Temporary signs are signs that are not permanently attached or fixed to a structure or surface. The Signs Bylaw regulates the size and location of all temporary signs on private and public property. Some temporary signs require permits.

Signs requiring permit

  • A-frame signs
  • new development signs
  • mobile signs
  • portable signs

Signs not requiring permit

  • garage sale signs
  • real estate signs
  • open house directional signs
  • community, charitable organization, religious organization and school signs (except when in parks and recreation facilities)

You will need to obtain a Temporary Sign Provider Licence if you provide signs for a business.

Temporary a-frame sign.
Example of an a-frame sign.

A-frame signs are rigid, free-standing movable signs (not fastened to the ground or a structure) and include information on one or both sides. A-frame signs require a permit from the City.

Application Requirements:

  • Valid photo identification
  • Provincial Business Name Registration or Franchise Agreement Declaration
  • Site Plan or Survey of location
  • Letter of Authorization from Property Owner
  • Photo of sign (photo should show entire frontage of proposed area)
  • Completed application form
  • Photo or replica of sign design with measurements
  • Approval letter from BIA (if within a BIA)
  • Business licence (where required)

Where a business licence is not required:

  • Corporate documentation and business name registration
  • Contact information of person responsible for sign

Please review the application requirements and complete any required forms.

Note: Applicants must provide proof of $2,000,000 in Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance. The completed Certificate of Insurance must be signed and stamped by the insurer. The Certificate must be sent by email to MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca directly from the Insurance Representative.

Identification Requirements

One piece of valid government issued identification is required for an officer or signing authority (for corporations), who appears on the Primary Business Licence.

Two pieces of government-issued identification (one must be photo ID):

  • Canadian passport
  • Driver’s licence
  • Canadian birth certificate
  • Citizenship card
  • Permanent resident card
  • SIN card (social insurance number)
  • Valid work permit

Note:

  • First and last names must match on all identification
  • We do not accept Health Cards.
  • For sole proprietorship or individual applicants, one piece of ID must provide proof of work status
  • Identification is required for all officers/directors listed on the Articles of Incorporation, Corporate Profile or Federal Form 6

Permit Requirements

All applicants must also provide the following:

  • a business location/address
  • a copy of provincial business name registration or signed franchise agreement

Corporations must also provide:

  • a copy of Articles of Incorporation (Note: If there has been a change to the list of officers and directors, please also provide a current Corporate Profile Report or a Federal Form 6)

If a director of the corporation is unable to apply in person at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, a designate may apply on their behalf. The designate must:

  • have an original letter advising of their signing authority on corporation letterhead, signed by a director of the corporation dated within 30 days
  • provide two pieces of identification for themselves
  • provide two pieces of identification for each officer and director of the corporation, or, if original identification is not available, notarized photocopies of the identification will also be accepted

How to apply

Applications need to be submitted online. You cannot apply for this licence/permit in-person.

Apply online

Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the application, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to submit a new application. Permit application fees can be paid online or by sending a cheque.

Submit Application

If you have already submitted an application you may upload additional documents using your upload token.

Upload Documents for Existing Request

Apply in-person

In-person services are available at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor.
You must bring hard copies of all application requirements. Applications will not be started unless all requirements are provided. Digital copies of documents will not be accepted.

Payment can only be made by debit, credit or cheque. Cash will not be accepted.

Walk-in Services

Walk-in services are available once a week.
Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca for the next weekday availability.

Please note office hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-4:00pm.
The office is closed from 12:30–1:30pm daily.

Appointments

Appointment services are available. Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca.
Please arrive 10-15 mins early to check in and be on time for your appointment or you may be turned away and asked to re-book for another day and time, subject to availability.

Fee

A-frame signs: $123.81 per year, including HST.

Sign requirements

  • No larger than 0.6 m wide x 1 m high x 0.75 m long
  • Only permitted on public property if not able to be located on private property
  • Located against the front wall
  • First part advertising only
  • One per business location
  • Sign can only be out during business hours
  • No illumination, sound, motion etc.
  • Area around sign must be kept free of litter, debris and weeds

Placement

  • If you have a permit for a sidewalk café, the A-frame sign must be placed within the permitted café area.
  • Wherever you place your sign, there must be 2.13 m of unobstructed sidewalk between your store front and the road.
  • If your store frontage is 6.1 metres or less, one A-frame sign is allowed.
  • If the store frontage is more than 6.1 metres, two A-frame signs are allowed.

A-frame sign permits are not allowed to be placed at the following locations:

  • Bloor St. W. between Avenue Rd. and Yonge St.
  • Bloor St. E. between Yonge St. and Sherbourne St.
  • Yonge St. south of Davenport Rd.
Development signs are used for new building developments, such as condos or new homes.
Example of development signs.

New development signs are used to promote new building developments, such as condominiums, townhouses or other new homes. Many of these signs are a-frame signs; self-supporting structures, shaped like an “A”. New development signs require a permit from the City.

Application requirement

Below you will find the documents and information you need to provide with your application submission. Additional documents maybe requested.

  • Valid photo identification
  • Provincial Business Name Registration or Franchise Agreement Declaration
  • Site Plan or Survey of location
  • Letter of Authorization from Property Owner
  • Photo of sign
  • Master Site Plan

Please review the application requirements and complete any required forms.

Note: Applicants must provide proof of $2,000,000 in Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance. The completed Certificate of Insurance must be signed and stamped by the insurer. The Certificate must be sent by email to MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca directly from the Insurance Representative.

How to apply

Applications need to be submitted online. You cannot apply for this licence/permit in-person.

Apply online

Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the application, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to submit a new application. Permit application fees can be paid online or by sending a cheque.

Submit Application

If you have already submitted an application you may upload additional documents using your upload token.

Upload Documents for Existing Request

Apply in-person

In-person services are available at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor.
You must bring hard copies of all application requirements. Applications will not be started unless all requirements are provided. Digital copies of documents will not be accepted.

Payment can only be made by debit, credit or cheque. Cash will not be accepted.

Walk-in Services

Walk-in services are available once a week.
Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca for the next weekday availability.

Please note office hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-4:00pm.
The office is closed from 12:30–1:30pm daily.

Appointments

Appointment services are available. Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca.
Please arrive 10-15 mins early to check in and be on time for your appointment or you may be turned away and asked to re-book for another day and time, subject to availability.

Fee

New development signs: $260.67 per sign, including HST.

Sign requirements

  • One application is required per development
  • Maximum 10 signs per development
  • Maximum five signs within 10 metre span
  • Maximum two groups per intersection
  • 100 metre separation between groups
  • Development must be approved (rezoning)
  • Not permitted where there is on-street parking
  • Cannot be higher than 1.2 m
  • Sign must be removed once the development has completed construction

Portable signs are rigid free-standing moveable signs which are not fastened to the ground or any structure. This excludes A-frame signs. A common type of portable signs are T-Frame signs. Portable signs require a permit from the City.

Application requirement

Below you will find the documents and information you need to provide with your application submission. Additional documents maybe requested.

  • Valid photo identification
  • Provincial Business Name Registration or Franchise Agreement Declaration
  • Site Plan or Survey of location
  • Letter of Authorization from Property Owner
  • Photo of sign

Please review the application requirements and complete any required forms.

Note: Applicants must provide proof of $2,000,000 in Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance. The completed Certificate of Insurance must be signed and stamped by the insurer. The Certificate must be sent by email to MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca directly from the Insurance Representative.

How to apply

Applications need to be submitted online. You cannot apply for this licence/permit in-person.

Apply online

Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the application, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to submit a new application. Permit application fees can be paid online or by sending a cheque.

Submit Application

If you have already submitted an application you may upload additional documents using your upload token.

Upload Documents for Existing Request

Apply in-person

In-person services are available at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor.
You must bring hard copies of all application requirements. Applications will not be started unless all requirements are provided. Digital copies of documents will not be accepted.

Payment can only be made by debit, credit or cheque. Cash will not be accepted.

Walk-in Services

Walk-in services are available once a week.
Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca for the next weekday availability.

Please note office hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-4:00pm.
The office is closed from 12:30–1:30pm daily.

Appointments

Appointment services are available. Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca.
Please arrive 10-15 mins early to check in and be on time for your appointment or you may be turned away and asked to re-book for another day and time, subject to availability.

Fees

Portable signs: $260.67 per sign, including HST.

Mobile signs are used for advertising various events, activities and promotions. They are easily moved, with changeable letters. Mobile signs require a permit from the City.

Application requirement

Below you will find the documents and information you need to provide with your application submission. Additional documents maybe requested.

  • Provincial Business Name Registration or Franchise Agreement Declaration
  • Site Plan or Survey of location
  • Letter of Authorization from Property Owner
  • Photo of sign

Please review the application requirements and complete any required forms.

Note: Applicants must provide proof of $2,000,000 in Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance. The completed Certificate of Insurance must be signed and stamped by the insurer. The Certificate must be sent by email to MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca directly from the Insurance Representative.

How to apply

Applications need to be submitted online. You cannot apply for this licence/permit in-person.

Apply online

Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the application, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to submit a new application. Permit application fees can be paid online or by sending a cheque

Submit Application

If you have already submitted an application you may upload additional documents using your upload token.

Upload Documents for Existing Request

Apply in-person

In-person services are available at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor.
You must bring hard copies of all application requirements. Applications will not be started unless all requirements are provided. Digital copies of documents will not be accepted.

Payment can only be made by debit, credit or cheque. Cash will not be accepted.

Walk-in Services

Walk-in services are available once a week.
Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca for the next weekday availability.

Please note office hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-4:00pm.
The office is closed from 12:30–1:30pm daily.

Appointments

Appointment services are available. Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca.
Please arrive 10-15 mins early to check in and be on time for your appointment or you may be turned away and asked to re-book for another day and time, subject to availability.

Fee

Mobile signs: $162.93 for 30 days, including HST.

Sign requirements

  • 30 day maximum per permit
  • Maximum of three permits per year for a business
  • Minimum of 30 days between permits
  • Private property only
  • First party advertising only, in front of unit
  • Two sign faces maximum, five square metres each
  • Black and white lettering only
  • Cannot be within 23 metres of another mobile sign
  • No larger than 2.5 m high x 3.05 m wide
  • Area around sign must be kept free of litter, debris and weeds

You will need to obtain a Temporary Sign Provider Licence if you provide signs for a business.

Application requirement

Below you will find the documents and information you need to provide with your application submission. Additional documents maybe requested.

  • Valid photo identification
  • Proof of work status
  • Provincial Business Name Registration or Franchise Agreement Declaration
  • Two pieces of government issued IDs for every officer/director on file
  • Criminal Record & Judicial Matters Check

Note: Applicants must provide proof of $2,000,000 in Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance. The completed Certificate of Insurance must be signed and stamped by the insurer. The Certificate must be sent by email to MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca directly from the Insurance Representative.

How to apply

Applications need to be submitted online. You cannot apply for this licence/permit in-person.

Apply online

Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the application, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to submit a new application. Permit application fees can be paid online or by sending a cheque.

Submit Application

If you have already submitted an application you may upload additional documents using your upload token.

Upload Documents for Existing Request

Apply in-person

In-person services are available at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor.
You must bring hard copies of all application requirements. Applications will not be started unless all requirements are provided. Digital copies of documents will not be accepted.

Payment can only be made by debit, credit or cheque. Cash will not be accepted.

Walk-in Services

Walk-in services are available once a week.
Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca for the next weekday availability.

Please note office hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-4:00pm.
The office is closed from 12:30–1:30pm daily.

Appointments

Appointment services are available. Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca.
Please arrive 10-15 mins early to check in and be on time for your appointment or you may be turned away and asked to re-book for another day and time, subject to availability.

Fee

Temporary sign provider licence: $416.89, including HST.

A-frame, portable, new development sign permits and temporary sign provider licence

Your permit/licence will expire annually on the anniversary of the date that the permit/licence was first issued. A renewal notice, identifying any documents required to renew the permit/licence, will be mailed to the address on file.

  • A-frame sign permit renewal fee $97.75
  • Portable sign permit renewal fee $260.67
  • New development sign permit renewal fee $260.67
  • Temporary sign provider licence renewal fee $274.09

If documents are not received; please note that your permit/licence may be cancelled, and a new application will be required. Please ensure you submit all renewal documentation and fees.

Existing licensees must renew their licences via a new online renewal portal. Licence renewal fees can be paid online or by sending a cheque.

Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the renewal, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to renew a licence or permit.

Renew Licence

Business licences set to expire in 2021 will be cancelled for non-payment after 150 days and will not be subject to late fees. Find your outstanding business licence or permit renewal invoice.

Mobile signs

There is no renewal fee. You must reapply for another 30-day permit. You may only have three, 30-day permits within one calendar year.

Renew In-Person

In-person services are available at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor.
You must bring hard copies of all application requirements. Applications will not be started unless all requirements are provided. Digital copies of documents will not be accepted.

Payment can only be made by debit, credit or cheque. Cash will not be accepted.

Walk-in Services

Walk-in services are available once a week.
Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca for the next weekday availability.

Please note office hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-4:00pm.
The office is closed from 12:30–1:30pm daily.

Appointments

Appointment services are available. Please contact MLSroadallowance@toronto.ca.
Please arrive 10-15 mins early to check in and be on time for your appointment or you may be turned away and asked to re-book for another day and time, subject to availability.

Renewals Forms

Temporary Sign Provider