are a continuing and
widespread problem, it will be proposed that a "free standing" by-law be developed for this, rather than a single sign
by-law covering both public and private property.
First Party Business Signs and Billboards:
This is the area where the six existing sign by-law regulations differ the most.
The different streetscapes with long established criteria regarding the size, height, setback, and separation requirements of
these various sign types and the various community expectations as to sign permissions will require a longer time frame to
achieve regulations in a harmonized Sign By-law. In addition, zoning definitions have a significant impact, and the
harmonization of these is a long-term project.
Conclusions:
Input will be required from Municipal Licensing and Standards, Planning, and Building Divisions, along with assistance
from the City's Legal Services Division of the Corporate Services Department, to bring forward these proposals.
The mechanism for the delivery of services with respect to sign permit review as well as inspection and the enforcement of
illegal signs both on private and public property will be reviewed concurrently with the development of the by-law.
Contact Name:
Jack Barron
Manager, Sign Section, East District
396-7224 (tel.)
396-4266 (fax)
barron_j@city.scarborough.on.ca
Reviewed by:
Harold BrattenJAMES RIDGE
Acting Executive DirectorActingCommissioner
Municipal Licensing and StandardsUrban Planning and Development Services
CITY CLERK
Clause embodied in Report No. 7 of the North York Community Council, as adopted by the Council of
the City of Toronto at its meeting held on July 27, 28, and 29, 1999.
30
Other Items Considered by the Community Council
(City Council on July 27, 28 and 29, 1999, received this Clause, for information.)
(k)Review of the Sign By-law.
The North York Community Council reports having adopted the following Resolution from Councillor Shiner,
Seneca Heights:
WHEREAS the City has begun a review of the Sign By-laws of the former area municipalities and to date no information
has come forward; and
WHEREAS the City continues to receive variance requests to the existing North York Sign By-law;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services provide an
update at the next North York Community Council meeting scheduled for September 14, 1999, on the status of the
comprehensive city-wide Sign By-law and proposed changes to the existing North York Sign By-law.
