Portable Signs

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The Zoning Bylaw regulates the location, size, maximum number, and design of portable signs on private property.

The purpose for the regulation of portable signs within the Zoning Bylaw is to balance the need for advertising, the identification of businesses, organizations, and buildings with the need to prevent excessive sign proliferation and the protection of public safety and excellence in urban design.

Portable signs require a development permit, and must have approval from the City before the sign is placed.

Portable Sign Permit Locations

View the Portable Sign Permit Locations map for available locations.

View Map

Location, Zones and Regulations

What is a Portable Sign?

A portable sign is a sign that is relocatable or removable from a site, is used for short-term advertising, and is not anchored below ground level or to any surface. They do not contain digital copy.

Portable Signs with On-premises Advertising

On-premises advertising means copy that relates only to a business, activity or organization that has a Development Permit to operate on the site where the sign is located.

Portable Signs with Off-Premises Advertising

Off-Premises advertising means copy that relates to a business, activity or organization that does not have a Development Permit to operate on the site where the sign is located. Signs with off-premises advertising may generally be used for short-term advertising.

Zones and Regulations

All properties within the City of Edmonton are zoned and that zoning determines which type of signs are allowed. The Zoning Bylaw outlines the uses and regulations of a particular zone.

Determine the Zone

To determine the zone your proposed sign is in, please visit maps.edmonton.ca and select “view map” and enter the address of the proposed sign location to search the zoning and overlay information for the subject property.

Some properties in Edmonton are zoned as Direct Control Zones. If your proposed sign is located within a Direct Control Zone, it will be necessary to determine the regulations in effect at the time the zone was approved by Council.

If you are unable to access this maps.edmonton.ca, please email the address of the proposed sign location to portablesigns@edmonton.ca to confirm the zone and applicable regulations prior to applying.

Once you have determined the zone applicable to your site, refer to the Additional Regulations for Specific uses within the Zone and Specific Development Regulations for signs contained in Section 6.90 to find which regulations are applicable to the proposed sign on the subject property.

Submission Requirements

Documents

The following documents must be provided along with your completed online application form and applicable fees:

1. Curb to Property Line Map With Aerial Imaging

A scaled Curb to Property Line Map must be provided along with your application for a portable sign permit. To request this map email mapdesk@edmonton.ca.

A Curb-to-Property Line Map with aerial imaging in PDF format, containing:

A north arrow
Location of the proposed sign on the site, dimensioned perpendicular from the curbs and the property lines to the nearest edge of sign
Location of other existing portable sign(s) on site
Location of vehicle access location(s) on site
The corresponding street and avenue abutting the site

2. Landowner/Agent Permission

Online applications may select to use the Landowner/Agent Permission Declaration.

“I declare that I have authorization from the landowner or the landowner's agent to place a Portable Sign on the land that is listed as the address for the location of the Portable Sign (Subsection 7.130.1.1.3.1)”.

Portable signs proposed to be placed on land owned by the City of Edmonton, require the Landowner/Authorized Agent Permission Letter signed by the City of Edmonton.

Please note that condominium properties may require a letter from the Condo Association Representative responsible for the common property.

When a Landowner/Authorized Agent Permission Letter is required, the applicant must submit a current letter from the owner of the property on which the sign is to be erected, or their agent, authorizing the applicant's sign development.

Download a copy of the landowner/authorized agent permission letter template .

3. Name of Business, Tenant or Group Advertising

Applications for portable signs must include the name and address of the business, tenants, or group advertising on the sign.

4. Off-premise Sign Context Plan

Applications for Portable Signs with Off-Premises Advertising require an Off-Premises Sign context plan in PDF format, containing:

A north arrow
Location of other existing signs with off-premises advertising, located within 100 metres of the proposed portable sign
Location of signs with a digital copy area greater than 8.0 square metres, located within 100 metres of the proposed portable sign
The corresponding streets and avenues of the nearest roadway intersections, clearly labelled, and all adjacent roadway intersections

Application Submission

Timelines

Applications for portable signs will be accepted one month prior to the proposed start date of the portable sign permit. Where there is an existing portable sign, the application will be accepted for the sign location one month prior to the sign location being available.

Timeline Examples

If the permit for the existing portable sign expires on August 15, applications will be accepted for the sign location starting on July 16, one month prior to the first date the sign location is available.

If the permit for the existing portable sign expires on July 30, applications will be accepted for the sign location starting on July 1, since there is no June 31.

Application Methods

Applications can be made online, or by dropping off a completed application at the Edmonton Service Centre.

Please note that the City of Edmonton does not accept faxed or emailed applications.

Online Application

An applicant must be a registered user to apply online.

Online Application

Drop Off

Applications for Portable Signs with On-premises Advertising may be made online or by dropping off a completed application at the Edmonton Service Centre.

Missing file.

Applications for Portable Signs with Off-premises Advertising may be made by dropping off a completed application at the Edmonton Service Centre.

Download and complete the Portable Sign Application Form and submit it with all relevant documentation to the Edmonton Service Centre.

Drop-Off Location

City of Edmonton
2nd Floor, Edmonton Tower, 10111 104 Avenue NW
Edmonton AB T5J 0J4

Office Hours: Monday to Friday,
8am-4:30pm.
Payment may be cash, personal cheque (payable to the City of Edmonton),
Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Interac.

portablesigns@edmonton.ca

Application Processing and Fees

Application Processing

Once the application has been submitted along with the applicable fees, the application will be placed in the queue for review
The Development Planner reviews the application and all other required documentation to ensure it is complete
The Development Planner reviews the proposed sign to ensure compliance with the Zoning Bylaw and other relevant legislation
If the proposed sign location is not available at the time of review, the Development Planner will notify the applicant to confirm the revised location if other sign locations are available on the site at the time of review
The Development Planner renders a decision
An electronic copy of the permit report will be automatically sent out to the applicant’s email when the decision is made, and the signed and printed copy of the permit will be mailed to the applicant’s mailing address

Fees

2024 Fees

Effective January 1, 2024
Application Fee:
90 days or less: $100
365 days or less: $300

2024 Planning and Development Fee Schedules

Refunds:

Refunds will not be granted once a decision has been made.
Refunds will be granted when it has been determined that a site is full.
Refunds will be granted when over payment is made.
(If applicant paid for a 365-day permit, but only a 90-day permit is allowed, the difference will be refunded.)

To request a refund please fill out and submit the Cancellation/Refund Request Form.

Portable Signs Catalogue

The Portable Signs Catalogue includes the inventory of current and future development permits for portable signs issued by the City of Edmonton.

The catalogue is updated daily and is available for the public to provide the ability to view current permit information about portable signs on private property.

Zoning Bylaw

Direct Control Zone (DC1, DC2, DC) Process

If your proposed sign is located within a Direct Control Zone (DC1, DC2, DC) for individual sites, it will be necessary to determine the regulations in effect at the time the Direct Control Zone was approved by Council (Refer to Part 4 of Zoning Bylaw 20001). To determine the date and the relevant regulations, refer to the Direct Control Zone process below.

Subsection 7.120.4 of the Zoning Bylaw details the regulations for how to apply the regulations of previous Zoning Bylaws to a current application within a Direct Control Zone passed on or before December 31, 2023.

Unless there is an explicit statement to the contrary in a Direct Control Zone, any reference in a Direct Control Zone to a land use bylaw or Zoning Bylaw must be deemed to be a reference to the bylaw that was in effect at the time of the creation of the Direct Control Zone.

Direct Control Zone Details

DC2 process examples:

Archived Land Use Bylaws (LUBs):

DC2 Process: Examples

Archived Land Use Bylaws and Zoning Bylaws

Edmonton Zoning Bylaw

Past Bylaws referred to Sign Schedules for the Sign Regulations.

LUB 5996 refers to Sign Schedules 79(A-J)
Zoning Bylaw 12800 refers to Sign Schedules 59(A-K)

Contact Us

Edmonton Service Centre

Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday
8am to 4:30pm

Telephone

In Edmonton: 311
Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Email	portablesigns@edmonton.ca

Portable Signs

Portable Sign Permit Locations

What is a Portable Sign?

Portable Signs with On-premises Advertising

Portable Signs with Off-Premises Advertising

Zones and Regulations

Documents

Application Submission

Timelines

Timeline Examples

Application Methods

Online Application

Drop Off

Drop-Off Location

Application Processing and Fees

2024 Fees

Portable Signs Catalogue

Direct Control Zone (DC1, DC2, DC) Process

Related Links

Municipal Government Act (MGA)

Open Data Catalogue Portable Signs Map

Subdivision and Development Appeal Board

Zoning Bylaw 20001 - Sign Regulations

Contact Us

Edmonton Service Centre