St. Catharines Sign By-law (Full Guide): Permits, Sizes, A-Frames, Windows, Election Rules

Permit basics

By-law 2012-154 (Part 2) requires a permit before erecting, relocating, altering, or replacing almost every exterior sign. Exceptions are limited (for example, repainting an existing approved sign face or temporary decorative holiday décor). Start with Planning & Building Services’ sign permit package—submit drawings, owner authorization, and fees, and expect inspections once fabrication installs.

If your frontage touches a Niagara Region road or is inside a site plan control area, factor in those approvals before scheduling fabrication. Submissions can be delivered electronically to building@stcatharines.ca or in-person at City Hall.

A-frame / sandwich board rules

St. Catharines treats A-frames as portable signs (By-law 2012-154, s.4.3). Each business can display one portable sign per 50 metres of frontage for up to four 30-day periods per calendar year. Keep the board entirely on private property, at least 1.0 m from the property line/sidewalk edge, 6.0 m from driveways/intersections, and 50 m away from another portable sign on the same lot.

Boards must not exceed 4.6 m² in area or 2.5 m in height. Always load in a weighted base and maintain a 1.5 m pedestrian clearway when placing an A-frame along retail corridors like St. Paul Street.

Window & fascia sign rules

Wall (fascia) signs may occupy up to 35% of the wall face where they are installed (s.4.5). Coordinate with the Ontario Building Code for structural attachments, and mount illumination in line with the Electrical Safety Code.

Window graphics are permitted but must not block mandated glazing for life-safety or fire separation. For heritage storefronts in the Downtown Creative Cluster, coordinate early with Heritage Planning to maintain approved colour, material, and mounting allowances.

Portable / temporary / lawn signs

Portable signs (s.4.3) are capped at the four 30-day display windows per year noted above and must be tagged with an active permit number. Off-premise third-party portable signs are prohibited.

Development marketing signs (s.5.5) must come down once 80% of lots/units are sold. On residential lands, small temporary event signs are allowed for up to three days without a permit, provided they stay on private property and are removed promptly after the event wraps.

Digital / EMC rules

The sign by-law bans flashing, sequential lighting, or animated imagery (s.3.4). Digital reader boards and EMCs must display static frames without scrolling video, and brightness should dim after dark to avoid glare on adjacent properties or the QEW corridor. Pair dimming controls with astronomic timers to maintain compliance.

Billboards / third-party signs

Third-party signs (s.5.5) are limited to 7.43 m² faces, must sit at least 300 m from another billboard, and are prohibited on residential lands. New billboard applications trigger a full Planning review—expect to supply structural drawings, exact siting, and evidence the sign avoids agricultural and natural heritage areas.

Election sign rules

Election Sign By-law 2025-023 governs timing and placement. Federal/provincial signs may go up once the writ is issued; municipal election signs can appear only after a candidate files nomination papers and never earlier than 30 calendar days before voting day. Remove every election sign within seven days after election night and avoid public property, boulevards, and Regional road allowances without Region approval.

Enforcement & removal

The Director can refuse or revoke permits (s.2.6) when drawings don’t align with By-law 2012-154, and By-law Enforcement may remove portable or election signs placed on City property. Costs for removals, storage, and remedial work are billed back to the sign owner or added to property taxes.

Regional roads overlay

Niagara Region Sign By-law 122-2013 applies to Regional roads that run through St. Catharines—including St. Paul Street West (Regional Road 81), Ontario Street (Regional Road 42), Fourth Avenue (Regional Road 77), and Glendale Avenue (Regional Road 89). Submit the Region sign permit application with your site plan, and coordinate inspections with Regional staff before energizing illuminated signage.