The Sign By-law states that no sign can be displayed "without a permit". Not every sign qualifies for a permit. Not every sign is a nuisance sign.
Nuisance signs are the advertising signs that you see posted throughout many neighbourhoods – on street light poles, mailboxes, street signs and boulevards that do not adhere to the City Sign Sleeve Program. The program allows for residents designated sleeves located throughout the City who wish to post a sign advertising a garage/craft sale, dance or other community event. Brampton has over 100 black plastic sign sleeves, on street lights and traffic poles. Any signs not posted on a sign sleeve may be subject to removal and the advertiser, be subject to a fine under the City’s Sign By-law.
When posting a sign on one of these sleeves, use the following guidelines:
- You can only post one sign per sleeve
- The size cannot exceed 36 cm x 43 cm (14 in x 17 in)
- An expectation that what you put up, you must take down
- Display the posting date on the sign
City of Brampton has placed restrictions on nuisance signs (signs advertising services that are attached to hydro and traffic poles, etc. or erected on the boulevard) to protect resident safety and maintain community standards. These signs are unsightly, can be a visual distraction to drivers, become a trip hazard for pedestrians, and may end up as litter in streets and green spaces.
It is illegal for businesses, contractors or individuals to post nuisance signs anywhere within the City.
Exceptions
The sign By-law allows certain types of signs to be posted on private property:
- Real estate signs
- Election signs
- For a municipal election or by-election, only erected after 5:00 p.m. twenty-four (24) days prior to Voting Day as defined in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended, (By-law 309-2013)
- For a federal or provincial election, only erected after 5:00 p.m. on the date the Writ of Election is issued in accordance with the Canada Elections Act, as amended, and the Election Act, as amended; (By-law 309-2013)
- (b) Not to exceed 2 m2 (21.5 ft2 ) in sign area;
- (c) (i) Limited to no more than two election signs per candidate on any one residential property (ii) Limited to no more than two election signs per third party advertiser on any one residential property; (By-law 48-2018)
- (d) (i) Limited to no more than three election signs per candidate on any one private property other than residential, (ii) Limited to no more than three election signs per third party advertiser on any one private property other than residential; (By-law 48-2018)
- (e) Consent shall be obtained from the owner of the property prior to the erection of the sign; and
- (f) Removed within 72 hours after the close of the election for which it was erected. (By-law 309-2013)
While there are exceptions to these signs, there are also restrictions.
Signs on private property are prohibited without a permit. For more information or to obtain a sign permit, contact 3-1-1 for more information.
To maintain public safety and the City's beautification program(s), Enforcement Officers conduct regular patrols to investigate and monitor nuisance signs.
