Sign By-law | City of Hamilton

Businesses with signs along King Street in Hamilton

Hamilton's Sign By-law

The Sign By-law controls the type of sign, size, location, number and display timelines for all signs.

Hamilton’s Sign By-law No. 10-197 regulates all outdoor signs and advertising space. This by-law ensures that signs are not a safety hazard and assists in maintaining a clean and positive image for our city.

The Sign By-law controls the type of signs such as mobile or ground, size, location, number and display timelines for all signs.

Type of Signs NOT Permitted

The City does not allow:

Flashing or animated video screens, except electronic word displays
Signs that create a safety issue such as blocking visibility on streets
Signs supported either entirely or partly by the roof of a building or structure that extend above the height of the building
Signs displayed on a parked vehicle, trailer or truck and used more as a sign than a vehicle
Signs that block or are displayed in a parking space or space required under Hamilton’s Zoning By-law to be used for parking
Signs within 400 m of the right of way of Highway 403, the Queen Elizabeth Way, the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway or the Red Hill Valley Parkway and are visible from the travelled portion of the road
Signs displayed on City property that are not authorized by the City

What is Allowed

Type of Signs Permitted

Ground

Mobile

Sidewalk or A Frame

Temporary

Posters

A ground sign is a sign that is free standing and is supported by a structure secured to the ground. This structure is not supported by any building or other structure and does not have a billboard.

Apply for a Permit for a Ground Sign

Complete Permit to Construct Ground Sign Application Form(PDF, 146.95 KB)

Ensure to include property address, owner/applicant and designer information.

You must also submit two copies of:

Mechanical, structural or electrical plans or data
Plot plan, survey or site plan

Submit your application and drawings in person to:
Building Division
City Hall
71 Main Street West, 3rd Floor
Hamilton, Ontario

Fee must be paid in full at the time of the application. You can pay by cash, cheque (payable to the City of Hamilton), debit or credit card.

Ground Sign Requirements

A ground sign must:

Must have the municipal address of the property displayed on the sign
May have 50% of the sign as a read-o-graph or electronic message display
Electronic message display must hold for at least three seconds
Should be set back from the property line to about 75% of the height of the sign
Must have a 200 metre separation from another ground sign on the same property
Maximum sign area is 0.3 times the frontage to a maximum area of 18 m2

Maximum height for ground signs:

3.5 metres if under 4 m2
6 metres if greater than 4 m2 and less than 6 m2
7.5 metres if greater than 6 m2

Ground Sign Restrictions

Ground signs are not permitted in these places or areas due to zoning and restrictions:

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

A mobile sign can be readily moved from one location to another, and may be part of or attached to a wheeled trailer or frame without wheels but does not include a Temporary Sign. A mobile sign requires a Sign permit.

Apply for a Permit for a Mobile Sign

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

Submit in person or by fax to:
One Stop for Business
City Hall, Licensing Counter
71 Main Street West, 1st Floor
Hamilton, Ontario
Fax: 905-546-2139

Fee - To make an online payment you must have:

your licence number if paying for a renewal i.e: 18-XXXXXX (first 2 digits represent the year)
your application number if paying for a new licence i.e: 18-XXXXX (first 2 digits represent the year)

Pay Sign Application Fee Online

Mobile Sign Requirements

A mobile sign must:

Be located on the property of the business advertised on the sign.
Have the sign owner’s name and phone number on the sign.
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.
Be located where it will not be a safety hazard
Not be placed on property that is owned by the City.
Not be illuminated, be moving, animated, or cause noise.
Not be located on vacant property or in a required parking space.
Be only displayed for a 14 day permit period. A maximum of 2 consecutive display periods, after which there must be a 14 day hiatus from any sign being displayed on this property before another permit period can begin.
Mobile signs are not allowed on a property within the Downtown Community Improvement Project Area , a Business Improvement Area, the Ancaster Village Core Area, or within the Glanbrook Village Core Area.
A maximum of 6 permits for a single business on a property for a total yearly allowance of 84 days.

Exceptions for Mobile Signs

You can use a mobile sign to advertise a grand opening or closing promotional event, but it must meet the following criteria:

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

A sidewalk sign is a temporary sign that is a free-standing and is typically shaped like an “A” or a “T” with one or two sign faces.

Apply for a Permit for a Sidewalk or A Frame Sign

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

Submit in person or by fax to:
One Stop for Business
City Hall, Licensing Counter
71 Main Street West, 1st Floor
Hamilton, Ontario
Fax: 905-546-2139

Fee - To make an online payment you must have:

your licence number if paying for a renewal i.e: 18-XXXXXX (first 2 digits represent the year)
your application number if paying for a new licence i.e: 18-XXXXX (first 2 digits represent the year)

Pay Sign Application Fee Online

Sidewalk Sign Requirements

A sidewalk sign must:

Only be displayed during business’ hours of operation
Not exceed 0.6 metres wide by 0.8 metres 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, Community Improvement Project Areas etc:

Signs can be placed on public sidewalks, adjacent to curb or front wall of business being advertised but not in the Urban Braille System
You will need insurance coverage

Temporary signs include portable signs, sidewalk signs and new home development signs.

Apply for a Permit for a Temporary Sign

Complete the Temporary Application Form(PDF, 361.57 KB)

Submit in person or by fax to:
One Stop for Business
City Hall, Licensing Counter
71 Main Street West, 1st Floor
Hamilton, Ontario
Fax: 905-546-2139

Fee - To make an online payment you must have:

your licence number if paying for a renewal i.e: 18-XXXXXX (first 2 digits represent the year)
your application number if paying for a new licence i.e: 18-XXXXX (first 2 digits represent the year)

Pay Sign Application Fee Online

Temporary Sign Requirements

Temporary signs must:

Be a maximum size of 2.2 metres squared for each sign surface
Be 15 metres from an intersection, 3 metres from a driveway line, 1.5 metres from a street line and have a 10 metre separation distance if they are on private property
Advertise an activity, product or service available on that property
Permit period 1 year however, the content of the sign can be changed throughout the year as long as the size and location remain the same.

The City of Hamilton has installed Poster Kiosk and Collars to make it easier for you to display your posters.

Poster Kiosk & Collar Locations

They are currently located in:

Hamilton Downtown core
International Village
Westdale
Dundas

Maps of Kiosk and Collar locations in Hamilton

Poster Requirements

A poster does not require a Sign By-law permit, however there are requirements that you need to follow:

Be no bigger than 28 cm wide by 44 cm high (11 inches by 17 inches)
Only one poster advertising the same event or activity per pole/kiosk/poster sleeve or utility pole
A minimum of 200 m is required between postings
Be attached with adhesive tape
Be made of biodegradable material
Be posted no earlier than 21 days before the event and removed within three days after the event

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

Poster Restrictions

No person can place any poster on a:

Tree
Utility pole on any median, traffic island or central boulevard
Traffic signal or traffic control device

We may remove and dispose of posters at any time, without notice or compensation.

Complete Sign By-law Variance Application Form(PDF, 176.66 KB)

A plan showing the dimensions of the subject land and all abutting land should accompany your application.

Submit your application and plan in person to:
Planning and Economic Development Department
City Hall
71 Main Street West, 5th Floor
Hamilton, Ontario

Fee: You will need to pay the $625 fee when you submit your application. You can pay by cash or cheque (payable to the City of Hamilton). If the sign that has been erected, located and displayed without a permit, the fee is $1,330.

You may be granted approval if you can prove that the general intent and purpose of the By-law can be maintained. For more information on the process for requesting an exception you can review the variances section of the Sign By-law.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Sign By-law may result in:

The sign being immediately removed at the owner’s expense
An Order to Comply being issued and/or
Charges under the Provincial Offences Act which provide for a maximum fine(s) of $5000 for an individual and $10,000 for a corporation in addition to other court proceeding necessary to obtain compliance.

Order to Comply

An Order to Comply is a document provided to the property owner/occupant that gives direction on what actions are required and the deadline for which this action is to occur (compliance date).

The Order to Comply may:

Require the sign to be removed immediately or by a specific date; and/or
Require the sign to be brought into compliance, such as request that changes be made so that the sign meets all of the regulations and requirements).

To make arrangements to pick up a sign that has been removed call Municipal Law Enforcement at 905-546-2782.

Signs that have been removed are stored for 28 days and are available for pick-up during this time period. After 28 days we may dispose of the sign without notice or compensation.

Date modified

July 13, 2022