A sign that indicates the address or name of a building, business or individuals occupying a building. Please note the following information:

• No maximum size if sculpted out of the building face
• Maximum 0.30 square metres if affixed to a residence or private garage
• Maximum 1.20 square metres if not sculpted out of the building, or not affixed to residences or private garage
• Is considered a fascia sign (Class B) and must follow fascia sign rules when exceeding size restrictions

This type of sign is primarily an artistic drawing applied or affixed to a building’s exterior.

• A maximum of 10 per cent of the sign can be text.
• Text can acknowledge the business inside the building, and the name of any individual, organization or business that sponsored or contributed to creating the art.
• When an art sign is in a window, windo​w sign rules apply.

A banner sign is constructed of flexible material that can be displayed without using a flag pole. It can temporarily promote products or services, replace a fascia sign, announce a new business, or it can be purely decorative.

• A banner sign that is used to promote a product, service or a new business opening may be displayed for a maximum of 90 days per year and is limited to one sign per business/building.
• The maximum sign area is five square metres.
• The sign must not project above, or be located on, the building roof.
• The sign may either be affixed to the building wall or freestanding, provided it does not exceed three metres high when measured from grade to its highest point.

A construction sign is displayed on a property under construction. It identifies who is responsible for the construction, labour, services, materials, or financing. It may also identify future use of the property.

• When related to an existing development permit or to an undeveloped property, all construction signs on site:
  • Can add up to a maximum of six square metres
  • Must be removed within seven days following completion of the development inspection
• When related to a development for which a development permit is not required, all construction signs:
  • May have a maximum sign area of one square metre in residential districts
  • May have a maximum sign area of 1.5 square metres in all other districts
  • May be displayed for a maximum of 30 days

This sign guides, warns or restricts people or motor vehicles; it may be either freestanding or attached to a building. Please note the following information:

• Must not contain advertising or slogans but may include logos and written identification
• Maximum copy area of 2.5 square metres
• May be located anywhere on a property
• Maximum of two freestanding directional signs may be located near a property’s entrance or exit point
• Maximum four metres high for a freestanding directional sign

A flag sign is made of fabric or flexible material either attached to, or designed to be flown from a permanently constructed flagpole or light standard. Please note the following information:

• Maximum sign area of two square metres
• Limited to three signs per property where the property frontage is 30 metres or less
• Limited to six signs per property where the property frontage is over 30 metres
• Must not be higher than the maximum height of a freestanding sign (Class C)
• Must not be on a building roof

This type of sign typically advertises products or services sold at a gas station, and stored outside. Examples include windshield wiper fluid, motor vehicle oils, firewood, ice, air and propane. Please note the following information:

• Maximum area of one square metre
• Must not be illuminated

​​

This type of temporary sign has no external supporting structure and is placed near a sidewalk to attract attention from passing pedestrians. Please note the following information:

• Must be located within three metres of a public entrance to the business; however there are exceptions in business improvement areas; see the Land Use Bylaw, Part 3, Division 5, Section 89 (2) for details.
• May only be displayed during the business’ operating hours
• Must not be placed on a public sidewalk
• Must not be illuminated
• Maximum one sign per business located on the floor closest to ground level
  • Maximum one metre high
  • Maximum one square metre in area

​​

A sign that contains information about the management, sale, lease or rental of a property or building. It may take the form of any other sign type.

• When the real estate sign is freestanding:
  • There must not be more than one real estate sign per frontage
  • Maximum sign area of 1.5 square metres and maximum height of two metres if the frontage is equal to or less than 30 metres
  • Maximum sign area of three square metres and maximum height of three metres if the frontage is over 30 metres
• When the real estate sign takes the form of a fascia sign, it must meet all fascia sign rules
• When the real estate sign takes the form of a banner sign:
  • Must not be located above the third storey of a building
  • Must not be displayed for more than 90 days in a year

A sign that promotes a charitable, educational, community, civic, cultural, recreational, religious or sporting event. A special event sign may take the form of any other sign.

• Must not be on a property containing a residence
• Must not contain advertising other than promoting the specific event, but may display any event sponsor or contributor
• May be displayed for up to 15 days prior to the event date and for the event duration, but must not be displayed for more than 30 days in total
• Can take the form of any other type of sign

This sign identifies a newly constructed residential building as a sample of the type of building a builder is providing, and where prospective buyers may receive information about the community and about buying a home from that builder.

• Maximum total sign area is six square metres

​​

This type of sign is not permanently affixed to a structure or is affixed to a structure that is easily movable.

• Must not be located in any of the locations listed in section 89 (1) and (2) of the Land Use Bylaw​
• Must not be placed on a property where an approved digital message sign is operating
• Must be stabilized or anchored to ensure it will not be unintentionally moved, blown over, or detached
• Sandbags and guy wires may only be used to stabilize or anchor a temporary sign if the sign is on a hard surface
• Must not be located within 7.5 metres of vehicle access to a property
• In residential districts the maximum sign area is:
  • One square metre if a residence is on the same property
  • Three square metres if there are no residences on the same property
• In all other districts the maximum sign area is:
  • 1.5 square metres if the frontage of the property is 30 metres or less
  • 5.5 square metres if the frontage of the property is greater than 30 metres
• The maximum height is:
  • 1.5 metres if the sign area is 2.5 square metres or less
  • Two metres if the sign area is greater than 2.5 square metres, but less than three square metres
  • Three metres if the sign area is three square metres or more
• A temporary sign with a sign area greater than 1.5 square metres must be located on a temporary sign marker that has been approved and must:
  • Be no further than one metre away from the temporary sign marker​
  • Not be closer to the street than the temporary sign marker
• Only one temporary sign may be located on a property with a frontage less than or equal to 75 metres
• A maximum of two temporary signs may be located on a property with a frontage greater than 75 metres but less than or equal to 200 metres
• A maximum of three temporary signs may be located on a property with a frontage greater than 200 metres

​

This type of sign is attached to, painted, or displayed on the interior or exterior of a building window, so it is visible to someone outside the building; it:

• Includes signs that are placed 0.90 metres or less behind a window
• Does not include any type of product or window display intended to be visible outside of the building

Sign area cannot exceed 30 per cent of the window’s surface area​​​​​​

A property may have one freestanding sign facing each street that has a vehicle entrance to the property unless:

• The property has a frontage equal to or greater than 200 metres – in this case, one additional freestanding sign is allowed for every 200 metres of additional frontage.
• The property is designated C-R2 or C-R3 - then two additional freestanding signs are allowed per frontage.

​​

The allowable size and height of a Freestanding Sign can vary depending on which land use district the property is located.

​

• The copy area on a canopy sign must not exceed 50 per cent of the canopy’s total area; which is measured by multiplying the canopy’s height by its length.
• The canopy sign must not extend beyond the canopy itself.
  
• A structure used to display canopy signs must:
  • Have a minimum clearance of 2.4 metres from grade
  • Not extend any further than the line on which street light or power line poles are located
  • Not extend further than 2.4 metres from the wall of the building to which it is attached
  • Not exceed 1.5 metres high measured from the lowest point to the highest point of the structure

Rules for signs hanging or attached under canopies and other building projections

• ​​Must have a minimum clearance of 2.4 metres from grade
  
• May be a maximum of 0.30 metres high
• May have a maximum sign area of one square metre

Must be a minimum of 4.5 metres from each other​​​​

• ​​​Businesses can have only one projecting sign on a primary building wall.​
  
• ​​The edge of the projecting sign closest to the building wall must be within 
  
  0.30 metres of the wall.
• The maximum height of a projecting sign is six metres from grade, when measured to the top of the sign.
• Where a projecting sign is for a hotel, retail and consumer service, or parking lot structure with a height of 18.5 metres or greater, the maximum allowable sign height is 21.5 metres above grade so long as:
  • the sign does not project more than two metres from the building; and
  • the sign area is 18.5 square metres or less.
• The minimum clearance between the bottom of a projecting sign and grade is 2.4 metres.
• Size restrictions for projecting signs:

This type of sign is a message sign containing a digital display, but not containing full motion video, or third party advertising.

• Rules specific to commercial, industrial, mixed use, S-R, CC-ER or CR20-C-20/R20 districts:
  • Maximum sign area
    • five square metres when attached to a building
    • The lesser of 2.5 square metres or 30 percent of the window area where used as a window sign​
    • 50 percent of the sign area of a freestanding sign
  • Must display a black screen from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. if visible from and located within 125 metres of a building containing a residence

• Rules specific to low-density residential, multi-residential, CC-MH, CC-MHX, S-SPR, S-CS, S-CI, S-URP, CC-EMU, CC-ET, CC-EPR, CC-EIR, CC-ERR districts:
  • Only allowed if the sign advertises an event, activity, or service and is associated with one of the following uses:
    • Community Recreation Facility
    • Indoor Recreation Facility
    • Library
    • Museum
    • Outdoor Recreation Area
    • Park
    • All Place of Worship uses
    • All School uses
  • Maximum sign area of one square metre
  • Must display a black screen from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. if visible from and located within 125 metres of a building containing a residence
• May have one digital message sign per property except for corner parcels which may have one sign facing each street
  
  • This does not apply if the sign displays only the date, time, temperature, parking information, fuel price, or a drive through menu board

• Must not be located on a parcel adjacent to Deerfoot Trail, Spruce Meadows Trail, Stoney Trail, or any provincial highway when the copy on the sign is visible from these roads, unless it follows the following rules:​

​​​​​​​

A large, inflatable sign that can be a variety of shapes and sizes. They are expandable by using air or other gas, creating a three-dimensional display feature. They are often used to draw attention from people nearby. A maximum of 10 per cent of the sign can be text.

• Not allowed if visible from major roadways or in pedestrian oriented areas; refer to the Land Use Bylaw Part 3, Division 5, Section 89(1) and (2)
• Not allowed in the Stephen Avenue Mall heritage area
• Must not be located on a roof
• Must be tethered and touching the surface on which it is anchored
• Must not extend higher than the maximum height allowed for a freestanding sign; refer to the Land Use Bylaw Part 3, Division 5, Section 97
• Only one inflatable sign may be located on a property at any time and a maximum of two Inflatable signs are allowed per year
• Can be displayed on a property for up to 30 days

​A sign that is painted directly onto the exterior wall of a building, and can include copy that identifies the occupant of a building, unlike an art signMay be located anywhere on a building wall.

• If the sign is removed, the building wall must be refinished to match the building
• No restrictions on the copy area
• No restrictions on the designated sign area

A roof sign is installed on the roof of a building or in such a way that it projects above the top of a building.

• Only allowed in commercial, industrial, mixed use, S-CI, S-SPR, and CR20/C20-R20 districts
  
• May only identify the business or building occupant by name or logo
  
• Supports and structures used must not be visible
• The sign and any supports must not extend beyond the district maximum building height 
• The sign area of all roof signs on the same side of a building must be less than or equal to 2.5 per cent of the area calculated by multiplying the width of the building face by the building height from the bottom of the sign to grade
  
  

This type of sign rotates or includes rotating features.

• Rotating signs are only allowed in commercial or industrial districts.
• It must not exceed the maximum height and sign area allowed for a freestanding sign; refer to the Land Use Bylaw, Part 3, Division 5, Section 97

​​

A temporary sign marker refers to a physical, delineated space on a property where temporary signs may be placed on an ongoing, rotational basis. A temporary sign marker must be approved and designated as a location for temporary signs. 

• Not allowed on major roadways or pedestrian oriented areas; refer to the Land Use Bylaw, Part 3 Division 5 Section 89(1)(2)
  • Must be:
  • Constructed of concrete, landscape pavers or similar hard surface material
    • Constructed of different surfacing than the surroundings so it clearly stands out
    • Always visible and clear of obstructions
    • A minimum of 0.4 square metres
    • Anchored or set into the ground
  • The number of temporary sign markers allowed on a property must match the number of temporary signs allowed – please refer to basic signs (Class A)​
  • Must not be located within 7.5 metres of motor vehicle access to the property
  • Must have an underground electrical power supply if a temporary sign will be illuminated
  • Must be located so that it is accessible from within the property in order to install, maintain, or remove the sign

​

• Please see section 111 and 113(6)  in the Land Use Bylaw.
• Third party advertising signs are a listed use in:
  • C-COR1, C-COR2, C-COR3, C-O districts
  • I-G, I-B, I-E, I-C, I-R, I-O, I-H districts
  • S-CRI, S-FUD districts
  • CC-X, CC-COR, CR20-C20/R20 districts

​​

• Must not be located within 30 metres of any other freestanding sign facing the same oncoming traffic. Must not be located within 75 metres of any other third party advertising sign facing the same oncoming traffic.
• There must be no more than two freestanding third party advertising signs taller than 4.6 metres, and larger than 4.5 square metres within a 225 metre radius of each other facing the same street, except:
  • Where the separation is between an existing third party advertising sign approved prior to June 19, 2000; or
  • For a third party advertising sign located on the same structure.
• Third party advertising signs smaller than 4.6 metres in height and 4.5 square metres in area must not be closer than 30 metres to each other.
• Must not be closer than six metres from any property line shared with a road unless it is smaller than 4.6 metres in height and 4.5 square metres in area.
• Trees required under an approved development permit cannot be removed or altered to accommodate the placement or visibility of a third party advertising sign.
• The sign must not be located on or attached to the roof of a building.
• A freestanding third party advertising sign must be separated, at distances determined by the Transportation Department, from:
  • A directional sign larger than 3 square metres in sign area in a street right-of-way;
  • A street intersection or railway crossing; and
  • The curbline or edge of a major street

​

• Maximum 10.5 metres if the sign is mounted on the wall of a building or is a freestanding structure installed so that the sign is flush with the building wall 
• Maximum 8.3 metres if the sign is freestanding and farther than 6.5 metres from a building
• Maximum of the greater of 6.5 metres or the height of a building within 6.5 metres of the sign if the building is less than 8.3 metres high
• Maximum 4.6 metres if the Third Party Advertising Sign is in C-COR1, C-COR2, CC-X, CC-COR
• The sign must not project above the eaveline of the building

• Maximum vertical dimension of 5.8 metres
• Maximum horizontal dimension of 7 metres
• Maximum area of 25 square metres
• Maximum area of 4.5 square metres when located in the C-COR1, C-COR2, CC-X, CC-COR districts
• Maximum area of 4.5 square metres in the CR20-C20/R20 district unless it is part of a comprehensive development and the sign has been incorporated into the design of the building or structure and must be pedestrian oriented in size

• An applicant must show that any proposed third party advertising sign is compatible with the general architectural form of nearby buildings, the character of the streetscape, and does not severely obstruct the horizon line.
• The sign must not block natural light or the sky from the windows and doors of surrounding buildings.
• The lighting and orientation must not negatively affect neighbouring residential areas.
• If lighting fixtures are used, they must not be visible and the light emitted must only light the sign itself.
• No other signs or materials can be attached to a third party advertising sign.
• The backs of all third party advertising signs and all cut outs must be enclosed.
• The space between the faces of a double faced third party advertising signs must be enclosed.
• Any electrical power supply to the sign or to the landscaping below the sign must be underground unless otherwise approved in cases with no reasonable access.
• The sign may be approved for up to five years.

​​

• A new application can be made prior to the expiry of the original development permit.
• If the height, size and location of the sign has not changed, The City:
  • Must consider if the sign is compatible with the general architectural form of nearby buildings, the character of the streetscape, and does not severely obstruct the horizon line;
  • Must not approve the application if a freestanding sign​ has been approved and constructed within 30 metres of the third party advertising sign;
  • May only approve the application if a third party advertising sign is a listed use in the district;
  • May approve the application if the sign is located in the pedestrian oriented areas as referenced in Part 3, Division 5, Subsection 113 (6) of the Land Use Bylaw as long as the property has not been approved for redevelopment; and
  • May approve the application if the sign is located in the C-COR1, C-COR2, CC-X, and CC-COR districts as long as the property has not been approved for redevelopment.

​

• Please see section 115.2  in the Land Use Bylaw.
• Digital third party advertising signs are a listed use in:
  • C-COR3, C-O districts
  • I-G, I-B, I-C, I-R, I-O, I-H districts
  • S-CRI, S-FUD districts
  • CC-X, CR20-C20/R20 districts

•  Must not be located within 30 metres of any other freestanding sign facing the same oncoming traffic.
• Must not be located within 300 metres of any other digital message sign or digital third party advertising sign facing the same oncoming traffic
• Must not be located within 75 metres of any other digital third party advertising sign facing the same oncoming traffic
• There must be no more than two freestanding digital third party advertising signs taller than 4.6 metres, and larger than 4.5 square metres within a 225 metre radius of each other facing the same street
• Must be the following distances away from a property line facing a street depending on the traffic speed limit:

• May be located closer than the distances above if:
  • The sign replaces an existing approved digital third party advertising sign
  • The development permit approving the sign remains in effect
  • The distance from the sign to any property line is not less than that of the existing approved digital third party advertising sign
• Must not be visible from a building containing a residence
• Must not be located less than 125 metres to a building containing a residence
• Trees required under an approved development permit cannot be removed or altered to accommodate the placement or visibility of a digital third party advertising sign.
• Must not be located on or attached to the roof of a building
• A freestanding digital third party advertising sign must be separated, at distances determined by the Transportation Department, from:
  • A directional sign larger than 3 square metres in a roadway
  • A street intersection or railway crossing; and
  • The curbline or edge of a major street

​

• Maximum 10.5 metres if the sign is mounted on the wall of a building or is a freestanding structure installed so that the sign is flush with the building wall 
• Maximum 8.3 metres if the sign is freestanding and farther than 6.5 metres from a building
• Maximum of the greater of 6.5 metres or the height of a building within 6.5 metres of the sign if the building is less than 8.3 metres high.The sign must not project above the eaveline of the building.

• Maximum vertical dimension of 5.8 metres
• Maximum horizontal dimension of 7 metres
• Maximum area of 25 square metres
• Maximum area of 4.5 square metres in the CR20-C20/R20 district unless it is part of a comprehensive development and the sign has been incorporated into the design of the building or structure and must be pedestrian oriented in size
• Allowance for a 1.5 metre cut-out to the top and face of the sign and a 0.7 metre cut-out to the sides and bottom of the sign where the sign owner or sponsor may display their name

• An applicant must show that any proposed digital third party advertising sign is compatible with the character of the streetscape and the architectural design of nearby buildings.
• The sign must not block natural light from the windows and doors of surrounding buildings, and it may not obstruct the skyline.
• Must not block natural light or the sky from the windows and doors of surrounding buildings
• The lighting and orientation must not negatively affect neighbouring residential areas.
• No other signs or materials can be attached to a digital third party advertising sign.
• The backs of all digital third party advertising signs and all cut outs must be enclosed.
• The space between the faces of a double faced digital third party advertising signs must be enclosed.
• Any electrical power supply to the sign or to the landscaping below the sign must be underground unless otherwise approved in cases with no reasonable access.
• The sign may be approved for up to three years.

​​

• A new application can be made prior to the expiry of the original development permit
• If the height, size and location of the sign has not changed, The City:
  • must consider if the sign is compatible with the general architectural form of nearby buildings, the character of the streetscape, and does not severely obstruct the horizon line
  • must not approve the application if a freestanding sign​ has been approved and constructed within 30 metres of the digital third party advertising sign
  • may only approve the application if a digital third party advertising sign is a listed use in the district;
  • must not approve the application when the sign is located within and the digital display is visible from 125 metres of a building containing a residence

​