Sign permits

Fees

• Please see the applicable fee scheduleFees

Application requirements

• A letter of authorization from the property owner must be included with your submission.
• All drawings are to be submitted in metric units of measurement
• If your sign does not comply with the Sign bylaw regulations, you will need to request a variance or an amendment.

Site Plan

For construction information, ground supported, new home development or billboard signs – please include:

• Location of proposed sign(s)
• Setback from property lines
• Location of all other signs on the property and abutting lands
• Distance to parking or pedestrian areas
• To determine if a City Site Plan is available, please contact the Records Administrator at building@kitchener.ca.

Sign Drawing

For all sign types, please include the following (if applicable):

• Dimensions of sign
• Dimensions of wall the sign is located on
• Clearance from grade to bottom of sign
• Height of sign
• Description of area beneath the sign (pedestrian, vehicular, landscaped)
• Projection from wall
• Material of the wall that the sign is being attached to
• Details of how sign is fastened to the wall - size, spacing and number of bolts
• Footing details
• Landscape details/changes (updated or new landscape plan may be required)

Additional information

• For an awning, fascia or projecting sign, you must also submit a photo or elevation drawing of the building or structure to which the sign is to be attached clearly showing the proposed location of the sign and showing that it will not cover any architectural feature of the building or structure.
• The Ontario Building Code requires the following signs to be designed by a Professional Engineer:
• All types of projecting building signs (including fascia) weighing more than 25 kg
• All freestanding signs greater than 1.8 metres (≈ 5 ft 10⅞ in) above ground level

Inspection information

• Signs containing Automatic Changing Copy shall conform to the criteria outlined in Section 680.3.31 of the Sign By-law and shall be certified in writing by a Lighting Engineer after the installation of the sign and before its operational use.
• Please submit the engineer stamped certification form to planning@kitchener.ca.

• Portable signs may only be placed in approved locations and subject to receiving property owner approval.
• A maximum of six permits may be issued for any one business or use per calendar year.
• To apply for a permit, complete our portable sign permit application.
• Send us an email if the subject property does not have a valid sign location and you want to apply for one.

• You can receive a temporary permit for inflatable signs and banners.
• There is a maximum of six permits a year for a business or specific use.
• To apply for a permit, complete a temporary sign permit application.

Variance requests

If your sign doesn’t meet our bylaw requirements, you’ll need to request a variance. The variance process is:

• apply for a variance (download the application form) and pay the fee
• a notice of application will be posted on our website
• property owners within 60 metre (≈ 197 ft) radius receive written notice of the request and can provide comments
• planning staff will circulate the application for feedback from other departments deemed relevant
• After you apply for and receive a variance, you will need to apply for and obtain a sign permit.

Variance approval

• Approval may be subject to conditions determined by staff. If staff do not support the application, you can appeal staff’s recommendation to city council.
• If the variance is considered minor and there are no concerns, the process will take approximately four weeks to complete.
• If in the variance request is worthy of consideration but not minor, the application will be processed as a bylaw amendment that would be considered by city council.