Signs Not Requiring a Permit

The following signs do not require a permit, but the Signs Bylaw regulates the size and location of these signs on private and public property.

Contracted services signs advertise a contractor who repairs, renovates, or landscapes a property. 

Sign Requirements

  • Only one sign per contractor is allowed on a private property. There cannot be more than three signs on a property. No permit is required.   
  • The sign must be erected entirely on private property. Consent of the owner or occupant of the property is required.  
  • The sign can only display content related to a contracted service underway or completed at the property.  
  • The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 0.37 square metres in area.  
  • The sign cannot exceed a maximum height of 0.61 metres or a maximum width of 0.61 metres.   
  • The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade.  
  • The sign may only be displayed while the contracted service is occurring or after it has occurred and must be removed no later than 30 days after the contracted services have occurred.   
  • The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation, such as a hedge). 

Home builder identification signs identify a home builder or renovator involved in the renovation or construction of a residential building or related structure.  

Sign Requirements

  • Only one sign per private property is allowed. No permit is required.   
  • The sign must be placed entirely on private property. Consent of the owner or occupant of the property is required.  
  • The sign can only display information related to the builder or renovator responsible for undertaking work at a residential building or related structure.  
  • The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 1.5 square metres in area.  
  • The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade.   
  • The sign may only be displayed while the construction or renovation is occurring or after it has been occurred and must be removed 30 days after the construction or renovation has occurred.  
  • The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation, such as a hedge). 

Garage sale signs advertise the sale of merchandise in a private sale held on a residential property.

Sign Requirements

  • The sign can not be displayed before 5 p.m. of the day immediately before the garage sale or after 7 a.m. of the day immediately following the garage sale.
  • The sign needs to include the address of the property where the garage sale will be located and the date of the garage sale.
  • The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation, such as a hedge).
  • The sign can not be more than 0.6 metres in any dimension and have a maximum sign face area of 0.36 square metres.

Real estate signs advertise the sale, rent or lease of a property.

Sign Requirements

  • A real estate sign has to be displayed on the property is it advertising.
  • There can be no more than one real estate sign located facing each street line of the property.
  • The sign needs to be removed within 30 days after the property is no longer for sale, rent or lease.
  • The sign can only display content relating to the sale, rent or lease of the property.
  • The sign can only be attached to the ground using a stake, or to a fence (not including a fence that is vegetation, such as a hedge), or to a wall.
  • The sign can not have more than two sign faces.
  • If displayed on a residential property, the maximum sign face area can be one square metre. If displayed on a property that is not zoned as residential, then the maximum sign face can be four square metres.

Open house direction signs direct traffic to a residential property for sale or lease.

Sign Requirements

  • An open house directional sign can not be located closer than 0.6 metres from a sidewalk. Where there is no sidewalk, the sign can not be closer than 0.6 metres from the travelled portion of the highway.
  • If displayed on private property, prior written consent of the property owner is required.
  • Up to six open house directional signs may be displayed for each property up for sale or lease.
  • The sign can only display content directing traffic to a residential property for sale or lease and needs to include the address of the property and the date of the open house event.
  • The sign can be displayed between sunrise and sunset and from two hours before the open house until two hours after it closes.
  • The sign can not be attached to the ground or any structure.
  • The sign can not have more than two sign faces. The maximum sign face area is 0.5 square metres.
  • The sign can not be more than a maximum height of 1.0 metres, less than a minimum height of 0.5 metres or more than a maximum width of 0.6 metres.

Signs displayed by a charity, religious institution, community organization or school need to follow the following sign requirements:

  • The signs need to be displayed on the property used for the operations or activities of the charity, religious institution, community organization or school.
  • If the sign is a mobile sign, only one sign can be displayed on the property.
  • The sign can be displayed no more than one week prior to the event taking place and be removed within 48 hours of the event concluding.

Advocacy signs advance a point of view and are not for a commercial purpose. 

Sign Requirements

  • Only three signs per private property are allowed. No permit is required.  
  • The sign may be displayed on private property or where the sign cannot otherwise be placed entirely on private property, it may encroach only as necessary onto public property in the abutting boulevard situated between the sidewalk and the property line, or where there is no sidewalk, between the travelled portion of the road and the property line.  
  • Consent of the owner or occupant of the premise is required.  
  • The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 1.2 square metres in area.  
  • The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade, except for signs secured on windows or balconies.  
  • The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation, such as a hedge).  

Using Mediation in Sign Complaints

The City has partnered with TNG Community Services, an organization that provides free voluntary community mediation services to Toronto residents, as an alternative means to resolving a dispute with the help of neutral mediators. 

Mediation can help deliver better service, divert some cases from bylaw enforcement, and get to the root cause of long-standing community or neighbour-to-neighbour issues. The process is separate from bylaw enforcement and completely confidential. 

Residents may seek resolution to their issue using mediation services directly to TNG Community Services. 

TNG Community Services

For situations north of Eglinton Avenue
416-839-3425 or crt.northyork@tngcs.org 

For situations south of Eglinton Avenue
416-827-5929 or crt.intake@tngcs.org