Sign By-law

A mobile sign can be readily moved from one location to another and may be attached to a wheeled trailer or frame without wheels. A temporary sign permit is required to display a mobile sign. 

Temporary sign permits are issued for a 14-day permit period. After 2 consecutive display periods (28 days in total), there must be a 14-day hiatus from any sign being displayed on the property. A maximum of 6 permits for a single business on a property for a total yearly allowance of 84 days.

Mobile Sign Requirements

• Must be located on the property of the business advertised on the sign – third party advertising is not permitted on mobile signs
• Must have the sign owner’s name and phone number on the sign 
• Must have a sticker displayed on the sign from the sign company who leases or rents the mobile sign – the sign company must have a business licence

Mobile signs are not permitted:

• On City-owned property
• On vacant property or in a required parking space
• In the Downtown Community Improvement Project Area, a Business Improvement Area, the Ancaster Village Core Area, or within the Glanbrook Village Core Area
• To be illuminated, be moving, animated, or cause noise
• To include an electronic message display
• To be placed in a way that creates a safety hazard

Special Occasion Mobile Signs

Mobile signs to advertise a grand opening or closing promotional event must meet the following criteria:

• Have a special permit
• Displayed for maximum of seven days
• Used only once per business
• Be the only mobile sign on the property
• No banner on property advertising the same event
• Must follow all other requirements for mobile signs 

A banner is a sign that is temporary, is capable of being readily removed and is made from cloth, plastic or a similar lightweight non-rigid material. A temporary sign permit is required to display a banner.

Only one sign permit will be issued for a single business at a single property per calendar year. Sign permits for banners are issued for a maximum display period of 28 consecutive days. 

Banner Sign Requirements

• Must be securely attached to a building, structure, or fence
• Have a sign area no larger than 6 m²
• Be located on the property of or adjacent to the business advertised on the sign – third party advertising is not permitted on banners

A sign permit is not required if the banner:

• advertises a charity’s or community organization’s activities
• has a sign area of less than 1 m²

Sidewalk or A frame signs are temporary signs that are free-standing and typically shaped like an “A” or a “T” with one or two sign faces. A temporary sign permit is required to display a sidewalk or A frame sign on public property. Temporary sign permits for sidewalk signs on public property are issued for a maximum display period of one or 3 years. 

Sidewalk Sign Requirements

• Only be displayed during business’ hours of operation
• Not exceed 0.6 m wide by 0.8 m high in size
• Not be permanently secured
• Be as close as possible to the front wall of the business being advertised to ensure sidewalks and walkways are safe

Additional regulations for signs in Business Improvement Areas, Ancaster Village Core, Glanbrook Village Core Area, and Community Improvement Project Areas:

• Signs can be placed on public sidewalks, adjacent to curb or front wall of business being advertised but not in the Urban Braille System
• Insurance coverage is required

A sign permit is not required for sidewalk signs displayed on private property.

A type of temporary sign that is filled with air or gas and tethered to the ground, a vehicle or any structure and includes, but is not limited to, balloons and any other inflatable sign. A temporary sign permit is required to display an inflatable sign. A sign permit is not required if the inflatable sign advertises a charity’s or community organization’s activities.

Sign permits are issued for 7-day permit periods. Inflatable signs may be displayed for 2 permit periods or 14 consecutive days. A maximum of 2 periods will be issued for a single business at a single property per calendar year. 

Inflatable Sign Requirements

• Be securely fastened
• Not exceed 7 m high and 6 m wide
• Be 5 m or more from the property line
• Advertise a business on the property on which it is displayed – no third-party advertising is permitted

Temporary signs include portable signs, sidewalk signs, and new home development signs. A temporary sign permit is required to display a temporary sign.

Permits are issued for a period of one year. The content of the sign can be changed throughout the year, but the sign size and location may not be changed.

Temporary Sign Requirements

• Be a maximum size of 2.2 m² for each sign surface
• Be 15 m from an intersection, 3 m from a driveway line, 1.5 m from a street line and have a 10 m separation distance if they are on private property
• Advertise an activity, product, or service available on that property
• Not be illuminated or include an electronic message display

Additional regulations may apply depending on the type of temporary sign displayed.

Posters are printed notices that convey information intended to be displayed temporarily, including but not limited to a handbill, leaflet, notice, or placard. A temporary sign permit is not required for posters. Posters that include advertisements for commercial gain are not permitted.

Poster Requirements

• No larger than 28 cm wide by 44 cm high (11 inches by 17 inches)
• Made of biodegradable material
• A minimum of 200 m away from other posters for the same event or activity
• Attached with adhesive tape that covers no more than 20% of the poster
• Posted no earlier than 21 days before the event and removed within three days after the event

Posters may be displayed on public property, such as a utility pole, sign kiosk or collar. Posters may not be attached to trees; utility poles on any median, traffic island or central boulevard, or; traffic signal or traffic control devices.

City staff may remove and dispose of posters placed on unpermitted locations without notice or compensation.

The City of Hamilton maintains poster kiosks and collars that are available for public use in:

• Hamilton Downtown core
• International Village
• Westdale 
• Dundas

Collars and Kiosks are cleaned and maintained the first week of each month.

If this is your first time applying online with the City of Hamilton, you’ll need to complete two simple steps.

Step 1: Create a City of Hamilton Account (my.hamilton.ca)

You will need to create an account at my.hamilton.ca/

• This is the City’s centralized access point that allows you to easily view, access, and submit a wide range of City services using one account.
• Once your City account is created, you can sign in anytime to manage your services online.

Step 2: Access the Customer Portal

• After signing into my.hamilton.ca/, select the Building Permits category to create your Customer Portal account.

Need Help?

For assistance with my.hamilton.ca and login troubleshooting visit My.hamilton Portal FAQs

For assistance with applying, visit Planning, Permitting, Licensing & By-Law System

If you already have:

• a my.hamilton.ca account, and
• a Customer Portal account,

Sign into my.hamilton.ca/ and select the Building Permits category. Navigate to Getting Started and select Building Licensing. Select an action and follow the steps.

Need Help?

For assistance with my.hamilton.ca and login troubleshooting visit My.hamilton Portal FAQs

For assistance with applying, visit Planning, Permitting, Licensing & By-Law System

Complete the Temporary Sign Application Form(PDF, 361.57 KB)

Submit in person:

Ground signs are permanent signs supported by a free-standing structure secured to the ground rather than building or other structures. A sign permit is required before a ground sign can be installed. 

Ground signs are permitted in all zones, except where the property is used for a:

• Single detached dwelling
• Semi-detached dwelling
• Duplex
• Triplex
• Fourplex or quadruplex
• Street townhouse
• Mobile home
• Residential care facility with six or less residents
• Lodging house with six or less residents
• Retirement home with six or less residents
• Emergency shelter with six or less residents 

Ground Sign Requirements

• The municipal address of the property and identifying business information must be displayed on the sign
• Signs should be set back from the property line to 75% of the height of the sign or 1.5 m, whichever is greater
• Ground signs on the same property must be separated by 200 m of another ground sign located along the same frontage
• The maximum permitted sign area is 0.3 m² for every 1m of the frontage along which the ground sign is located, to a maximum sign area of 18 m² for a single faced sign or 36 m² for a double-faced sign
• May not exceed 7.5 m in height
• May not be within 15 m of a traffic signal or traffic control device
• Advertise a business, activity or product that is available on the property or the activities of a charity or community organization
• Ground signs outside of the Downtown Community Improvement Project Area, a Business Improvement Area or the Ancaster/Glanbrook Village Core Areas, may use a maximum of 25% or 1.2m² of the sign area, whichever is lesser, for third party advertising 

Ground signs may include a readograph or electronic message display if the following criteria are met:

• Ground signs on institutional properties may have up to 75% of the sign face as a readograph or electronic message display.
• Ground signs on non-institutional properties may have up to 50% of the sign as a readograph or electronic message display.
• Electronic message display content must hold for at least three seconds without movement, change in colors or intensity of illumination

Wall signs are permanent signs displayed on or against a wall of a building or supported by or through a wall of a building. A sign permit is required before a wall sign can be installed.

Wall signs are permitted in all zones, except where the property is used for:

• Single detached dwelling
• Semi-detached dwelling
• Duplex
• Triplex
• Fourplex or quadruplex
• Street townhouse
• Mobile home
• Residential care facility with six or less residents
• Lodging house with six or less residents
• Retirement home with six or less residents
• Emergency shelter with six or less residents

Wall Sign Requirements

• Not permitted to extend beyond the sides or top of the wall
• Maximum permitted sign area is 15% of the wall
• Wall signs may advertise a business, activity or product that is available on the property or the activities of a charity or community organization
• Wall signs outside of the Downtown Community Improvement Project Area, a Business Improvement Area or the Ancaster/Glanbrook Village Core Areas may use a maximum of 25% or 1.2m² of the sign area, whichever is lesser, for third party advertising

Wall signs may include a readograph or electronic message display if the following criteria are met:

• Up to 50% of the sign area may be a readograph or electronic message display
• Electronic message display content must hold for at least three seconds without movement, change in colors or intensity of illumination
• Readographs and electronic message displays are not permitted on projecting signs

Projecting signs are wall signs that project horizontally from the wall more than 60 cm. Projecting signs must meet the following criteria:

• If attached to a wall in a location where the public can pass underneath, the sign must be at least 2.8 m above the ground.
• Projecting signs with a sign area of 1m² or less may display copy on 100% of the sign area.
• Projecting signs with a sign area greater than 1m² may display copy on 20% of the sign area.
• An encroachment agreement with the City is required.
• Insurance coverage is required.

Projecting signs are subject to annual inspections by City staff. The property owner is required to pay an annual sign inspection fee.

Billboards are free standing permanent signs supported by a structure secured to the ground rather than supported by a building. Billboards can either be single faced or double faced and usually advertise goods, products, or services not sold or offered on the property where the sign is displayed. A sign permit is required before a billboard can be installed.

Billboard Requirements

• Maximum sign area of 18 m^2.
• Maximum height of 12 m and maximum width of 4 m.
• No animation.
• Up to 50% of the sign face may be a readograph.
• Not permitted within the Downtown Community Improvement Project Area, the Waterdown Urban Area or the Waterdown Settlement Areas.
• Must be at least 300 m from another billboard or a residentially zoned property.
• Must be at least 15 m from any property line.
• Only permitted on vacant, undeveloped properties in commercial or industrial areas and be removed once the property ceased to be vacant.

Digital billboards are free standing permanent signs supported by a structure secured to the ground rather than supported by a building. Digital billboards can either be single faced or double faced and usually advertise goods, products, or services not sold or offered on the property where the sign is displayed. A sign permit is required before a digital billboard can be installed.

Digital Billboard Requirements

• Maximum sign area of 18.6 m² per sign face (or 36.2 m² if the digital billboard is single faced and facing the Linc).
• Maximum height of 6.1 m for each sign face (or 10.7 m if the digital billboard is single faced and facing the Linc).
• Maximum width of 10 m (or 12 m if facing the Linc).
• Not permitted in the Downtown Community Improvement Project Area, the Waterdown Urban Area or the Waterdown Settlement Area.
• Permitted within 400 m of and visible from the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway.
• Must be at least 300 m from another Digital Billboard.
• Not permitted within 300 m from a residentially zoned property unless a viewshed analysis is completed to demonstrate minimal impact on nearby residential uses.
• At least 3.5 m from any property line.
• At least 30 m from an intersection.

Images and copy displayed on a digital billboard screen must: 

• Stay on the screen for a minimum of 6 seconds.
• Transitions between images must occur in less than 1 second.
• Not exceed a luminosity level of 300 candelas per m² at night and 6000 candelas per m² during the day.
• Be monitored to ensure ambient light emitted by the sign doesn’t exceed permitted levels. 
• Be shut off between 12 am and 6 am.

If this is your first time applying online with the City of Hamilton, you’ll need to complete two simple steps.

Step 1: Create a City of Hamilton Account (my.hamilton.ca)

You will need to create an account at my.hamilton.ca/

• This is the City’s centralized access point that allows you to easily view, access, and submit a wide range of City services using one account.
• Once your City account is created, you can sign in anytime to manage your services online.

Step 2: Access the Customer Portal

• After signing into my.hamilton.ca/, select the Building Permits category to create your Customer Portal account.

Need Help?

For assistance with my.hamilton.ca and login troubleshooting visit My.hamilton Portal FAQs

For assistance with applying, visit Planning, Permitting, Licensing & By-Law System

If you already have:

• a my.hamilton.ca account, and
• a Customer Portal account,

Visit my.hamilton.ca/ and select the Building Permits category. Navigate to Getting Started and select Permitting & Inspections. Select an action and follow the steps.

Need Help?

For assistance with my.hamilton.ca and login troubleshooting visit My.hamilton Portal FAQs

For assistance with applying, visit Planning, Permitting, Licensing & By-Law System

Application Fee: Permit fees are based on the size of the approved sign. Details about sign permit fees for permanent signs are available at Building Permit Fees

Questions about permits for permanent signs?
Contact:
Building Division
City Hall, 3rd Floor
71 Main Street West, Hamilton
Call 905-546-2720 or
Email [email protected]

Download the Sign Variance Application Form(PDF, 760.25 KB)

All applications are required to be submitted in electronic format via the City of Hamilton’s Customer Portal. If you require alternate arrangements, contact the Planning Division at 905-546-2424 ext. 1355 or [email protected] for assistance.

Application fees must be made upon submission. Failure to pay fees will deem application incomplete. Fees are non-refundable. Fees can be paid online by credit card or by cheque or certified cheque (payable to “City of Hamilton”) and must be accompanied by a cover letter or Fee Intake Memo(PDF, 89.05 KB)

Refer to the Planning Division Fees page for a complete list of application fees. 

Review fees for other external agencies (Conservation Authority, Hamilton International Airport) may be applicable, and the applicant shall contact each agency for confirmation of their fees.

If this is your first time applying online with the City of Hamilton, you’ll need to complete two simple steps.

Step 1: Create a City of Hamilton Account (my.hamilton.ca)

You will need to create an account at my.hamilton.ca/

• This is the City’s centralized access point that allows you to easily view, access, and submit a wide range of City services using one account.
• Once your City account is created, you can sign in anytime to manage your services online.

Step 2: Access the Customer Portal

• After signing in to my.hamilton.ca/, select the Planning & Development Applications category to create your Customer Portal account.
• Once you are setup on the Customer Portal, navigate to Getting Started and select Planning & Growth Management. Select an action and follow the steps.

Need Help?

• For assistance with my.hamilton.ca and login troubleshooting visit My.hamilton Portal FAQs
• For assistance with applying, visit Planning, Permitting, Licensing & By-Law System

If you already have:

• a my.hamilton.ca account, and
• a Customer Portal account, 

Visit my.hamilton.ca/ and select the Planning & Development Applications category. Navigate to Getting Started and select Planning & Growth Management. Select an action and follow the steps.

Need Help?

• For assistance with my.hamilton.ca and login troubleshooting visit My.hamilton Portal FAQs
• For assistance with applying, visit Planning, Permitting, Licensing & By-Law System

Questions about Sign By-law Exemptions? 
Contact:
Planning Division
Call 905-546-2424 ext. 1355
Email [email protected]