SIGN PERMITS

A comprehensive guide to Sign Permits in Vancouver and the rest of the Lower Mainland.

Penalties if You Don't Have a Sign Permit.

So you're a new business owner who wants to catch the attention of passersby with eye-catching signage. You reach out to a sign company for a quote. As you review it, you notice a line item at the bottom that reads, "Sign Permit may be required," with an added cost that makes you think, "Wait, what?"

Contrary to popular belief, it's not a scam. This is a legitimate expense involved in getting an exterior sign installed in North America.

Explain Like I'm Five

Freedom to put any sign you want = bad!
People with money will want their sign to be bigger and brighter than the rest.
Signs will be installed anywhere and everywhere.
Some signs will be a danger to people walking by.
Cities will look ugly.
Heritage and historical sites will lose their essence.

In summary, we need a policing authority to ensure everyone has an even playing field and nobody's risking their lives by simply walking under a sign.

Why Do We Need a Sign Permit?

A sign permit is typically required by the city to ensure that any signage you install complies with local regulations and zoning by-laws. These regulations are in place to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the community, ensure safety, and avoid clutter or obstructions. By obtaining a permit, you ensure that your signage is legally compliant and professionally approved.

Why Cities Have Sign By-Laws?

1. Compliance with Zoning By-Laws: Different areas have specific rules about the size, type, and location of signs. A sign permit ensures your sign meets these requirements.

2. Safety Considerations: The city reviews the stamped Engineering Drawings, if required, to ensure the sign is structurally sound and won't pose a hazard to pedestrians or drivers. Additionally, they ensure that it does not

obstruct or interfere with natural lighting, air intake, or ventilation of a building.
cover or obstruct an architectural feature
be constructed or installed in a way that damages a tree, emit sound, or noise

3. Aesthetic Control: Permits help maintain a consistent and visually pleasing environment in the community.

4. Avoiding Legal Issues: Installing a sign without a permit can lead to fines, removal orders, or other legal complications.

When is a Sign Permit Required?

A sign permit is typically required in the following situations although it varies from city to city.

New Outdoor Sign: If you're installing a new outdoors sign, i.e. Fascia Sign, Awning Sign, or Projecting Sign, you'll likely need a permit.
Changing or Modifying an Existing Sign: If you plan to alter, relocate, or replace an existing sign (changing the structure, size, or message), a permit is usually necessary.
Illuminated or Electrical Signs: Any sign that involves lighting or electrical components often requires a permit to ensure it meets safety standards.
Signs in Historic or Special Districts: Areas with historic significance or special zoning may have stricter sign regulations, requiring a permit for any signage changes.
Temporary Signs: In some cases, even temporary signs (like banners or event signs) might require a permit, especially if they are large or displayed for an extended period.
Signs Exceeding a Certain Size: Many cities have size thresholds for signs that trigger the need for a permit. This can vary depending on local ordinances.
Free-Standing or Pole Signs: Signs that are not attached to a building, such as monument signs, pole signs, or billboards, typically require a permit.

How much does it cost to get a sign permit in Vancouver?

Like everything else in life, it depends on various factors such as the processing fee, type of sign, the size of the sign, the weight of the sign, and so on. When budgeting for any outdoor signage, assume a cost of at least $700 - $1400 for the sign permit.

Note: some cities require 1 sign permit for each sign, while others have a flat rate for multiple signs at a time. Additionally, cities may ask for engineer drawings to ensure the structural safety of the sign being put up. This is a separate service that could cost an additional $1000-1600 in total.

So the overall cost of acquiring a single sign permit can range from $700 to $3000.

Okay, but why do you say, a "sign permit may be required"?

The answer is simple. We don't know if a sign permit is required when estimating because we don't have all the details yet (size, design, illumination, placement, zoning area, etc.). This is usually determined much later during the design/proofing stage. To make it more complex, each city has different By-Laws for each district within them and then different requirements for each type of signs within that.

Below is a snippet of the By-Laws from some of the cities we work with. You can read the full By-Laws via the links provided.

Sign Regulations in the city of Vancouver:

An Under-Awning Sign cannot have a vertical dimension greater than 0.30m and no more than 1.5m wide.
An awning sign with graphics on it cannot be greater than 40% of the area of the front of the awning space.
There can only be one projecting sign for each frontage of the premises.

Sign Regulations in the city of Burnaby:

The total area of an awning sign, a canopy sign or a facia sign shall not exceed a ratio of one square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of street frontage of the building to which the sign is attached. What does that even mean? (don't worry we know, but still...)
A free standing sign cannot be bigger than 40 square feet in total area and the maximum height shall not exceed 20 feet.
A projecting sign cannot be installed below 9ft height from the grade.

Sign Regulations in the city of Surrey:

Free Standing signs are permitted only for business located in building with a setback of more than 16ft from the adjacent road.
A projecting sign cannot be installed below 8ft height from the grade.
The combined sign area of all fascia signs cannot exceed 3 sqft per linear foot of premises frontage.

Sign Regulations in the city of Richmond:

Almost all outdoor signs require a sign permit including Fascia Signs, Awning Signs, Freestanding Signs, Projecting Signs, etc.
Outdoor banner signs can only be displayed for up to 90 days in a calendar year.
Storefront awning or fascia signs has to be within 1 square meter of the premises frontage.

How do you get a sign permit in Vancouver?

Through us, of course! No, but for real, it is better and more cost efficient to go through a sign company who can do it all for you because the process of getting a sign permit usually involves several steps and can take anytime from 2 to 6 weeks (some cities are notoriously tedious).

Should you choose us as your signage partner, then our general overview of the process looks something like this:

1. We Review Local Sign Regulations

Zoning Codes: We check the local zoning codes to understand what types of signs are allowed, where they can be placed, and any restrictions on size, height, or illumination.
Historic or Special Districts: If your business is in a historic or special district, additional guidelines might apply.

2. We Prepare the Sign Plan

Design Specifications: Create detailed drawings or digital renderings of your proposed sign. Include dimensions, materials, colors, and any lighting or electrical elements.
Location Details: Clearly show where the sign will be installed, including measurements from property lines, buildings, and any nearby signs or streets.
Structural Information: If the sign is large or free-standing, the city may ask for engineering details to demonstrate structural safety. Note: this is a separate cost as it is a vigorous process involving engineered approved drawings.

3. Submit Application

Application Form: We complete and submit the sign permit application through the respective city, while supplying the supporting documents that includes the sign plan, location details, and any required engineering or structural documents.
Fee Payment: We pay the required application fee on your behalf, which can vary depending on the size and type of sign.

4. Review Process

Initial Review: The city’s planning or zoning department will review our application to ensure it complies with local regulations.
Revisions: If there are any issues with our application, we will make revisions and resubmit.

5. Approval or Denial

Permit Issuance: If our application is approved, we can proceed with the sign manufacturing, which may include specific conditions or restrictions enforced by the city.
Denial and Appeal: If our application is denied, we’ll receive an explanation, and we may have the option to appeal the decision or modify our plan and reapply.

6. Installation and Inspection

Sign Installation: Once the sign is produced, we can proceed with installing the sign according to the approved plans.
Inspection: Depending on local requirements, a final inspection may be required to ensure the sign was installed correctly and safely.

7. Compliance and Maintenance

Ongoing Compliance: Ensure your sign continues to meet all local regulations, especially if there are any changes or modifications in the future.
Permit Renewal (if applicable): Some cities require periodic renewal of sign permits, particularly for temporary signs.

Sign Permit Requirements

Each municipality has specific requirements and necessary documents for sign installation:

Owner’s Undertaking: This legal document, signed by the building owner or strata manager, authorizes the contractor (Century Signs) to carry out the work. We will provide the specific form required by each municipality.

Application Form: Many municipalities require a separate application form that includes the address, lot legal description, sign dimensions, location, and sometimes a Land Title Search. We handle this process for you.

Site Plan: This drawing illustrates the building's location relative to property lines, streets, and other city elements. If you have this drawing, it's helpful, but we can usually obtain the necessary information from the city’s digital mapping system.

Sign Detail Drawings: These drawings include specifications like size, colors, construction, and electrical details for each sign. We will prepare these drawings for you.

Engineering: Depending on the sign's location, size, and construction, an engineer may need to conduct a structural analysis to ensure safety and compliance with Federal, Provincial, and Municipal Building Codes. We will arrange for this if necessary.

What's the penalty for not having a sign permit?

A picture of a book with Financial Penalty as the title.jpg

If you want to risk putting up a sign without a permit, you can do so (at your own risk). However, it is important to know the potential penalties you may face. Below are a few cities in the Lower Mainland with their penalties listed. As you will notice, the penalty cost could be as high as 3-5 times the cost of the sign permit, so it is definitely not worth it.

VANCOUVER

Every person who displays, or permits suffers or allows the display of a sign without a valid sign permit, is liable to a fine of no less than $500 and no more than $10,000 for each offence.

BURNABY

Every person who commits an offence against this bylaw is liable to a fine and penalty not exceeding $10,000 and in default of payment to imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months and each day that the offence is continued shall constitute a separate offence.
If the City removes a sign pursuant to this bylaw, the owner of the sign shall be liable to pay the City a removal fee as specified in the Burnaby Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw, and such fee must be paid when the owner claims the sign from the City

SURREY

Every person who violates any of the provisions of the By-law shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $100.00 and not more than $2,000.00 for each offense.
Where an offense against this By-law is of a continuing nature, each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense.

RICHMOND

Every person who violates any of the provisions of the By-law shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $10,000.00 for each offense.

SQUAMISH

Every person who violates any of the provisions of the By-law shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $2,000.00 for each offense or 6 months imprisonment, or both.