Ontario election 2022: Here are the rules for campaign signs in the Toronto area

As candidates fan out across the province for the Ontario election campaign, signs began popping up in front of homes and along streets.

The writs allowing elections to be held in Ontario’s 124 ridings were issued on May 4, which is when lawn signs were allowed to be distributed.

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RELATED: How you can vote in the 2022 Ontario election, what’s new, and COVID measures

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But with the provincial election date set for June 2, what are the rules surrounding the installation and placement of campaign signs at private (where permission is needed) and public properties?

Here is an overview of the rules by Elections Ontario and the specific bylaws for Toronto and other major nearby municipalities.

Toronto

Under Toronto’s municipal code, candidates, their representatives or the owners of private properties where election signs are located must be removed by 9 p.m. on June 5 (72 hours after voting ends).

Ontario election signs can’t have the City of Toronto’s logo and can’t be bigger than 1.2 square metres or higher than two metres off the ground unless at campaign offices, TTC or street installation ad spaces, billboards, indoors or on property windows or balconies.

In terms of the placement of signs, signs are allowed on streets and roads or public utility poles on streets and roads.

The signs can’t be illuminated, put on trees and can’t block the traffic sightlines for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

If a sign is within 1.5 metres of a pavement edge or curb, 0.6 metres of either side of a sidewalk, 15 metres of an intersection or pedestrian crossing on a collector or arterial road, within three metres of an intersection or pedestrian crossing on a local road, that’s considered an obstruction to a sightline.

Signs placed on public property also can’t be on a road median, road island or adjacent to a voting place and/or a City of Toronto-owned property (such as a park or a recreation centre), and can’t be installed or within a metre from other election signs without the consent of the owner or occupant of the abutting property

Complaints about improperly placed signs can be reported through 311.

If an installed sign violates the City’s bylaw, municipal staff can remove it and the candidate or their campaign will be notified. Depending on the nature of the violation, it could come with a fine starting at $200.

After an election, there will be a limited time where candidates can bring leftover signs to depots for recycling.

Mississauga

According to Mississauga’s sign bylaw, all election signs must be removed by 11:59 p.m. on June 4.

The bylaw said signs aren’t allowed on or overhanging public property, an official (government) sign or sign structure, within a sight triangle or in a spot that blocks the views of drivers, pedestrians, traffic signs or lights, light or ventilation openings, in an area that creates a public hazard, a concrete or masonry noise attenuation wall, or within 50 metres of the main entrance of a polling station or the front facade of a building that has a polling station (whichever is deemed greater).

However, signs can go on “designated” utility poles that don’t conflict with the above requirements so long as the signs are in poster sleeves.

Signs can’t be bigger than 1.5 square metres except if it’s on a billboard.

When it comes to campaign offices, there is greater latitude in the amount of signage (which needs to conform to other parts of the sign bylaw).

At single-family homes, the bylaw stated just one sign is allowed.

Complaints about improperly placed signs can be reported through 311.

Brampton

Under Brampton’s sign bylaw, election signs must be removed by 9 p.m. on June 5.

The sign area can’t be bigger than two square metres.

The bylaw said only up to two signs for each candidate are allowed at residential properties, while at non-residential properties the maximum is three.

Signs on private property can’t interfere with traffic sightlines.

Election signs also aren’t allowed on public property or right-of-ways.

Signs that violate the bylaw could be removed by municipal staff at a charge.

Complaints about improperly placed signs can be reported through 311.

Vaughan

According to Vaughan’s sign bylaw, election signs must be removed by the end of the day on June 5.

Unlike many other municipalities outside of York Region, the bylaw said Ontario election candidates need to pay $300 in order to install campaign signs.

The sign area can’t be bigger than 1.49 square metres.

Election signs also aren’t allowed on public property or public road allowances.

For private properties, the sign needs to be at least a metre away from all street lines and at least 1.5 metres away from the adjacent property. Signs can’t be in areas that are “daylight triangles.”

Candidates also need to follow the requirements of York Region’s sign bylaw if they are placing signs on regional roads, which is the subject of a permit fee and has restrictions similar to what’s seen locally.

Complaints about improperly placed signs can be reported through 311.

Richmond Hill

Under Richmond Hill’s sign bylaw, all election signs must be removed by 11:59 p.m. on June 5.

Candidates running in Richmond Hill also need to pay a fee to erect signs, which is $273.

The sign area can’t be bigger than 1.49 square metres, and the maximum height and horizontal dimension are 1.22 square metres.

On advance voting days and on June 2, signs can’t be on or next to places used as a poll location. Also, signs can’t be on vehicles parked at polling locations.

Election signs also aren’t allowed on public property, medians, traffic islands or anywhere considered a “daylight triangle” unless it is on a portable sign and complies with those requirements under the bylaw.

For private properties, the sign needs to be at least half a metre away from all curbs and sidewalks or two metres away from a street where there is no curb or sidewalk. Signs also need to be at least five metres away from fire hydrants and transit shelters as well as 10 metres away from a driveway.

Candidates also need to follow the requirements of York Region’s sign bylaw if they are placing signs on regional roads, which is the subject of a permit fee and has restrictions similar to what’s seen locally.

Complaints about improperly placed signs can be reported through bylaw enforcement at bylaw@richmondhill.ca or 905-771-0198.

Markham

According to Markham’s bylaw, all election signs must be removed by 11:59 p.m. on June 5.

Ontario election candidates need to pay $250 for a permit to install campaign signs.

The sign area can’t be bigger than 1.49 square metres, and the maximum height and horizontal dimension are 1.22 square metres. It also can’t be higher than two metres above the ground.

The City of Markham has a lengthy list of requirements for sign placement, but generally signs can’t be put on public property (except two signs per candidates at designated intersections), roads or traffic islands and mediums, within sight triangles, strips of land between curbs and sidewalks, on trees or on fences next to public property.

When it comes to private property, one sign per candidate is allowed at each residential property so long as it doesn’t block fire hydrants or pedestrian and vehicle sightlines. It also can’t interfere with a home’s exits or ventilation.

Candidates also need to follow the requirements of York Region’s sign bylaw if they are placing signs on regional roads, which is the subject of a permit fee and has restrictions similar to what’s seen locally.

Complaints about improperly placed signs can be reported through the City’s customer service centre at 905-477-5530 or customerservice@markham.ca.

Pickering

Under Pickering’s bylaw, all election signs must be removed by 11:59 p.m. on June 5.

The sign area can’t be bigger than 1.5 square metres.

Ontario election signs are only allowed on private properties or on regional roads (which falls under the Region of Durham’s sign bylaw). These signs must be removed by 11:59 p.m. on June 4.

A sign can’t be attached to trees or natural objects, or public utility poles. It can’t interfere with a home’s exits or ventilation, or prevent vehicle parking.

Signs can’t be displayed at a place on a day when it is used as a voting location.

Complaints about improperly placed signs can be reported through the City’s customer service centre at 905-683-7575.

Oshawa

According to Oshawa’s bylaw, Ontario election signs must be removed by 11:59 p.m. on June 9.

Signs generally can’t have a bigger height or width than 1.2 metres and if it’s within a City road’s limits it can’t be higher than 0.6 metres. The placement of the sign can’t be within a metre of a curb or two metres of a road without a curb, or on a road’s island or median.

The signs can’t be within “sight triangles” or “driveway sight triangles” or in areas that block the visibility of drivers going onto or leaving a City road. Also, signs can’t obstruct or interfere with traffic signs and signals, block sidewalks.

When it comes to publicly-owned or leased municipal property, signs aren’t allowed. Signs also aren’t allowed on polling location properties when voting is happening or within a metre of its property line.

Complaints about improperly placed signs can be reported through the City’s customer service centre at service@oshawa.ca or 905-436-3311.

Ontario-wide guidelines by Elections Ontario

Under the rules on advertising by Elections Ontario, the rules on sign placement fall to local municipalities.

If signs are on or near a provincial highway, it falls under the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s jurisdiction and officials encouraged complaints to be registered by calling 1-800-268-4686 or by visiting the ministry’s website.

When it comes to what is on Ontario election signs, the provincial agency said signs for candidates on the ballot must spell out authorization that shows who paid for it.